Following a sharp drop in the Dow to 1997 levels, here is a look back at that time in history. While stocks are back to 12 year lows, most other things are not the same.
Major Indices:
1997
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 7908.25 on 12/31/97, up 1,459.98 points for the year, or 22.64%.
- It hit an intraday high for the year of 8299.49 on 8/7/97
- It hit an intraday low for the year of 6352.82 on 1/2/97
- In 1997, the Dow closed up 54.5% of the time and down 45.5% of the time
- In terms of yearly percent gains from 1997 to 2008, the Dow had its third largest percent increase in 1997. The best yearly percent gain during these years was on 2003 (25.32%), followed by 1999 (25.22%).
- The S&P 500 closed at 970.43 on 12/31/97, up 229.69 points for the year, or 31.01%.
- It hit an intraday high for the year of 986.2 on 12/5/97
- It hit an intraday low for the year of 729.6 on 1/2/97
- In 1997, the S&P closed up 55.5% of the time an down 44.5% of the time
- The NASDAQ Composite closed at 1570.35 on 12/31/97, up 279.32 points for the year, or 21.64%.
- It hit an intraday high for the year of 1748.62 on 10/9/97
- It hit an intraday low for the year of 1194.39 on 4/22/97
- In 1997, the NASDAQ closed up 57.3% of the time and down 42.7% of the time
2008
- The Dow fell 4488.43 points to close at 8776.39, down 33.84% for the year
- The S&P fell 565.11 points to close at 903.25 , down 38.49% for the year
- The NASDAQ Composite fell 1075.25 points to close at 1577.03 on 12/31/08, down 40.54% for the year
2009
- The Dow closed on 3/3/09 at 6726.02, its lowest close since April 21, 1997
So far this year, the Dow has traded between a range of 9088.06 and 6705.63
Year-to-date, the Dow is down 21.7% - The S&P 500 closed on 3/3/09 at 696.33, its lowest close since October 10, 1996
- The S&P has traded between a range of 944.28 and 692.69 so far this year
- Year-to-date, the S&P is down 21.1%
- The NASDAQ Composite closed on 3/3/09 at 1321.01, 4.89 points away from its 11/7/08 through.
- The NASDAQ has traded between a range of 1665.63 and 1312.98 so far this year
Year-to-date, the NASDAQ is down 14.2%
Commodities:
1997
- Crude oil closed at $17.64 per barrel on 12/31/97, down $8.28 for the year, or 31.94%
- It hit an intraday high for the year of $26.24 per barrel on 1/9/97
- It hit an intraday low for the year of $17.50 per barrel on 12/30/97
- Gold closed at $293.6 per 100 Troy Oz, down $75.6 for the year, or 20.48%.
- It hit an intraday high for the year of $369.4 per 100 Troy Oz, on 1/2/97
- It hit an intraday low for the year of $283.3 per 100 Troy Oz., on 12/9/97
2008
- Crude oil closed at $44.6 per barrel on 12/31/08, down 53.53% for the year
- Traded between a range of $147.27 and $35.13
- Gold closed at $884.3 per 100 Troy Oz. on 12/31/08, up 5.53% for the year
- Traded between a range of $1033.9 and $681
2009
- Crude oil has traded between a range of $50.47 and $33.2 so far this year
- Year-to-date, it is up 1.75%
- Gold has traded between a range of $1007.7 and $801.5 so far this year
- Year-to-date, it is up 2.53%
Unleaded, Regular Gasoline Average Retail Price(Energy Information Administration):
1997 Average Price: $1.234/gallon
1997 High/Low: September at a monthly average of $1.277/gallon & December at a monthly average of $1.177/gallon
2008 Average Price: $3.266/gallon
2008 High/Low: July at a monthly average of $4.09/gallon & December at a monthly average of $1.689/gallon
Economy:
Average Unemployment Rate (Annual):
1996: 5.41%
1997: 4.94%
2008 : 5.81%
1996 High/Low: Jan., Apr., May at 5.6% & August at 5.1%
1997 High/Low: January at 5.3% & November at 4.6%
2008 High/Low: December at 7.2% & February at 4.8%
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
GDP % Change - Full Year:
1996: +3.7%
1997: +4.5%
2008: +1.12%
GDP % Change 4th Quarter (Annualized):
1996: +4.76%
1997: +2.98%
2008: -6.25%
Best/Worst Quarter - (Annualized)
1996: Best, Q2 at 6.72%, Worst, Q1 at 2.85%
1997: Best, Q2 at 6.22%, Worst, Q4 at 2.98%
2008: Best, Q2 at 2.83% Worst, Q4 at -6.25%
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