The S&P 500 in 1956
The S&P 500 rose 2.6% in 1956, from 45.48 to 46.67; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +7.4%. That ranks 1956 37th-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +2.6%
- Total return
- +7.4%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −10.6%November 29, 1956
- Year-end close
- 46.67December 31, 1956
- Highest close
- 49.64August 2, 1956
- Lowest close
- 43.11January 23, 1956
- Record closes
- 15
- Trading days
- 251
- Best day
- +2.4%September 14, 1956
- Worst day
- −2.0%September 13, 1956
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 18.3
How 1956 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 49.64 on August 2, 1956; the lowest was 43.11 on January 23, 1956.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −10.6%, bottoming on November 29, 1956.
15 closes set new all-time highs, the last on August 2, 1956.
The best session was September 14, 1956 (+2.4%); the worst was September 13, 1956 (−2.0%).
No month of 1956 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 18.3 in January 1956.
Drawdowns that touched 1956
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pullback (5–10%) | November 14, 1955 → January 23, 1956 | −7.1% | March 9, 1956 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | March 20, 1956 → May 28, 1956 | −9.8% | July 16, 1956 |
| Suez and the 1957 Recession | August 3, 1956 → October 22, 1957 | −21.5% | September 24, 1958 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1956.
What $10,000 at the start of 1956 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1956, with dividends reinvested, grew to $11,534,855 by the end of 2025: 10.6% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $1,505,124.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1956?
The S&P 500 rose 2.6% in 1956, from 45.48 to 46.67; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +7.4%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1956?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1956 was −10.6%, reaching bottom on November 29, 1956.
Was 1956 part of a bear market?
Yes. 1956 falls inside the 1956–1957 bear market (Suez and the 1957 Recession), when the S&P 500 fell 21.5% from its record close on August 3, 1956 to its low on October 22, 1957.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1956?
Yes: 15 closes set new all-time highs in 1956, the last on August 2, 1956.
Data and sources
Daily closes · Calendar-year price returns · Calendar-year total returns · Intra-year declines · Drawdowns from record closes · Shiller CAPE · NBER recession months (via FRED)
Index levels are daily closes. Price return leaves dividends out; total return reinvests them. A past year's page changes only when a later year completes and the rankings move.