S&P 500 in 1990
The S&P 500 fell 6.6% in 1990, from 353.40 at the end of 1989 to 330.22. Its highest close was 368.95 on Jul 16 — a record that stood until February 13, 1991, and its lowest 295.46 on Oct 11. The biggest one-day fall was −3.0% on Aug 6 and the biggest rise +3.2% on Aug 27. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 11.9%.
S&P 500, daily closes 1990
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1990
What happened, and how the S&P 500 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Tuesday, February 13Drexel Burnham Lambert, the leading junk-bond underwriter, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. SourceS&P 500: +0.3% that day · +2.1% a month later
- 2
Tuesday, May 29 From the dataS&P 500 sets the first of 6 record closing highs this year, at 360.65.
- 3
Monday, July 16 From the dataLast record close of the year: 368.95.
- 4
Thursday, August 2Iraq invades Kuwait, beginning the Gulf crisis. SourceS&P 500: −1.1% that day · −10.4% a month later
- 5
Monday, August 6 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −3.0%.
- 6
Monday, August 27 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +3.2%.
- 7
Thursday, November 29UN Security Council Resolution 678 sets a 15 January 1991 deadline for Iraq to leave Kuwait. SourceS&P 500: −0.5% that day · +3.4% a month later
Biggest days of 1990
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27 | +3.2% | Aug 6 | −3.0% |
| Oct 1 | +2.9% | Aug 23 | −3.0% |
| May 11 | +2.4% | Oct 9 | −2.7% |
| Oct 18 | +2.3% | Jan 22 | −2.6% |
| Oct 19 | +2.2% | Jan 12 | −2.5% |
Volatility: 15.9% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 329.08 | −6.9% |
| Feb | 331.89 | +0.9% |
| Mar | 339.94 | +2.4% |
| Apr | 330.80 | −2.7% |
| May | 361.23 | +9.2% |
| Jun | 358.02 | −0.9% |
| Jul | 356.15 | −0.5% |
| Aug | 322.56 | −9.4% |
| Sep | 306.05 | −5.1% |
| Oct | 304.00 | −0.7% |
| Nov | 322.22 | +6.0% |
| Dec | 330.22 | +2.5% |
Other Markets in 1990
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | −6.6% | 330.22 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1990 | −4.3% | 2,633.66 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1990 | −17.8% | 373.80 |
| Russell 2000 in 1990 | −21.5% | 132.20 |
| Nikkei 225 in 1990 | −38.7% | 23,849.00 |
| Gold in 1990 | −3.1% | $386.20 |
| Silver in 1990 | −19.6% | $4.19 |
| WTI crude oil in 1990 | +30.4% | $28.48 |
| Brent crude oil in 1990 | +34.7% | $28.35 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1990 | +0.15 pp | 8.08% |
S&P 500 in 1990: FAQ
How much did the S&P 500 fall in 1990?
The S&P 500 fell 6.6% in 1990, from 353.40 at the end of 1989 to 330.22. Its highest close was 368.95 on Jul 16 — a record that stood until February 13, 1991, and its lowest 295.46 on Oct 11. The biggest one-day fall was −3.0% on Aug 6 and the biggest rise +3.2% on Aug 27. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 11.9%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1990?
Highest: 368.95 on July 16, 1990. Lowest: 295.46 on October 11, 1990. It closed higher on 135 of 253 trading days.
What happened to the S&P 500 on August 2, 1990?
Iraq invades Kuwait, beginning the Gulf crisis. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% that day, and was −10.4% a month later.
Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 1990?
Yes — 6 record closing highs, the last at 368.95 on July 16, 1990.
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{corgano2026sp500in1990, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {S&P 500 in 1990}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/sp-500/1990}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}