Stock FAQs

what caused the stock market crash of 2008?

by Dr. Earl Deckow Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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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.

Full Answer

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.

When was the last market crash?

Though the market was ’saved’ from a disastrous month during the last two trading days in January 2022, the results were nonetheless atrocious. Market crashes don’t necessarily have to happen in a day, week, or month. After the mid-month holiday ...

When will the stock market collapse?

“Stocks are on their last legs,” he declares, predicting that the market will plummet 80%. Indeed, in the first two to three months of 2022, it will drop more than 50%, Dent, a Harvard Business School MBA, foresees. The essential problem, he says, is that “the market bubble is expanding; the economy is slowing rapidly.”

Is stock market going to collapse?

The biggest stock market crash of our lifetime will be in 2022. You’ve got to protect your money to take advantage of the sale that’s coming when stocks go down 80%, or else you won’t have money to...

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What were the 3 main causes of the recession of 2008?

The Great Recession, one of the worst economic declines in US history, officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009.The collapse of the housing market — fueled by low interest rates, easy credit, insufficient regulation, and toxic subprime mortgages — led to the economic crisis.More items...•

Who was responsible for the 2008 market crash?

The Biggest Culprit: The Lenders Most of the blame is on the mortgage originators or the lenders. That's because they were responsible for creating these problems. After all, the lenders were the ones who advanced loans to people with poor credit and a high risk of default. 7 Here's why that happened.

What was one main cause of the Great Recession of 2008?

Causes of the Recession The Great Recession—sometimes referred to as the 2008 Recession—in the United States and Western Europe has been linked to the so-called “subprime mortgage crisis.” Subprime mortgages are home loans granted to borrowers with poor credit histories. Their home loans are considered high-risk loans.

How long did it take to recover from 2008 recession?

Real GDP bottomed out in the second quarter of 2009 and regained its pre-recession peak in the second quarter of 2011, three and a half years after the initial onset of the official recession.

Did Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae caused the financial crisis?

Again, they were seeking to maintain high stock prices in a very competitive housing market. As government-sponsored enterprises, Fannie and Freddie took on more risk than they should have. They didn't protect the taxpayers who ultimately had to absorb their losses. But they didn't cause the housing downturn.

What really happened in the 2008 financial crisis?

Key Takeaways. The 2007-2009 financial crisis began years earlier with cheap credit and lax lending standards that fueled a housing bubble. When the bubble burst, financial institutions were left holding trillions of dollars worth of near-worthless investments in subprime mortgages.

How long did 2008 crash last?

From October 6–10, 2008, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed lower in all five sessions. Volume levels were record-breaking. The DJIA fell over 1,874 points, or 18%, in its worst weekly decline ever on both a points and percentage basis. The S&P 500 fell more than 20%.

How did Lehman Brothers cause the financial crisis?

The company acquired a number of lenders, several of whom focused on providing the subprime loans that the U.S. government had been pushing since the turn of the century. Their huge investments in MBS, many of which were teeming with subprime mortgage loans, is what caused the demise of Lehman Brothers.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 caused the stock market crash of 2008?

The stock market crash of 2008 was as 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.

What are the 3 main causes of the stock market crash?

By then, production had already declined and unemployment had risen, leaving stocks in great excess of their real value. Among the other causes of the stock market crash of 1929 were low wages, the proliferation of debt, a struggling agricultural sector and an excess of large bank loans that could not be liquidated.

What caused the Wall Street stock market crash?

The 1929 stock market crash was a result of an unsustainable boom in share prices in the preceding years. The boom in share prices was caused by the irrational exuberance of investors, buying shares on the margin, and over-confidence in the sustainability of economic growth.

Will the stock market recover in 2020?

As seen here, the market experiences small ups and downs almost constantly. But overall, there has been a strong upward trend over the years — even after the major market downturns in 2008 and earlier in 2020. If the market crashes again, it’s extremely likely it will recover.

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.

Should I buy stocks now or wait?

The data suggests that it is better to invest in stocks now than wait for a drop — or for the perfect entry point. Stock market returns are higher than the alternatives due to the risk of loss. Over short periods of time, markets can and do decline. Long-term investors have enjoyed growing returns in the stock market.

