
How has war affected the stock market in the past?
Here is a look at how war has affected the stock market in the past. Looking at data from 21 wartime events since Pearl Harbor, the initial first-day return has given the S&P an average of -1.2% return. The biggest first-day negative return was June 25, 1950, when North Korea invades South Korea.
What happened to stocks during World War II?
Using World War II as an example, stocks generally rose during one of the most violent wars the world has ever seen, with periods of volatility following initial war event shocks. "From the start of World War II in 1939 until it ended in late 1945, the Dow was up a total of 50%, more than 7% per year.
Do stocks perform better during war?
The full period of study, 1926 through July 2013, is shaded in blue and provides a “control” group for comparison. Periods of war are highlighted in red. As surprising as it might sound, stocks have generally performed better than average during wartime.
What happened to the stock market after the Vietnam War?
Following the Vietnam War, inflation and higher gas prices were a problem for about six years but then the stock market boomed from 1982 until 2000, nearly 500% gains during that period. That was an average return of more than 27%. You just needed to be patient and wait it out.

Do Stocks Go Up During wars?
Yes, during the pre-war phase, stock prices decline due to uncertainty, but once war begins, the stock market goes up. Most of the pre-war volatility subsides, and investors enjoy relative stability.
How has war affected the stock market?
For the last six U.S.-involved wars, the stock market rose in the 10 years following the breakout of war. “The worst was during World War II when the market only doubled” in the 10-year period following the initial breakout in 1939.
Do stocks drop during war?
Though war and defense spending can amount to a sizable portion of the U.S. GDP, wars often have little sustained impact on stock markets or economic growth at home. Markets largely have ignored recent conflicts related to the Middle East and Iran.
What should I invest in during war?
Stocks will stay resilient amid the war. Steiner said past precedent shows stocks can maintain value during major conflicts. "If we take a historical view looking at the geopolitical lens, most portfolios heavily weighted in equities tend to be pretty resilient."
What is South Korea's supply chain?
South Korea is a key element in the supply chain of several technology companies, accounting for 40 percent and 17 percent of the global supply of liquid crystal displays and semiconductors, respectively. It is also home to several major automotive manufacturers. A disruption in South Korean production would cause sustained shortages across ...
Was the war in Afghanistan included in the war in 2001?
As you can see, the War in Afghanistan is not included here. It went on for a longer period than other wars—commencing in 2001 and arguably ongoing—and several other factors gained prominence at different times during this period.
Is there a fear of nuclear war?
Now, it’s not surprising that many global citizens would be fearful at the thought of nuclear war and the far-reaching social, political, and economic effects that could result. What may be surprising, however, is that capital markets have historically been much more stoic in times of war.
Is war good for the economy?
Wars might be good for the domestic and domestically oriented economy when combat does not occur on home ground. But in today’s world, there is a remote but real risk of a rogue nation dropping a nuke on U.S. soil. This would cause massive destruction in terms of life, property, and the economic output of our nation.
What Factors Affect How Stocks Are Affected By War?
Civil wars and internal conflicts such as those that occurred in Sierra Leone (1991-2002) and the Central African Republic in 2013 caused severe disruption in those countries’ economies. However, there was little or no impact on first-world nations like the United States.
World War I Stock Market Performance
Leading up to World War I, the global economy looked nothing like it does today. Each nation operated independently, and most who participated in global trade were on the gold standard.
World War II Stock Market Performance
When World War II started in 1939, the United States was just beginning to emerge from the Great Depression.
Vietnam War Stock Market Performance
The Vietnam War might have been one of the most unpopular in United States history, but the stock market grew anyway.
Gulf War Stock Market Performance
The Gulf War lasted just seven months, from August 2, 1990, through February 28, 1991. Its brevity makes it difficult to separate market changes caused by the conflict from those related to other world events. For example, oil prices spiked during this period, which caused a brief recession – an unusual economic state during war time.
Afghanistan War Stock Market Performance
It’s not entirely possible to measure the impact of the Afghanistan War on the stock market performance due to the sheer length of the conflict.
What Patterns Emerge from Historical Stock Market Performance During War Times?
Geopolitical conflict tends to cause market volatility, at least in the early days. Logically, investors might assume that the volatility continues throughout war times, but history shows that this isn’t the case.