
Much of the decline in the United States occurred in the brief period around the climax of the crisis in the fall of 2008. From its local peak of 1,300.68 on August 28, 2008, the S&P 500 fell 48 percent in a little over six months to its low on March 9, 2009.
What caused the 2008 financial crisis and stock market crash?
Learn the history of the 2008 financial crisis and stock crash, when the S&P 500 declined more than 57%. See what caused the crash, and the lessons we can learn from it. The 2008 financial crisis resulted from a buildup of financial problems during 2003 to 2007, all while the US stock market moved higher.
What was the biggest drop in the stock market in 2008?
The Balance The stock market crash of 2008 occurred on Sept. 29, 2008. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 777.68 points in intraday trading. 1 Until the stock market crash of 2020, it was the largest point drop in history.
How much did the stock market fall in 2009?
By March 5, 2009, it had dropped more than 50% to 6,594.44. Although it wasn't the greatest percentage decline in history, it was vicious. The stock market fell 90% during the Great Depression. But that took almost four years. The 2008 crash only took 18 months.
What happened to the US economy in 2008?
The problem with the economy is the loss of close to $6 trillion in housing wealth and an even larger amount of stock wealth. December 6, 2008: The 2008 Greek riots began, sparked in part by economic conditions in the country. December 16, 2008: The federal funds rate was lowered to zero percent.

How much did the stock market drop in the 2008 crash?
The stock market crash of 2008 occurred on September 29, 2008. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 777.68 points in intraday trading. Until the stock market crash of March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the largest point drop in history.
How much did the stock market drop in 2009?
The DJIA hit a market low of 6,469.95 on March 6, 2009, having lost over 54% of its value since the October 9, 2007 high The bear market reversed course on March 9, 2009, as the DJIA rebounded more than 20% from its low to 7924.56 after a mere three weeks of gains.
How much did the Nasdaq drop in 2008?
The Nasdaq's current selloff is still far from the losses during the 2008 financial crisis and the dot-com bubble burst in the early 2000s. In those two bear markets, the Nasdaq Composite plunged a whopping 56% and 78% from peak to trough, respectively, before it started recovering again.
Did prices go down in 2008?
The headlines of 2008 were dominated by falling housing prices, rising default and foreclosure rates, failure of large investment banks, and huge bailouts arranged by both the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury.
How long did stocks take to recover from 2008?
2008: In response to the housing bubble and subprime mortgage crisis, the S&P 500 lost nearly half its value and took two years to recover. 2020: As COVID-19 spread globally in February 2020, the market fell by over 30% in a little over a month.
Did the stock market crash in 2008 or 2009?
What date in 2008 did the stock market crash? The 2008 stock market crash took place on Sept. 29, 2008, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 777.68 points. This was the largest single-day loss in Dow Jones history up to this point.
How did the 9/11 attacks impact the stock market and economy?
The September 11 attacks in 2001 were followed by initial shocks causing global stock markets to drop sharply. The attacks themselves resulted in approximately $40 billion in insurance losses, making it one of the largest insured events ever.
How much did stocks fall during the Great Depression?
The stock market crash of 1929 was a collapse of stock prices that began on October 24, 1929. By October 29, 1929, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had dropped by 30.57%, marking one of the worst declines in U.S. history. 1 It destroyed confidence in Wall Street markets and led to the Great Depression.
What was the biggest stock market crash?
The stock market crash of 1929 was the worst in history, as the market fell 89% from its peak.
Do prices go down in a recession?
"Home prices will decline year over year if there's a recession, and they'll decline from their peak even if we don't enter a recession," Fairweather said. "But prices aren't likely to fall below pre-pandemic levels nationwide."
Will the stock market crash 2022?
The Bottom Line There's no way of knowing if the stock market will crash in 2022. While there are absolutely concerning indicators, there are also signs of strength in the underlying economy. Wise investors should keep investing for the long run and stick to their overall financial plan.
Who made money in 2008 crash?
1. Warren Buffett. In October 2008, Warren Buffett published an article in the New York TimesOp-Ed section declaring he was buying American stocks during the equity downfall brought on by the credit crisis.
