The S&P 500 in 1959
The S&P 500 rose 8.5% in 1959, from 55.21 to 59.89; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +12.1%. That ranks 1959 43rd-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +8.5%
- Total return
- +12.1%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −9.2%September 22, 1959
- Year-end close
- 59.89December 31, 1959
- Highest close
- 60.71August 3, 1959
- Lowest close
- 53.58February 9, 1959
- Record closes
- 27
- Trading days
- 253
- Best day
- +2.2%February 19, 1959
- Worst day
- −2.1%August 10, 1959
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 18.0
How 1959 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 60.71 on August 3, 1959; the lowest was 53.58 on February 9, 1959.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −9.2%, bottoming on September 22, 1959.
27 closes set new all-time highs, the last on August 3, 1959.
The best session was February 19, 1959 (+2.2%); the worst was August 10, 1959 (−2.1%).
No month of 1959 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 18.0 in January 1959.
Drawdowns that touched 1959
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correction (10–20%) | August 3, 1959 → October 25, 1960 | −14.0% | January 27, 1961 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1959.
What $10,000 at the start of 1959 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1959, with dividends reinvested, grew to $8,342,800 by the end of 2025: 10.6% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $1,239,773.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1959?
The S&P 500 rose 8.5% in 1959, from 55.21 to 59.89; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +12.1%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1959?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1959 was −9.2%, reaching bottom on September 22, 1959.
Was 1959 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1959.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1959?
Yes: 27 closes set new all-time highs in 1959, the last on August 3, 1959.
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.