The S&P 500 in 1996
The S&P 500 rose 20.3% in 1996, from 615.93 to 740.74; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +23.0%. That ranks 1996 27th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +20.3%
- Total return
- +23.0%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −7.6%July 24, 1996
- Year-end close
- 740.74December 31, 1996
- Highest close
- 757.03November 25, 1996
- Lowest close
- 598.48January 10, 1996
- Record closes
- 39
- Trading days
- 254
- Best day
- +1.9%December 19, 1996
- Worst day
- −3.1%March 8, 1996
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 24.8
How 1996 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 757.03 on November 25, 1996; the lowest was 598.48 on January 10, 1996.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −7.6%, bottoming on July 24, 1996.
39 closes set new all-time highs, the last on November 25, 1996.
The best session was December 19, 1996 (+1.9%); the worst was March 8, 1996 (−3.1%).
No month of 1996 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 24.8 in January 1996.
The VIX averaged 16.4 over the year and closed as high as 22.0 on December 16, 1996.
Drawdowns that touched 1996
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pullback (5–10%) | May 24, 1996 → July 24, 1996 | −7.6% | September 13, 1996 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1996.
What $10,000 at the start of 1996 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1996, with dividends reinvested, grew to $192,131 by the end of 2025: 10.4% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $111,133.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1996?
The S&P 500 rose 20.3% in 1996, from 615.93 to 740.74; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +23.0%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1996?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1996 was −7.6%, reaching bottom on July 24, 1996.
Was 1996 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1996.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1996?
Yes: 39 closes set new all-time highs in 1996, the last on November 25, 1996.
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) · VIX daily closes
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.