Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Why October Still Spooks Stock Investors Despite Mixed Returns
October is remembered for several big stock-market drops.
In 1929, the Dow fell sharply on two days in a row.
In 1987, it lost nearly 22% in one day.
October 2008 also brought steep US market declines during the global financial crisis.
But October has not always been bad for Indian stocks.
The article’s table shows that Nifty 50 and Sensex rose in several of the listed years and fell in others.
Their largest listed October drops were in 2024.
So the history is mixed, even though some famous crashes happened in October.
The article recalls major October market crashes in 1929, 1987 and 2008.
On October 19, 1987, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 22% in one day.
The Dow fell nearly 13% on October 28, 1929, then nearly 12% the following day.
The October 2008 market decline coincided with the peak of the global financial crisis, linked to the US housing collapse and subprime mortgage defaults.
Indian benchmark returns varied over the decade shown: both Nifty 50 and Sensex rose in some Octobers and fell in others.
- Who
- Investors and stock-market indexes, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nifty 50 and Sensex.
- What
- A review of famous October market crashes and Indian benchmark returns during October over the years listed.
- When
- The crashes discussed occurred in October 1929, October 1987 and October 2008; the Indian returns cover October 2016–2025.
- Where
- The historical crashes discussed affected US markets; the performance table covers India's Nifty 50 and Sensex.
- Why
- The article examines why October has a reputation for market crashes and compares that reputation with Indian index returns.
- Black Monday
- On October 19, 1987, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 22% in one day.
- 1929 crash
- The Dow fell nearly 13% on October 28 and nearly 12% the next day.
- October 2008
- The article describes sharp US market declines during the peak of the global financial crisis.
- 2016–2025 Nifty 50 returns
- Listed October returns ranged from -6.22% in 2024 to 5.59% in 2017.
- 2016–2025 Sensex returns
- Listed October returns ranged from -5.83% in 2024 to 6.17% in 2017.
- October 2025
- The table reports October returns of 4.51% for Nifty 50 and 4.57% for Sensex.