
The market crashed, partly, because Congress initially rejected the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, popularly known as the bank bailout bill. 1 But the stresses that led to the crash had been building for a long time. On October 9, 2007, the Dow
Dow Jones Industrial Average
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, or simply the Dow, is a stock market index that indicates the value of 30 large, publicly owned companies based in the United States, and how they have traded in the stock market during various periods of time. These 30 companies are also included in the S&…
What actually happens during a stock market crash?
The stock market crash of 1987 was a steep decline in U.S. stock prices over a few days in October of 1987; in addition to impacting the U.S. stock market, its repercussions were also observed in other major world stock markets.
What is the worst stock market crash?
The worst stock market crash in history started in 1929 and was one of the catalysts of the Great Depression. The crash abruptly ended a period known as the Roaring Twenties, during which the economy expanded significantly and the stock market boomed.
What was the worst market crash?
The Wall Street Crash, or better known as the Great Crash, was the American stock market crash that occurred in 1929. The crash started in September and ended in October when share prices on NYSE collapsed. It was one of the worst stock market crashes in history. The crash followed the London Stock Exchange’s crash of September.
Can the stock market really crash?
Stock traders are debating if this is a sign that the recent rally is ending. Could a crash be on the horizon ... Whether we will witness a stock market meltdown depends on whether the U.S. can sustain its efforts and success in dealing with the ...

How long did the market crash 2008 take to recover?
In October 2008, the U.S. government approved a bailout package in an effort to protect the U.S. financial system and promote economic growth. By mid-2009, the economy had finally begun to recover.
Who was responsible for the 2008 stock market crash?
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.
Why did the stock market crash in 2008 simple explanation?
The stock market and housing crash of 2008 had its origins in the unprecedented growth of the subprime mortgage market beginning in 1999. U.S. government-sponsored mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made home loans accessible to borrowers who had low credit scores and a higher risk of defaulting on loans.
Who made money from 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.
How did Morgan Stanley survive the financial crisis?
During the financial crisis, Morgan Stanley reportedly lost 80% of its market value between 2007 and 2008. To survive the crisis, the firm received capital infusions from several entities.
Who went to jail for 2008?
Kareem SerageldinKareem SerageldinBorn1973 (age 48–49) Cairo, EgyptEducationYale University (1994)Known forThe only American to serve jail time as a result of the financial crisis of 2007–2008
How could the financial crisis of 2008 been prevented?
Two things could have prevented the crisis. The first would have been regulation of mortgage brokers, who made the bad loans, and hedge funds, which used too much leverage. The second would have been to recognize early on that it was a credibility problem. The only solution was for the government to buy bad loans.
How much money did Michael Burry make 2008?
Eventually, Burry's analysis proved correct: He made a personal profit of $100 million and a profit for his remaining investors of more than $700 million. Scion Capital ultimately recorded returns of 489.34% (net of fees and expenses) between its November 1, 2000 inception and June 2008.
What should I invest in when stock market crashes?
A diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds and other asset classes offers the most protection against a market crash.
What investments did well in 2008?
The best performing assets were hedge funds, US treasuries and gold. The worst performing assets were stocks, junk bonds and listed property investments.
What was the financial crisis of 2008?
The 2008 financial crisis had its origins in the housing market, for generations the symbolic cornerstone of American prosperity. Federal policy conspicuously supported the American dream of homeownership since at least the 1930s, when the U.S. government began to back the mortgage market. It went further after WWII, offering veterans cheap home loans through the G.I. Bill. Policymakers reasoned they could avoid a return to prewar slump conditions so long as the undeveloped lands around cities could fill up with new houses, and the new houses with new appliances, and the new driveways with new cars. All this new buying meant new jobs, and security for generations to come.
What was the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000?
Congress gave them one way to do so in 2000, with the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, deregulating over-the-counter derivatives—securities that were essentially bets that two parties could privately make on the future price of an asset. Like, for example, bundled mortgages.
Why did the mortgage salesmen make these deals without investigating a borrower's fitness or a property's
The salesmen could make these deals without investigating a borrower's fitness or a property's value because the lenders they represented had no intention of keeping the loans. Lenders would sell these mortgages onward; bankers would bundle them into securities and peddle them to institutional investors eager for the returns the American housing market had yielded so consistently since the 1930s. The ultimate mortgage owners would often be thousands of miles away and unaware of what they had bought. They knew only that the rating agencies said it was as safe as houses always had been, at least since the Depression.
