The S&P 500 in 2010
The S&P 500 rose 12.8% in 2010, from 1,115.10 to 1,257.64; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +15.1%. That ranks 2010 45th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +12.8%
- Total return
- +15.1%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −16.0%July 2, 2010
- Year-end close
- 1,257.64December 31, 2010
- Highest close
- 1,259.78December 29, 2010
- Lowest close
- 1,022.58July 2, 2010
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +4.4%May 10, 2010
- Worst day
- −3.9%May 20, 2010
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 20.5
How 2010 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 1,259.78 on December 29, 2010; the lowest was 1,022.58 on July 2, 2010.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −16.0%, bottoming on July 2, 2010.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was May 10, 2010 (+4.4%); the worst was May 20, 2010 (−3.9%).
No month of 2010 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 20.5 in January 2010.
The VIX averaged 22.5 over the year and closed as high as 45.8 on May 20, 2010.
Drawdowns that touched 2010
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Global Financial Crisis | October 9, 2007 → March 9, 2009 | −56.8% | March 28, 2013 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 2010.
2010 month by month
| Month | Return |
|---|---|
| January | −3.7% |
| February | +2.9% |
| March | +5.9% |
| April | +1.5% |
| May | −8.2% |
| June | −5.4% |
| July | +6.9% |
| August | −4.7% |
| September | +8.8% |
| October | +3.7% |
| November | −0.2% |
| December | +6.5% |
What $10,000 at the start of 2010 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 2010, with dividends reinvested, grew to $82,837 by the end of 2025: 14.1% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $61,394.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 2010?
The S&P 500 rose 12.8% in 2010, from 1,115.10 to 1,257.64; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +15.1%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 2010?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 2010 was −16.0%, reaching bottom on July 2, 2010.
Was 2010 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 2010.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 2010?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 2010.
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) · Monthly returns · 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.