The S&P 500 in 1970
The S&P 500 rose 0.1% in 1970, from 92.06 to 92.15; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +3.6%. That ranks 1970 33rd-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +0.1%
- Total return
- +3.6%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −25.9%May 26, 1970
- Year-end close
- 92.15December 31, 1970
- Highest close
- 93.46January 5, 1970
- Lowest close
- 69.29May 26, 1970
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 254
- Best day
- +5.0%May 27, 1970
- Worst day
- −2.8%May 25, 1970
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 17.1
How 1970 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 93.46 on January 5, 1970; the lowest was 69.29 on May 26, 1970.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −25.9%, bottoming on May 26, 1970.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was May 27, 1970 (+5.0%); the worst was May 25, 1970 (−2.8%).
The U.S. economy was in an NBER-dated recession in 11 months of 1970: January 1970 to November 1970.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 17.1 in January 1970.
Drawdowns that touched 1970
| 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 1970.
What $10,000 at the start of 1970 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1970, with dividends reinvested, grew to $3,533,531 by the end of 2025: 11.0% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $743,479.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1970?
The S&P 500 rose 0.1% in 1970, from 92.06 to 92.15; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +3.6%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1970?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1970 was −25.9%, reaching bottom on May 26, 1970.
Was 1970 part of a bear market?
Yes. 1970 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 1970?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1970.
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.