What did Jim Bunning call the bailouts?
Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky called the bailouts "a calamity for our free-market system" and, essentially, "socialism"—albeit the sort of socialism that favored Wall Street, rather than workers. Earlier in the year, Paulson had identified Lehman as a potential problem and spoke privately to its chief executive, Richard Fuld.
What was the financial environment like in the early 21st century?
The financial environment of the early 21st century looked more like the United States before the Depression than after: a country on the brink of a crash. pinterest-pin-it. An employee of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. carrying a box out of the company's headquarters after it filed for bankruptcy.
When did Paulson say the government would not rescue Lehman?
By the weekend of September 13-14, 2008, Lehman was clearly finished, with perhaps tens of billions of dollars in overvalued assets on its balance sheets.
What was the only institution the bankers trusted?
After decades of trying to push the U.S. government out of banking, it turned out that in the end, the U.S. government was the only institution the bankers trusted.
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 did the Dow drop in 2008?
The Dow would plummet 3,600 points from its Sept. 19, 2008 intraday high of 11,483 to the Oct. 10, 2008 intraday low of 7,882. The following is a recap of the major U.S. events that unfolded during this historic three-week period.
What mortgages are lethal?
Among the most potentially lethal of the mortgages offered to subprime borrowers were the interest-only ARM and the payment option ARM, both adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). Both of these mortgage types have the borrower making much lower initial payments than would be due under a fixed-rate mortgage. After a period of time, often only two or three years, these ARMs reset. The payments then fluctuate as frequently as monthly, often becoming much larger than the initial payments.
Why did Bear Stearns fail?
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.
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 bank did the FDIC take over?
After a 10-day bank run, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) seizes Washington Mutual, then the nation's largest savings and loan, which had been heavily exposed to subprime mortgage debt. Its assets are transferred to JPMorgan Chase (JPM). 8
When did the subprime mortgage market start?
Read on to learn how the explosive growth of the subprime mortgage market, which began in 1999, played a significant role in setting the stage for the turmoil that would unfold just nine years later in 2008 when both the stock market and housing market crashed.
How much did the stock market drop in 2008?
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.
Are we heading for a recession 2020?
Perhaps the best indicator of economic performance is unemployment. Watch unemployment closely in 2020. We’re currently at 3.5% unemployment, a move up to 4% could easily mean recession, but if we drift closer to 3% in 2020 then that’s likely enough to keep the economy growing.
Do you lose all your money if the stock market crashes?
Yes, a company can lose all its value and have that be reflected in its stock price. (Major indexes, like the New York Stock Exchange, will actually de-list stocks that drop below a certain price.) It can even file for bankruptcy. Shareholders can lose their entire investment in such unfortunate situations.
How long did it take stocks to recover after the Great Depression?
25 yearsWall Street lore and historical charts indicate that it took 25 years to recover from the stock market crash of 1929.
Where should I put money in a recession?
Investors typically flock to fixed-income investments (such as bonds) or dividend-yielding investments (such as dividend stocks) during recessions because they offer routine cash payments.
How low can the stock market go before it crashes?
In theory, there is no limit to how far the stock market can decline. The stock market crash of 1929 ended up with an almost 90 percent loss of market value when that bear market was finished. Although investors expect the market to increase over time, values can and do drop.
Who benefits from a recession?
3. It balances everyday costs. Just as high employment leads companies to raise their prices, high unemployment leads them to cut prices in order to move goods and services. People on fixed incomes and those who keep most of their money in cash can benefit from new, lower prices.
What has the Fed done to help the financial crisis?
Its kept rates low for years, eased institutions’ access to funds, and purchased large chunks of mortgage-backed securities and longer-term Treasurys, among other moves. Advertisement.
How much money did Fannie and Freddie send to the Treasury?
By the end of the current quarter, Fannie and Freddie will have sent a total of almost $150 billion to Treasury, compared to the nearly $190 billion in taxpayer assistance received by the once-flailing firms. Read Next.
Why is the VIX used as a gauge of fear among investors?
The VIX can be used as a gauge of fear among investors because a volatile market is one that can signal disruptions and unease. The last large jump up in the fear index was in 2011, after Standard & Poor’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating.
When did the government put Fannie and Freddie into conservatorship?
