S&P 500 in 1996
The S&P 500 rose 20.3% in 1996, from 615.93 at the end of 1995 to 740.74. Its highest close was 757.03 on Nov 25 — a record that stood until January 10, 1997, and its lowest 598.48 on Jan 10. The biggest one-day fall was −3.1% on Mar 8 and the biggest rise +1.9% on Dec 19. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 16.4%.
S&P 500, daily closes 1996
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1996
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 29 From the dataS&P 500 sets the first of 39 record closing highs this year, at 624.22.
- 2
Friday, March 8 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −3.1%.
- 3
Friday, October 4 From the dataS&P 500 closes above 700 for the first time (701.46).
- 4
Monday, November 25 From the dataLast record close of the year: 757.03.
- 5
Thursday, December 5Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan asks in a speech whether 'irrational exuberance' has inflated asset values. SourceS&P 500: −0.1% that day · +0.3% a month later
- 6
Thursday, December 19 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +1.9%.
Biggest days of 1996
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 19 | +1.9% | Mar 8 | −3.1% |
| Aug 2 | +1.9% | Jul 15 | −2.5% |
| Mar 18 | +1.7% | Jul 5 | −2.2% |
| Feb 22 | +1.7% | Jan 10 | −1.8% |
| Aug 1 | +1.6% | Apr 8 | −1.8% |
Volatility: 11.8% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 636.02 | +3.3% |
| Feb | 640.43 | +0.7% |
| Mar | 645.50 | +0.8% |
| Apr | 654.17 | +1.3% |
| May | 669.12 | +2.3% |
| Jun | 670.63 | +0.2% |
| Jul | 639.95 | −4.6% |
| Aug | 651.99 | +1.9% |
| Sep | 687.33 | +5.4% |
| Oct | 705.27 | +2.6% |
| Nov | 757.02 | +7.3% |
| Dec | 740.74 | −2.2% |
Other Markets in 1996
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | +20.3% | 740.74 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1996 | +26.0% | 6,448.26 |
| Nasdaq Composite in 1996 | +22.7% | 1,291.03 |
| Russell 2000 in 1996 | +14.8% | 362.61 |
| Nikkei 225 in 1996 | −2.6% | 19,361.00 |
| Gold in 1996 | −4.6% | $369.25 |
| Silver in 1996 | −7.0% | $4.77 |
| WTI crude oil in 1996 | +32.5% | $25.90 |
| Brent crude oil in 1996 | +28.2% | $23.90 |
| US 10-year Treasury yield in 1996 | +0.85 pp | 6.43% |
S&P 500 in 1996: FAQ
How much did the S&P 500 rise in 1996?
The S&P 500 rose 20.3% in 1996, from 615.93 at the end of 1995 to 740.74. Its highest close was 757.03 on Nov 25 — a record that stood until January 10, 1997, and its lowest 598.48 on Jan 10. The biggest one-day fall was −3.1% on Mar 8 and the biggest rise +1.9% on Dec 19. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 16.4%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1996?
Highest: 757.03 on November 25, 1996. Lowest: 598.48 on January 10, 1996. It closed higher on 138 of 254 trading days.
What happened to the S&P 500 on December 5, 1996?
Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan asks in a speech whether 'irrational exuberance' has inflated asset values. The S&P 500 fell 0.1% that day, and was +0.3% a month later.
Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 1996?
Yes — 39 record closing highs, the last at 757.03 on November 25, 1996.
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.
Cite this page
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{corgano2026sp500in1996, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {S&P 500 in 1996}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/sp-500/1996}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}