What percentage did the S&P 500 drop in 2008?
From its local peak of 1,300.68 on August 28, 2008, the S&P 500 fell 48 percent in a little over six months to its low on March 9, 2009. This drop is similar to the decrease in much of the rest of the world (Bartram and Bodnar 2009).
How much did the Nasdaq go down in 2000?
In 2000, the Nasdaq lost 39.28% of its value (4,069.31 to 2,470.52).
How long did 2008 bear market last?
It lasted only 33 days. A bear market that occurred during the 2008 financial crisis was a year and half. The bear market during the 2000 dot-com bubble burst went two and a half years. Frank says the average bear market lasts about 9 months, but it takes much longer to recover what was lost.
How much did the Nasdaq drop in dot-com bubble?
The plunge in the Nasdaq has been swift and brutal: the tech-heavy stock index has now slumped more than 30% from its November peak. For many on Wall Street, the plunge is raking up nasty memories of the bursting of the so-called dot-com bubble in 2000. In fact, the sell-off so far has been worse than back then.
How much did the stock market fall from 2007 to 2009?
Stock prices fell roughly 50 percent from peak to trough from October 2007 to March 2009.
What was the Dow Jones index in 2009?
The widely quoted DJIA fell over half—51.1 percent—from a peak of 14,165 on October 9, 2007, to a low of 6,926 on March 5, 2009. While widely quoted, the Dow-Jones is an index of only thirty firms. The S&P 500 is broader, reflecting the prices of the largest 500 firms on U.S. stock exchanges.
Why do stock prices fall during recession?
Recessions are associated with lower corporate earnings, which is much of the reason why stock prices fall before or during recessions. Given the relationship between corporate earnings, stock price declines, and recessions, this recession’s precipitous fall in stock prices could be a signal that the recession is very severe, perhaps similar to the Great Depression in the 1930s.
What is the S&P 500?
The S&P 500 is broader, reflecting the prices of the largest 500 firms on U.S. stock exchanges. This index fell even more—56.8 percent from its peak on October 9, 2007, to a low point on March 9, 2009.
When will banks report increased credit losses?
Large banks report increased credit losses in the first quarter of 2020. Learn how much and why in this post.
When did the S&P 500 drop?
Much of the decline in the United States occurred in the brief period around the climax of the crisis in the fall of 2008. From its local peak of 1,300.68 on August 28, 2008, the S&P 500 fell 48 percent in a little over six months to its low on March 9, 2009. This drop is similar to the decrease in much of the rest of the world ...
Do stock indices include dividends?
Both indices represent the level of stock prices and do not include the dividends investors receive. But according to the Center for Research in Security Prices, even indices including dividends show a total return of zero to holding stock for more than a decade.
Reasons For the 2008 Financial Crisis
The US stock market collapse was tied to the collapse of major financial institutions, including Lehman Brothers and the government bailout of AIG (so it wouldn’t collapse). Financial institutions were in trouble because of over-exposure to declining housing prices.
Lessons From the 2008 Stock Crash
Similar to the 1929 crash and 2000 crash, it takes years for stocks to fully recover from a major meltdown. On the flip side, for those who have the resources to buy when prices start to recover after a crash, there are sizable gains to be had.
Read Up On Some Other Stock Market Crashes
1987 Crash – The 1987 stock market crash refers to the selloff that occurred on “Black Monday,” October 19. It was the largest single-day decline in the history of the US stock market–the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) lost 22.6%.
What was the financial crisis of 2008-2009?
What is the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009? The Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009 refers to the massive financial crisis the world faced from 2008 to 2009. The financial crisis took its toll on individuals and institutions around the globe, with millions of American being deeply impacted. Financial institutions started to sink, many were ...
What happened after the 2008-2009 financial crisis?
The Aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009. Many who took out subprime mortgages eventually defaulted. When they could not pay, financial institutions took major hits. The government, however, stepped in to bail out banks. The housing market was deeply impacted by the crisis.
What happened to subprime mortgages in 2008?
