How much has the stock market lost since October 2008?

Answer 1

Nearly 50% or even more. Things that were worth a 100$ are worth only around 35-45$.

The answer above is how much the Stock Market has lost since October 2007. which was its' all time high. Since Oct 2008, it has lost about 20-25% depending on the index you use.

An update from a different author:

The DJIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average) was at 10,850 on Oct. 1 2008.

As of Oct 15, 2010 it was at 11,062.

So the Dow has gained 212 points since the crash.

The lowest was in March of 09 at 6,440.

Those who stayed in lost the use of their capital, and gained very little, so little that when you account for inflation it disappears. Those who got out at the low point lost about 40%.

If you sold in Oct 2008, bought in March of 09, and sold today, you would have nearly doubled your money. You would have made mega-bucks if you bought at every low and sold at every high. The problem is knowing which way it is moving, and what the timing is.

In VERY general terms, unless you are a market genius, staying in is a stable if unspectacular bet. Remember that as volatile as the market is in its falling, it is also very quick in its rising. Jumping in and out on hunches is just as likely to freeze you out when the market shoots up as it is to protect you when it falls.

The political ads claiming that privatizing Social Security via the stock market would have cost retirees 40% assume that someone invested their entire retirement savings on the highest day, and then took it all out of the market as a lump sum on the lowest, worst day. (Not aware of any retirement account that works that way, are your?) Either they are totally ignorant regarding money or they are totally dishonest. Take your pick.