The S&P 500 in 1968
The S&P 500 rose 7.7% in 1968, from 96.47 to 103.86; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +10.8%. That ranks 1968 42nd-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +7.7%
- Total return
- +10.8%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −9.3%March 5, 1968
- Year-end close
- 103.86December 31, 1968
- Highest close
- 108.37November 29, 1968
- Lowest close
- 87.72March 5, 1968
- Record closes
- 33
- Trading days
- 226
- Best day
- +2.5%April 1, 1968
- Worst day
- −1.9%March 14, 1968
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 21.5
How 1968 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 108.37 on November 29, 1968; the lowest was 87.72 on March 5, 1968.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −9.3%, bottoming on March 5, 1968.
33 closes set new all-time highs, the last on November 29, 1968.
The best session was April 1, 1968 (+2.5%); the worst was March 14, 1968 (−1.9%).
No month of 1968 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 21.5 in January 1968.
Drawdowns that touched 1968
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correction (10–20%) | September 25, 1967 → March 5, 1968 | −10.1% | April 29, 1968 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | July 11, 1968 → August 2, 1968 | −5.6% | September 24, 1968 |
| Inflation and the 1969–70 Recession | November 29, 1968 → May 26, 1970 | −36.1% | March 6, 1972 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1968.
What $10,000 at the start of 1968 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1968, with dividends reinvested, grew to $3,592,869 by the end of 2025: 10.7% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $709,500.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1968?
The S&P 500 rose 7.7% in 1968, from 96.47 to 103.86; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +10.8%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1968?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1968 was −9.3%, reaching bottom on March 5, 1968.
Was 1968 part of a bear market?
Yes. 1968 falls inside the 1968–1970 bear market (Inflation and the 1969–70 Recession), when the S&P 500 fell 36.1% from its record close on November 29, 1968 to its low on May 26, 1970.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1968?
Yes: 33 closes set new all-time highs in 1968, the last on November 29, 1968.
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.