When Did Spring Start in 2019
The first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere in 2019 was the March equinox on Monday, March 20, 2019, at 21:58 UTC, marking the vernal equinox when the Sun crossed the celestial equator northward timeanddate.com.
The March 20, 2019 equinox defined the astronomical start of spring, while meteorological spring began on March 1, 2019, aligning with the annual calendar used by weather services for consistent climate comparisons.
Market and Economic Data on the First Day of Spring 2019
On March 20, 2019, the S&P 500 closed near 2,834, the Dow Jones Industrial Average settled around 26,081, and the Nasdaq Composite ended at 7,580, reflecting mixed sentiment amid global growth concerns Forbes.
The Federal Reserve held its March 2019 meeting and maintained the federal funds rate at 2.25% to 2.50%, signaling a pause in rate hikes after a series of increases in 2018 that had tightened financial conditions.
Key Sectors and Companies on the First Day of Spring 2019
Technology stocks led gains on the first day of spring in 2019, with Apple Inc. trading near $195 per share and Microsoft Corporation near $119, supported by strong cloud and earnings expectations SEC.
Energy and materials sectors underperformed as crude oil prices hovered near $65 per barrel for Brent and the S&P 500 Materials Index recorded modest declines, reflecting ongoing trade tensions and demand uncertainty.