The S&P 500 in 1960
The S&P 500 fell 3.0% in 1960, from 59.89 to 58.11; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +0.3%. That ranks 1960 27th-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- −3.0%
- Total return
- +0.3%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −13.6%October 25, 1960
- Year-end close
- 58.11December 30, 1960
- Highest close
- 60.39January 5, 1960
- Lowest close
- 52.20October 25, 1960
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +2.1%April 6, 1960
- Worst day
- −2.3%September 19, 1960
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 18.3
How 1960 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 60.39 on January 5, 1960; the lowest was 52.20 on October 25, 1960.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −13.6%, bottoming on October 25, 1960.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was April 6, 1960 (+2.1%); the worst was September 19, 1960 (−2.3%).
The U.S. economy was in an NBER-dated recession in 8 months of 1960: May 1960 to December 1960.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 18.3 in January 1960.
Drawdowns that touched 1960
| 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 1960.
What $10,000 at the start of 1960 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1960, with dividends reinvested, grew to $7,444,941 by the end of 2025: 10.5% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $1,142,859.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1960?
The S&P 500 fell 3.0% in 1960, from 59.89 to 58.11; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +0.3%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1960?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1960 was −13.6%, reaching bottom on October 25, 1960.
Was 1960 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1960.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1960?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1960.
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.