After a sell-off in the second quarter, stocks reversed course during the third quarter to stage a nice recovery.  Most of the gains for the quarter came during the month of September.  This was a surprise by many as September has historically been a bad month for stocks.

Here are the details:

Dow Industrials

  • Up 1014.03 points this quarter, or 10.4%, to close at 10788.05.
  • Best quarterly performance since Q3-2009.
  • In September, the Dow was up 773.33 points, or 7.7%.
  • This was the best September since 1939 (71 years).
  • Year-to-date = 3.5%

Nasdaq Composite

  • Up 259.38 points this quarter, or 12.3% to close at 2368.62.
  • Best quarterly performance since Q3-2009.
  • Up 254.59 points, or 12.0%, for September.
  • Year-to-date = 4.4%

S&P 500

  • Up 110.49 points this quarter, or 10.7% to close at 1141.20.
  • Best quarterly performance since Q3-2009.
  • September’s gain was 8.8%, or 91.87 points.
  • Year-to-date = 2.3%

Sources