The S&P 500 in 2011
The S&P 500 rose 0.0% in 2011, from 1,257.64 to 1,257.60; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +2.1%. That ranks 2011 31st-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- 0.0%
- Total return
- +2.1%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −19.4%October 3, 2011
- Year-end close
- 1,257.60December 30, 2011
- Highest close
- 1,363.61April 29, 2011
- Lowest close
- 1,099.23October 3, 2011
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +4.7%August 9, 2011
- Worst day
- −6.7%August 8, 2011
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 23.0
How 2011 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 1,363.61 on April 29, 2011; the lowest was 1,099.23 on October 3, 2011.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −19.4%, bottoming on October 3, 2011.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was August 9, 2011 (+4.7%); the worst was August 8, 2011 (−6.7%).
No month of 2011 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 23.0 in January 2011.
The VIX averaged 24.2 over the year and closed as high as 48.0 on August 8, 2011.
Drawdowns that touched 2011
| 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 2011.
2011 month by month
| Month | Return |
|---|---|
| January | +2.3% |
| February | +3.2% |
| March | −0.1% |
| April | +2.9% |
| May | −1.4% |
| June | −1.8% |
| July | −2.1% |
| August | −5.7% |
| September | −7.2% |
| October | +10.8% |
| November | −0.5% |
| December | +0.9% |
What $10,000 at the start of 2011 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 2011, with dividends reinvested, grew to $71,994 by the end of 2025: 14.1% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $54,437.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 2011?
The S&P 500 rose 0.0% in 2011, from 1,257.64 to 1,257.60; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +2.1%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 2011?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 2011 was −19.4%, reaching bottom on October 3, 2011.
Was 2011 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 2011.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 2011?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 2011.
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.