The S&P 500 in 1962
The S&P 500 fell 11.8% in 1962, from 71.55 to 63.10; with dividends reinvested, the total return was −8.8%. That ranks 1962 17th-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- −11.8%
- Total return
- −8.8%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −26.4%June 26, 1962
- Year-end close
- 63.10December 31, 1962
- Highest close
- 71.13January 3, 1962
- Lowest close
- 52.32June 26, 1962
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +4.6%May 29, 1962
- Worst day
- −6.7%May 28, 1962
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 21.2
How 1962 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 71.13 on January 3, 1962; the lowest was 52.32 on June 26, 1962.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −26.4%, bottoming on June 26, 1962.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was May 29, 1962 (+4.6%); the worst was May 28, 1962 (−6.7%).
No month of 1962 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 21.2 in January 1962.
Drawdowns that touched 1962
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 1962.
What $10,000 at the start of 1962 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1962, with dividends reinvested, grew to $5,858,902 by the end of 2025: 10.5% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $956,583.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1962?
The S&P 500 fell 11.8% in 1962, from 71.55 to 63.10; with dividends reinvested, the total return was −8.8%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1962?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1962 was −26.4%, reaching bottom on June 26, 1962.
Was 1962 part of a bear market?
Yes. 1962 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 1962?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1962.
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.