The S&P 500 in 1999
The S&P 500 rose 19.5% in 1999, from 1,229.23 to 1,469.25; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +21.0%. That ranks 1999 29th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +19.5%
- Total return
- +21.0%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −12.1%October 15, 1999
- Year-end close
- 1,469.25December 31, 1999
- Highest close
- 1,469.25December 31, 1999
- Lowest close
- 1,212.19January 14, 1999
- Record closes
- 35
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +3.5%October 28, 1999
- Worst day
- −2.8%October 15, 1999
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 40.6
How 1999 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 1,469.25 on December 31, 1999; the lowest was 1,212.19 on January 14, 1999.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −12.1%, bottoming on October 15, 1999.
35 closes set new all-time highs, the last on December 31, 1999.
The best session was October 28, 1999 (+3.5%); the worst was October 15, 1999 (−2.8%).
No month of 1999 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 40.6 in January 1999.
The VIX averaged 24.4 over the year and closed as high as 33.0 on January 14, 1999.
Drawdowns that touched 1999
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pullback (5–10%) | April 12, 1999 → April 19, 1999 | −5.1% | April 22, 1999 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | May 13, 1999 → May 27, 1999 | −6.3% | June 30, 1999 |
| Correction (10–20%) | July 16, 1999 → October 15, 1999 | −12.1% | November 16, 1999 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | December 31, 1999 → February 25, 2000 | −9.2% | March 21, 2000 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1999.
What $10,000 at the start of 1999 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1999, with dividends reinvested, grew to $91,124 by the end of 2025: 8.5% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $55,686.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1999?
The S&P 500 rose 19.5% in 1999, from 1,229.23 to 1,469.25; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +21.0%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1999?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1999 was −12.1%, reaching bottom on October 15, 1999.
Was 1999 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1999.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1999?
Yes: 35 closes set new all-time highs in 1999, the last on December 31, 1999.
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.