As the subprime mortgage bundles grew in number to an overwhelming degree, with a large percentage moving into default, lending institutions began to face financial difficulties. It led to the dismal financial conditions around the world during the 2008-2009 period and continued for years to come.
How did the housing market bubble start?
It began with the housing market bubble, created by an overwhelming load of mortgage-backed securities that bundled high-risk loans.
What is underwriting in investment banking?
Underwriting In investment banking, underwriting is the process where a bank raises capital for a client (corporation, institution, or government) from investors in the form of equity or debt securities. This article aims to provide readers with a better understanding of the capital raising or underwriting process.
When did the global financial crisis start?
The foundation of the global financial crisis was built on the back of the housing market bubble that began to form in 2007. Banks and lending institutions offered low interest rates on mortgages and encouraged many homeowners to take out loans that they couldn’t afford.
Is QE worse than recession?
It is a lot worse than a recession, with GDP falling significantly, and usually lasts for many years. Quantitative Easing. Quantitative Easing Quantitative easing (QE) is a monetary policy of printing money, that is implemented by the Central Bank to energize the economy. The Central Bank creates.
What happened in 2008?
By the fall of 2008, borrowers were defaulting on subprime mortgages in high numbers, causing turmoil in the financial markets, the collapse of the stock market, and the ensuing global Great Recession.
How much was consumer debt in 2004?
To compound the potential mortgage risk, total consumer debt, in general, continued to grow at an astonishing rate. In 2004, consumer debt hit $2 trillion for the first time.
Why did the government take over Fannie Mae?
2007 peaks, the government announced its takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as a result of losses from heavy exposure to the collapsing subprime mortgage market. 6 One week later, on Sept. 14, major investment firm Lehman Brothers succumbed to its own overexposure to the subprime mortgage market and announced the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history at that time. 7 The next day, markets plummeted and the Dow closed down 499 points at 10,917. 8
Why did Bear Stearns fail in 2007?
By March 2007, with the failure of Bear Stearns due to huge losses resulting from its underwriting many of the investment vehicles linked to the subprime mortgage market, it became evident that the entire subprime lending market was in trouble. Homeowners were defaulting at high rates as all of the creative variations of subprime mortgages were resetting to higher payments while home prices declined.
Why did the subprime mortgages have unconventional terms?
Since these borrowers were considered high-risk, their mortgages had unconventional terms that reflected that risk , such as higher interest rates and variable payments. While many saw great prosperity as the subprime market began to explode, others began to see red flags and potential danger for the economy.
How much credit did Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac extend in 2002?
As of 2002, government-sponsored mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had extended more than $3 trillion worth of mortgage credit. In his 2002 book Conquer the Crash, Prechter stated, "confidence is the only thing holding up this giant house of cards.". 2 .
What is the term for mortgage backed securities?
Financial firms sold these subprime loans to large commercial investors in pools of mortgages known as mortgage-backed securities (MBS).
Who went to jail for the 2008 financial crisis?
Kareem Serageldin was sentenced to 30 months in prison for using his position at Credit Suisse to hide losses in mortgage-backed securities. 27
What happened in 2008?
On September 17, 2008, the crisis created a run on money market funds where companies parked excess cash to earn interest on it overnight, and banks then used those funds to make short-term loans. During the run, companies moved a record $172 billion out of their money market accounts into even safer Treasury bonds. 16 .
How much did the Fed loan AIG?
On September 16, 2008, the Fed loaned $85 billion to AIG as a bailout. In October and November, the Fed and Treasury restructured the bailout, bringing the total amount to $182 billion. By 2012, the government made a $22.7 billion profit when the Treasury sold its last AIG shares. 13 14
What would happen if Fannie Mae closed?
Others blamed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for the entire crisis. To them, the solution is to close or privatize the two agencies. If they were shut down, the housing market would collapse because they guarantee the majority of mortgages.
What was the main cause of the financial crisis?
Deregulation of financial derivatives was a key underlying cause of the financial crisis.
What products have the most impact on the housing market?
