The S&P 500 in 1969
The S&P 500 fell 11.4% in 1969, from 103.86 to 92.06; with dividends reinvested, the total return was −8.2%. That ranks 1969 19th-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- −11.4%
- Total return
- −8.2%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −16.0%December 17, 1969
- Year-end close
- 92.06December 31, 1969
- Highest close
- 106.16May 14, 1969
- Lowest close
- 89.20December 17, 1969
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 250
- Best day
- +2.1%July 31, 1969
- Worst day
- −2.0%July 28, 1969
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 21.2
How 1969 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 106.16 on May 14, 1969; the lowest was 89.20 on December 17, 1969.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −16.0%, bottoming on December 17, 1969.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was July 31, 1969 (+2.1%); the worst was July 28, 1969 (−2.0%).
No month of 1969 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 21.2 in January 1969.
Drawdowns that touched 1969
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 1969.
What $10,000 at the start of 1969 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1969, with dividends reinvested, grew to $3,242,368 by the end of 2025: 10.7% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $659,020.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1969?
The S&P 500 fell 11.4% in 1969, from 103.86 to 92.06; with dividends reinvested, the total return was −8.2%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1969?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1969 was −16.0%, reaching bottom on December 17, 1969.
Was 1969 part of a bear market?
Yes. 1969 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 1969?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1969.
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.