S&P 500

Year

The calendar year. The current year is still open and a first year that starts late is not whole, so neither counts in the averages.

Worst fall in the year

The deepest drop within the year, from a close to a lower close later in the same year.

The word beside it sizes the fall for this kind of asset: At its high at 0.0%, Minor dip below that, Pullback from -5.0%, Correction from -10.0%, Bear market from -20.0%.

The bar's length is the fall against the deepest row of the table, its colour the fall's severity.

Peak

The close the worst fall started from. It is not always the year's highest close.

Trough

The lowest close of that fall.

Days

Calendar days from the peak to the trough, weekends included.

Return

The year's last close over the last close of the year before, or the latest close for the current year. It does not depend on the fall.

That is why a deep fall and a positive return can share a row: the fall measures the worst stretch along the way, the return where the year ended or stands today.