Among these products, mortgage-backed securities (MBS) had the most impact on the housing market. The profitability of MBS created more demand for the mortgages they were based upon.
What would happen if the money market went bankrupt?
If the nation's money market accounts had gone bankrupt, business activities and the economy would have ground to a halt. That crisis called for massive government intervention.
How much money did the S&P 500 lose in 2008?
stocks, 25% foreign stocks, 10% cash, and 30% fixed income (including government and high-quality corporate bonds), you would have lost just 28% between Sept. 1, 2008, and the market's bottom of March 9. By comparison, the S&P 500 was down nearly 50%.
What was the worst financial meltdown since the 1930s?
The worst financial meltdown since the 1930s began, you'll recall, with a bang. Early in the month the housing crash led to the federal government's takeover of mortgage giants Fannie Mae ( FNM, Fortune 500) and Freddie Mac ( FRE, Fortune 500) -- whose dividend-paying stocks were a cornerstone of many retirement portfolios.
What was the AIG bailout?
Then came news that insurance giant AIG ( AIG, Fortune 500) faced a credit crunch, leading to an $85 billion government bailout (which turned out to be a first installment). The Bush administration, led by Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, hastily crafted a Wall Street relief package that was initially rejected by Congress. The Dow plunged nearly 780 points on its way to an eventual 5,000-point rout.
How much of 401(k) is held in stocks in 2007?
Yet heading into 2007, nearly 40% of workers ages 56 to 65 held 80% or more of their 401 (k)s in stocks.
What companies did the housing crash take over?
Early in the month the housing crash led to the federal government's takeover of mortgage giants Fannie Mae ( FNM, Fortune 500) and Freddie Mac ( FRE, Fortune 500) -- whose dividend-paying stocks were a cornerstone of many retirement portfolios. Within days the crisis had spread to the investment banks.
What financial giants teetered on the edge last fall?
As AIG, Lehman, and other financial giants teetered on the edge last fall, you learned to your unpleasant surprise that Wall Street's woes were dragging down your Main Street portfolio.
Did stocks make money during the meltdown?
And if you look at the numbers, you'll see that proper diversification did you considerable good in this meltdown. Yes, most stocks and many fixed-income categories rang up huge losses. But long-term U.S. Treasuries gained more than 27% last year (see the chart at right). High-quality U.S. corporate and global bonds also made money -- as did cash.
What were the most defensive sectors during the 2008 recession?
The most defensive sectors during the 2008 recession were those that supplied necessary goods and services. These goods and services have very “inelastic demand”, which just means that people will consume them even when they feel poorer.
Which sector performed worst in 2008?
Meanwhile, Real Estate and Financials performed worst given that it was problems within these sectors that sparked the 2008 recession.
How much did the worst performing stocks lose during the sell off?
Meanwhile, the worst performing stocks lost between 88.5% and 99.5% of their market value during the sell off.
What casino stocks were the worst performing in 2008?
Apart from banks and property-related firms, casino stocks such as Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts and Wynn Resorts were also among the worst-performing during the 2008 stock sell off.
What year did the peak to trough sell off happen?
We review the year-to-date price action and fundamental metrics of the stocks that performed the best during the peak-to-trough sell-off in 2007-09.
What sectors were the worst performing during the recession?
Given that the previous recession stemmed from a housing and banking crisis, the worst performing sectors were Real Estate and Financials.
Do we conduct fundamental analysis into stocks?
The InvestQuest View: We will be tracking this list of stocks closely and potentially adding positions should we find attractive entry-points. That said, do note that we always conduct fundamental analysis into stocks before deciding to invest.
What was the financial crisis of 2007-2009?
The 2007-2009 financial crisis began years earlier with cheap credit and lax lending standards that fueled a housing bubble.
What happened in 2007-2008?
Ireland 's vibrant economy fell off a cliff. Greece defaulted on its international debts. Portugal and Spain suffered from extreme levels of unemployment. Every nation's experience was different and complex.
Who Is to Blame for the Great Recession?
