S&P 500 in 1985
The S&P 500 rose 26.3% in 1985, from 167.24 at the end of 1984 to 211.28. Its highest close was 212.02 on Dec 16 — a record that stood until January 7, 1986, and its lowest 163.68 on Jan 4. The biggest one-day fall was −1.5% on Jul 29 and the biggest rise +2.3% on Jan 21. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 21.7%.
S&P 500, daily closes 1985
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1985
What happened, and how the S&P 500 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Monday, January 21 From the dataS&P 500 sets the first of 43 record closing highs this year, at 175.23. Biggest one-day rise of the year: +2.3%.
- 2
Monday, July 29 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −1.5%.
- 3
Sunday, September 22G5 finance ministers sign the Plaza Accord to weaken the US dollar. SourceS&P 500: +1.2% next trading day (Sep 23) · +3.3% a month later
- 4
Friday, September 27NYSE closes for Hurricane Gloria. SourceS&P 500: +0.4% next trading day (Sep 30) · +3.6% a month later
- 5
Thursday, November 21 From the dataS&P 500 closes above 200 for the first time (201.41).
- 6
Monday, December 16 From the dataLast record close of the year: 212.02.
Biggest days of 1985
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 21 | +2.3% | Jul 29 | −1.5% |
| Jan 10 | +1.9% | Aug 6 | −1.4% |
| Nov 11 | +1.8% | Jun 13 | −1.2% |
| Dec 4 | +1.7% | Dec 23 | −1.1% |
| Oct 1 | +1.6% | Jan 2 | −1.1% |
Volatility: 10.2% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 179.63 | +7.4% |
| Feb | 181.18 | +0.9% |
| Mar | 180.66 | −0.3% |
| Apr | 179.83 | −0.5% |
| May | 189.55 | +5.4% |
| Jun | 191.85 | +1.2% |
| Jul | 190.92 | −0.5% |
| Aug | 188.63 | −1.2% |
| Sep | 182.08 | −3.5% |
| Oct | 189.82 | +4.3% |
| Nov | 202.17 | +6.5% |
| Dec | 211.28 | +4.5% |
Other Markets in 1985
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | +26.3% | 211.28 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1985 | +27.7% | 1,546.67 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1985 | +31.5% | 324.90 |
| Nikkei 225 in 1985 | +13.3% | 13,083.00 |
| Gold in 1985 | +6.0% | $326.80 |
| Silver in 1985 | −7.8% | $5.80 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1985 | −2.55 pp | 9.00% |
S&P 500 in 1985: FAQ
How much did the S&P 500 rise in 1985?
The S&P 500 rose 26.3% in 1985, from 167.24 at the end of 1984 to 211.28. Its highest close was 212.02 on Dec 16 — a record that stood until January 7, 1986, and its lowest 163.68 on Jan 4. The biggest one-day fall was −1.5% on Jul 29 and the biggest rise +2.3% on Jan 21. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 21.7%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1985?
Highest: 212.02 on December 16, 1985. Lowest: 163.68 on January 4, 1985. It closed higher on 136 of 252 trading days.
What happened to the S&P 500 on September 22, 1985?
G5 finance ministers sign the Plaza Accord to weaken the US dollar. The S&P 500 rose 1.2% on the next trading day (September 23, 1985), and was +3.3% a month later.
Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 1985?
Yes — 43 record closing highs, the last at 212.02 on December 16, 1985.
Data: Daily closes since 1950 (price index, excluding dividends). Price index: dividends are not included. Inflation: US CPI-U. Events marked "From the data" are found automatically from the closing prices; the others are researched, with the source linked. Not investment advice.
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For essays, articles and research. Prices on this page update daily, so the citations include today's date as the date you accessed it.
@misc{corgano2026sp500in1985, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {S&P 500 in 1985}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/sp-500/1985}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-11-01}}