The government-sponsored enterprises were first placed into federal conservatorship in 2008, with a promise at the time that the arrangement would last until the Fannie and Freddie were restored “ to a safe and solvent condition .”. Five years later, the Federal Housing Finance Agency still oversees Fannie and Freddie.
Is Fannie Mae still under federal control?
While there have been failures and changes over the past five years, here’s one constant: mortgage giants Fannie Mae FNMA, and Freddie Mac FMCC, are still around and still under federal control.
Is Fannie and Freddie going to wind down?
While U.S. lawmakers are considering options to wind down Fannie and Freddie, there’s concern that political will is dimming. After all, now that the housing market is strengthening, Fannie and Freddie are reporting profits, much of which are sent to Treasury.
What happened to 401(k) in 2008?
These 401 (k) funds took a beating in 2008 — and it could happen again 1 Target-date funds whose investors were on the verge of retirement experienced losses exceeding 20 percent during the 2008 crisis. 2 Market corrections happen, but investors must maintain a long-term focus and save consistently.
What percentage of the fund's assets are invested in equities?
About 70 percent of this fund’s assets were invested in equities, according to Morningstar. The financial crisis also unearthed another risk: Bonds weren’t necessarily a safe place to hide, either. “Some funds were burned because they were too aggressive on the fixed income side,” said Holt.
Is Target Date Fund immune to losses?
It should be clear that target-date funds aren’t immune to losses. They weren’t in 2008, and they won’t be in 2018. Jeff Holt.

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
2009
- On January 2, 2009, the Dow climbed to 9,034.69.2 Investors believed the new Obama administration could tackle the recession with its team of economic advisers. But the bad economic news continued. On March 5, 2009, the Dow plummeted to its bottom of 6,594.44.37 Soon afterward, President Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan instilled the confidence nee…
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…
Overview
The financial crisis of 2008, or Global Financial Crisis, was a severe worldwide economic crisis that occurred in the early 21st century. It was the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression (1929). Predatory lending targeting low-income homebuyers, excessive risk-taking by global financial institutions, and the bursting of the United States housing bubble culminated in a "perfect storm." Mortgage …
Causes
While the causes of the bubble and subsequent crash are disputed, the precipitating factor for the Financial Crisis of 2007–2008 was the bursting of the United States housing bubble and the subsequent subprime mortgage crisis, which occurred due to a high default rate and resulting foreclosures of mortgage loans, particularly adjustable-rate mortgages. Some or all of the following fact…
Background
The crisis sparked the Great Recession, which, at the time, was the most severe global recession since the Great Depression. It was also followed by the European debt crisis, which began with a deficit in Greece in late 2009, and the 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis, which involved the bank failure of all three of the major banks in Iceland and, relative to the size of its economy, was the la…
History
The following is a timeline of the major events of the financial crisis, including government responses, and the subsequent economic recovery:
• May 19, 2005: Fund manager Michael Burry closed a credit default swap against subprime mortgage bonds with Deutsche Bank valued at $60 million – the first such CDS. He projected they would become volatile within two years of the lo…
Economists who predicted the crisis
Economists, particularly followers of mainstream economics, mostly failed to predict the crisis. The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania's online business journal examined why economists failed to predict a major global financial crisis and concluded that economists used mathematical models that failed to account for the critical roles that banks and other financial institutions, as opposed to producers and consumers of goods and services, play in the economy.
IndyMac
The first visible institution to run into trouble in the United States was the Southern California–based IndyMac, a spin-off of Countrywide Financial. Before its failure, IndyMac Bank was the largest savings and loan association in the Los Angeles market and the seventh largest mortgage loan originator in the United States. The failure of IndyMac Bank on July 11, 2008, was the fourth largest bank failure in United States history up until the crisis precipitated even larger fa…
Notable books and movies
• In 2006, Peter Schiff authored a book titled Crash Proof: How to Profit From the Coming Economic Collapse, which was published in February 2007 by Wiley. The book describes various features of the economy and housing market that led to the United States housing bubble, and warns of the impending decline. After many of the predictions came to pass, a second edition titled Crash Proof 2.0 was published in 2009, which included a "2009 update" addendum at the end of each c…
See also
• Banking (Special Provisions) Act 2008 (United Kingdom)
• List of bank failures in the United States (2008–present)
• 2008–2009 Keynesian resurgence
• 2010 United States foreclosure crisis