Global Market History: US, UK & World Indices Comparison
Compare S&P 500 (US), NASDAQ-100 (US Tech), FTSE 100 (UK), and FTSE All-World (Global) performance over decades
Important Investment Warning
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. We are not FCA-regulated financial advisers. Investments can go down as well as up, and you may lose some or all of your capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
S&P 500 Index (1920-2026)
Broad market performance over 100+ years
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Historical data for educational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
S&P 500 Live
NASDAQ-100 Index (1985-2025)
Interactive historical chart
Historical data for educational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
NASDAQ-100 Live
FTSE 100 Index (1984-2025)
UK's top 100 companies
Historical data for educational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
FTSE 100 Live
FTSE All-World Index (1986-2025)
Global developed and emerging markets
Historical data for educational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
FTSE All-World Live
The Power of Long-Term Perspective
Compare four major market indices: S&P 500 (US broad market, 100+ years), NASDAQ-100 (US tech innovation, 40 years), FTSE 100 (UK's top companies, 40+ years), and FTSE All-World (global developed and emerging markets, 40 years).
Each index tells a unique story, but they all share the same truth: short-term volatility is inevitable, but long-term growth is the historical norm. Understanding global market history is crucial for building a diversified investment portfolio.
Major Crises and Recoveries
1929 Great Crash (-89%)
The worst stock market crash in history. The market lost 89% of its value over nearly 3 years, triggering the Great Depression.
Recovery time: 25 years to reach previous peak
World War II (1939-1945)
Despite global conflict, the market actually grew during WWII as the US economy mobilized for war production. This showed that markets can thrive even during major geopolitical crises.
1973-74 Oil Crisis (-48%)
OPEC oil embargo caused energy prices to quadruple, triggering a severe recession and market crash.
Recovery time: 7 years
1987 Black Monday (-34%)
The largest single-day percentage drop in stock market history. The market fell 22.6% in a single day.
Recovery time: Less than 2 years
2000-2002 Dot-com Bubble (-49%)
Internet stock speculation led to massive overvaluation. When the bubble burst, tech-heavy portfolios lost over 75% of their value.
Recovery time: 7 years
2008 Financial Crisis (-57%)
The collapse of the housing market and major financial institutions triggered the worst recession since the Great Depression.
Recovery time: 5.5 years
2020 COVID-19 Pandemic (-34%)
Global pandemic caused the fastest market crash in history, dropping 34% in just 33 days.
Recovery time: 5 months - the fastest recovery ever
2025 Trump Tariff Crisis (-20%)
On April 2, 2025, President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on imports from China, the EU, and other major trading partners. The S&P 500 crashed 20% in just 7 weeks, dropping from 6,012 to 4,810 - one of the fastest declines in modern history. Markets panicked as investors feared a global trade war and recession.
Full recovery achieved: By October 2025, the S&P 500 recovered +25.3% from the April low, reaching 5,980 and approaching new all-time highs. Recovery time: Just 6 months!
This crisis demonstrates how quickly markets can react to policy uncertainty, but also shows remarkable resilience. Investors who panic-sold at the bottom in April missed the entire 25% recovery rally. Once again, history proved that staying invested through volatility is the winning strategy.
What History Teaches Us
Crashes Are Temporary
Every single market crash in history has been followed by a recovery. The market has always reached new highs eventually. The key is staying invested through the volatility.
Time Heals All Losses
The longer your investment horizon, the less likely you are to lose money. Over any 20-year period in history, the S&P 500 has never had negative returns.
Timing the Market Is Impossible
Even professional investors can't consistently predict market tops and bottoms. The best strategy is to invest regularly and stay invested for the long term.
Compound Growth Is Powerful
$100 invested in 1920 would be worth over $3 million today. This is the power of compound returns over time, even accounting for all the crashes along the way.
The Numbers Don't Lie
Despite 8 major crises, 2 world wars, and countless smaller corrections, the S&P 500 has delivered remarkable long-term returns:
The Bottom Line
Market crashes feel catastrophic when you're living through them. Headlines scream about the end of the world. Panic selling seems like the rational choice. But history shows us a different story.
Every crash, no matter how severe, has been followed by recovery and new highs. The investors who stayed the course and continued investing through the downturns were rewarded handsomely.
Investing isn't gambling - it's participating in the long-term growth of the global economy. And history shows that patience and discipline always win in the end.
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Past Performance Disclaimer: Past performance is not indicative of future results. Historical data, charts, and returns (including S&P 500, NASDAQ-100, FTSE 100, and FTSE All-World) are provided for educational purposes only and do not guarantee future performance.
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