# Why was NASDAQ(or other index) not fluctuating in 70s and 80s?

Today I have a search of historical NASDAQ back to 70s and noticed the index was slightly increasing in 70s-early 90s and rising up and down in recent decade of years. Why would that happen? The only reason I can think of is there isn't much computer trading involved so the market wasn't crazy like today? How do you think

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Great question. But have you tried plotting with the y-axis from 0 to 500 only? This might tell a different story. –  user2763361 Mar 12 at 15:03
You need to log the chart. Your not going to see the price if it's either not inflation adjusted or logged. –  jessica Mar 12 at 21:25

The volatility in the indices long ago was similar in magnitude to what it is today. The problem you are seeing in your plots is one of compounding and scaling.

Think of it this way- back in the mid 70's the magnitude of NASDAQ pricing was around \$100. Today it is on the order of \$4000, a change of 40x. In linear terms, a 1% change in the index today (\$40) would have been a 40% change in the index back in 1975. This goes the other way as well, so on a linear y-axis plot, a moderate swing in value in 1975 (say 1%, or \$1.00) is indistinguishable in 2014 terms.

There is a way to see the relative volatility over the years in a plot, and that is to use a logarithmic y-axis. I see you are using google's charting app. Under the chart there is a "settings" button. Click it, and select "logarithmic vertical axis." It makes a big difference.

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Actually, the first half of the 70s were very volatile. The latter half was more steady.

Aside from a quick recession, the first half of the 90s was very calm, but the last half definitely was not.

As others have suggested, this become apparent upon inspection of a geometrically scaled price axis.

The reasons definitely have nothing to do with electronic trading. There are many well-known reasons such as the market's proclivity to crash during recession or sometimes even the whiff of one that explain the large relative volatilies. Being able to predict them accurately & precisely would probably make one the best equity manager ever.

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