The S&P 500 in 1961
The S&P 500 rose 23.1% in 1961, from 58.11 to 71.55; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +26.6%. That ranks 1961 25th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +23.1%
- Total return
- +26.6%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −6.2%April 24, 1961
- Year-end close
- 71.55December 29, 1961
- Highest close
- 72.64December 12, 1961
- Lowest close
- 57.57January 3, 1961
- Record closes
- 39
- Trading days
- 250
- Best day
- +3.5%April 17, 1961
- Worst day
- −3.6%April 18, 1961
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 18.5
How 1961 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 72.64 on December 12, 1961; the lowest was 57.57 on January 3, 1961.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −6.2%, bottoming on April 24, 1961.
39 closes set new all-time highs, the last on December 12, 1961.
The best session was April 17, 1961 (+3.5%); the worst was April 18, 1961 (−3.6%).
The U.S. economy was in an NBER-dated recession in 2 months of 1961: January 1961 to February 1961.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 18.5 in January 1961.
Drawdowns that touched 1961
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correction (10–20%) | August 3, 1959 → October 25, 1960 | −14.0% | January 27, 1961 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | April 17, 1961 → April 24, 1961 | −6.2% | November 1, 1961 |
| The Kennedy Slide | December 12, 1961 → June 26, 1962 | −28.0% | September 3, 1963 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1961.
What $10,000 at the start of 1961 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1961, with dividends reinvested, grew to $7,419,714 by the end of 2025: 10.7% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $1,177,840.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1961?
The S&P 500 rose 23.1% in 1961, from 58.11 to 71.55; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +26.6%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1961?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1961 was −6.2%, reaching bottom on April 24, 1961.
Was 1961 part of a bear market?
Yes. 1961 falls inside the 1961–1962 bear market (The Kennedy Slide), when the S&P 500 fell 28.0% from its record close on December 12, 1961 to its low on June 26, 1962.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1961?
Yes: 39 closes set new all-time highs in 1961, the last on December 12, 1961.
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.