The stock market on October 20, 1978
October 20, 1978, a Friday. The S&P 500 fell 1.39% to close at 97.95. Of 4,561 US stocks that traded, 187 rose and 3,204 fell.
The S&P 500-1.39%closed at 97.95
How big a move#3,565of 24,799 trading days since 1928
$100 in the index since$7,865price only, to September 24, 2026
Stocks that rose187of 4,561; 3,204 fell
Biggest companyInternational Business Machines Corporationby market value that day
Biggest rises among the 500 largest companies
| Owens Corning (OWC) | +3.9% |
| Unisys (UIS) | +3.2% |
| Dome Mines (DM) | +2.7% |
Biggest falls among the 500 largest companies
| Murphy Oil Corporation (MUR) | -8.8% |
| H.F. Ahmanson (AHM) | -8.5% |
| Great Western Financial (GWF.) | -8.4% |
Stock moves count dividends; the index is price only. Market values after 2024 are estimates.
‹ October 19, 1978 · Every October 20 · October 23, 1978 ›
Ask the Lab what came after a day like thisHistory, not advice. How these numbers are made.