Where should I invest if the stock market crashes?

If you think a crash is likely to occur, you might want to look into some of them.TIPS. You can buy Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities from the U.S. Treasury or from a bank or broker to provide you with some protection against inflation. Precious Metals. Foreign Currency. Savings Accounts. Read More:

Why did the stock market crash in 2008?

In all, the stock market crash 2008 as a result of a series of events that eventually led to the failure of some of the largest companies in the US.

What was the impact of the 2008 stock market crash?

There is no doubt behind the saying, that the crash pushed the banking system towards the edge of collapse.

What was the Dow value in September 2008?

The day was ended at the Dow value of 11,388.44. On September 20, 2008, the bank bailout bill was sent to Congress by Secretary Paulson and Federal Reserve Chair. The Dow fell to 777.68 points during the intraday trading that increased panic in the Global Market.

How many points did the Dow drop in 2008?

By September 17, 2008, the Dow fell by 446.92 points. By the end of the week on September 19, 2008, the Fed established the Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility that committed to offer loans to banks to buy Commerical paper from the money market funds.

How much did the Fed lose from Lehman Brothers?

By making $85 billion loans for 79.9% equity the Fed took ownership of the AIG. With the collapse of Lehman Brothers, there was a loss of $196 billion that increased the panic among many businesses. Bank has driven up the rates as they were afraid to lend money. By September 17, 2008, the Dow fell by 446.92 points.

What was the fourth cause of the 2008 financial crisis?

The fourth cause of the crash of 2008 was found to be the depression era Glass Steagall Act (1933) that allowed banks, securities firms and other insurance companies to enter into each other’s markets resulting in the formation of the bank that was too big to fail.

What were the causes of the Federal Reserve's crash?

Some of the top reasons for the crash are: Mild Recession in the Federal Reserve. Federal Reserve the Central Bank was facing a mild recession since 2001. The recession period resulted in the reduction of the federal funds rate from 6.5 to 1.75 from May 2000 to December 2001.

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.

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.

What bank bought Merrill Lynch?

Panic ensued in the money market fund industry, resulting in massive redemption requests. On the same day, Bank of America (BAC) announced it was buying Merrill Lynch, the nation's largest brokerage company.

How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average drop in 2008?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 54% in 17 months. In 2008 alone, the DJIA suffered five out of its top 10 largest daily point losses in history - it sank 429 points in just five minutes on Sept. 29, after the U.S. House of Representatives failed to bail out $700 billion in bank debt. Shortly thereafter, the Dow plummeted 18% (1,874 points) ...

How much did Fuld make in 2007?

Fuld, who'd earned a salary of $34 million in 2007, and $40.5 million in 2006, managed to save much of his wealth despite his bad behavior. For example, on Nov. 10, 2008, he "sold" his $13.75 million Florida mansion to his wife for $100 to protect his assets.

What was the settlement for Mozilo?

On Oct. 15, 2010, he settled with the SEC for securities fraud and insider trading. He paid $67.5 million in fines - the largest settlement by an executive connected to the stock market crash. Mozilo never admitted to any wrongdoing and was never pursued criminally.

When did Lehman Brothers file for bankruptcy?

In 2008, three of the largest American investment banks fell, and Lehman Brothers was the first to go. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sept. 15, 2008 – the largest in U.S. history at $613 billion in debts outstanding.

Did Mozilo escape the SEC?

While execs like Mozilo cashed out, the company's shareholders hemorrhaged - Countrywide investors suffered a more than $25 billion decline in market capitalization. Mozilo didn't escape the crisis totally unscathed. On Oct. 15, 2010, he settled with the SEC for securities fraud and insider trading.

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2007

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The Dow opened the year at 12,474.52.2 It rose despite growing concerns about the subprime mortgage crisis. On December 19, 2006, the U.S. Department of Commerce warned that October's new home permits were 28% fewer than the year before.4 But economists didn't think the housing slowdown would affect the rest …
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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 …
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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
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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…
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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…
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