Many economists place the greatest part of the blame on lax mortgage lending policies that allowed many consumers to borrow far more than they could afford. But there's plenty of blame to go around, including:
Why did subprime mortgages cause hardship?
This caused real hardship to many Americans. Their homes were worth less than they paid for them. They couldn't sell their houses without owing money to their lenders. If they had adjustable-rate mortgages, their costs were going up as their homes' values were going down. The most vulnerable subprime borrowers were stuck with mortgages they couldn't afford in the first place.
How much money did Subprime make in 2006?
Subprime mortgage company New Century Financial made nearly $60 billion in loans in 2006, according to the Reuters news service. In 2007, it filed for bankruptcy protection.
Why did the interbank market freeze?
borders. The interbank market that keeps money moving around the globe froze completely, largely due to fear of the unknown.
What bank went bankrupt in September?
Yet the collapse of the venerable Wall Street bank Lehman Brothers in September marked the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history, 13 and for many became a symbol of the devastation caused by the global financial crisis.

2007
2008
- At the end of January, the BEA revised its fourth-quarter 2007 GDP growth estimate down.9 It said growth was only 0.6%. The economy lost 17,000 jobs, the first time since 2004.10 The Dow shrugged off the news and hovered between 12,000 and 13,000 until March.2 On March 17, the Federal Reserve intervened to save the failing investment bank, Bear Stearns. The Dow dropped …
September 2008
- The month started with chilling news. On Monday, September 15, 2008, Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy. The Dow dropped more than 200 points.2 On Tuesday, September 16, 2008, the Fed announced it was bailing out insurance giant American International Group Inc. It made an $85 billion loan in return for 79.9% equity, effectively taking ownership. AIG had run out of cash. It wa…
October 2008
- Congress finally passed the bailout bill in early October, but the damage had already been done.24 The Labor Department reported that the economy had lost a whopping 159,000 jobs in the prior month.25 On Monday, October 6, 2008, the Dow dropped by 800 points, closing below 10,000 for the first time since 2004.26 The Fed tried to prop up banks by lending $540 billion to money mar…
November 2008
- The month began with more bad news. The Labor Department reported that the economy had lost a staggering 240,000 jobs in October.34 The AIG bailout grew to $150 billion.35 The Bush administration announced it was using part of the $700 billion bailouts to buy preferred stocks in the nations' banks.36 The Big Three automakers asked for a federal bailout. By November 20, 20…
December 2008
- The Fed dropped the fed funds rate to 0%, its lowest level in history.29 The Dow ended the year at a sickening 8,776.39, down almost 34% for the year.2
Aftermath
- Investors bore the emotional scars from the crash for the next four years. On June 1, 2012, they panicked over a poor May jobs report and the eurozone debt crisis. The Dow dropped 275 points.39 The 10-year benchmark Treasury yield dropped to 1.47.40 This yield was the lowest rate in more than 200 years.41It signaled that the confidence that evaporated during 2008 had not q…
The Bottom Line
- The stock market crash of 2008 was a result of defaults on consolidated mortgage-backed securities. Subprime housing loans comprised most MBS. Banks offered these loans to almost everyone, even those who weren’t creditworthy. When the housing market fell, many homeowners defaulted on their loans. These defaults resounded all over the financial industry, which heavily i…
The Housing Market Bubble
The Bubble Bursts
- Banks began to lend recklessly to families and individuals without true means to follow through on the mortgages they’d been granted. Such high-risk (subprime) loans were then inevitably bundled together and passed down the line. As the subprime mortgage bundles grew in number to an overwhelming degree, with a large percentage moving into default, lending institutions bega…
The Aftermath of The Global Financial Crisis of 2008-2009
- Many who took out subprime mortgages eventually defaulted. When they could not pay, financial institutions took major hits. The government, however, stepped in to bail out banks. The housing market was deeply impacted by the crisis. Evictions and foreclosuresbegan within months. The stock market, in response, began to plummet and major businesses w...
Additional Resources
- Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to the Global Financial Crisis 2008-2009. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following CFI resources will be helpful: 1. Economic Depression 2. Quantitative Easing 3. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 4. Top Accounting Scandals