
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&…
Irving Fisher
Irving Fisher was an American economist, statistician, inventor, and Progressive social campaigner. He was one of the earliest American neoclassical economists, though his later work on debt deflation has been embraced by the Post-Keynesian school. Joseph Schumpeter describe…
Full Answer
What was the stock market crash of 1929 Quizlet?
Nov 22, 2013 · The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased six-fold from sixty-three in August 1921 to 381 in September 1929. After prices peaked, economist Irving Fisher proclaimed, “stock prices have reached ‘what looks like a permanently high plateau.’” 1. The epic boom ended in a cataclysmic bust.
When did the stock market peak in 1929?
Apr 13, 2018 · In August 1929 – just weeks before the stock market crashed – the Federal Reserve Bank of New York raised the interest rate from 5 percent to 6 percent. Some experts say this steep, sudden ...
Did the 1929 stock market crash signal trouble ahead?
May 03, 2017 · True: the stock market crash of 1929 caused the Great Depression. webew7 and 36 more users found this answer helpful. heart outlined. Thanks 19. star. star. star. star half outlined. star outlined.
What happened to the stock market in the 1930s?
Dec 20, 2018 · It started with a technique called “moral suasion,” similar to Alan Greenspan’s warning in 1996 that “irrational exuberance” was artificially …

What were the results of the 1929 stock market crash quizlet?
Which best explains why the stock market crashed in 1929?
What was the value of the stock market in 1929?
What happened after the stock market crash of 1929?
Who did the stock market crash of 1929 affect?
By 1933, nearly half of America's banks had failed, and unemployment was approaching 15 million people, or 30 percent of the workforce.Apr 27, 2021
When did the stock market recover from 1929?
Why was the stock market so popular in the 1920s?
What happened on October 24th 1929?
October 24, is known as Black Thursday; on that day a record 12.9 million shares were traded as investors rushed to salvage their losses.
What impacts did the stock market crash of 1929 have on the American economy?
What were some effects of the stock market crash in October 1929?
What was the outcome of the stock market crash of October 1929 quizlet?
What were the causes of the 1929 stock market crash?
The 1929 crash was preceded by a decade of record economic growth and speculation in a bull market that saw the DJIA skyrocket 400% over five years. Other factors leading up to the stock market crash include unscrupulous actions by public utility holding companies, overproduction of durable goods, and an ongoing agricultural slump.
What caused the 1929 financial crash?
Another factor experts cite as leading to the 1929 crash is the overproduction in many industries that caused an oversupply of steel, iron, and durable goods. When it became clear that demand was low and there were not enough buyers for their goods, manufacturers dumped their products at a loss and share prices began to plummet. Some experts also cite an ongoing agricultural recession as another factor impacting the financial markets.
When did the Dow Jones Industrial Average bottom out?
In fact, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) did not bottom out until July 8, 1932, by which time it had fallen 89% from its Sept. 1929 peak, making it the biggest bear market in Wall Street’s history. The Dow Jones did not return to its 1929 high until Nov. 1954.
What broke the camel's back?
However, the straw that broke the camel’s back was probably the news in Oct. 1929 that the public utility holding companies would be regulated. The resulting sell-off cascaded through the system as investors who had bought stocks on margin became forced sellers.
What was the cause of the 1929 crash?
The lack of government oversight was one of the major causes of the 1929 crash—thanks to laissez-faire economic theories. In response, Congress passed an array of important federal regulations aimed at stabilizing the markets.
Will Kenton be an investor?
Will Kenton has 10 years of experience as a writer and editor. He developed Investopedia's Anxiety Index and its performance marketing initiative. He is an expert on the economy and investing laws and regulations. Will holds a Bachelor of Arts in literature and political science from Ohio University. He received his Master of Arts in economics at The New School for Social Research. He earned his Master of Arts and his Doctor of Philosophy in English literature at New York University.
What happened to the stock market in 1929?
When the market crashed in 1929, banks issued margin calls . Due to the massive number of shares bought on margin by the general public and the lack of cash on the sidelines, entire portfolios were liquidated. As a result, the stock market spiraled downwards.
What was the stock market like in the 1920s?
In the first half of the 1920s, companies experienced a great deal of success in exporting to Europe, which was rebuilding from World War I. Unemployment was low, and automobiles spread across the country, creating jobs and efficiencies for the economy. Until the peak in 1929, stock prices went up by nearly 10 times. In the 1920s, investing in the stock market became somewhat of a national pastime for those who could afford it and even those who could not—the latter borrowed from stockbrokers to finance their investments.
When did the Great Depression end?
However, the era came to a dramatic and abrupt end in October 1929 when the stock market crashed, paving the way into America's Great Depression of the 1930s. In the years to follow, economic upheaval ensued as the U.S. economy shrank by more than 36% from 1929 to 1933, as measured by Gross Domestic Product ( GDP).
What was the result of the Great War?
The result was a series of legislative measures by the U.S. Congress to increase tariffs on imports from Europe.
What happened in 1929?
In October of 1929, the stock market crashed, wiping out billions of dollars of wealth and heralding the Great Depression. Known as Black Thursday, the crash was preceded by a period of phenomenal growth and speculative expansion. A glut of supply and dissipating demand helped lead to the economic downturn as producers could no longer readily sell ...
What was the impact of the 1920s on the economy?
In the first half of the 1920s, companies experienced a great deal of success in exporting to Europe, which was rebuilding from World War I. Unemployment was low, and automobiles spread across the country, creating jobs and efficiencies for the economy. Until the peak in 1929, stock prices went up by nearly 10 times.
How does margin trading work?
Margin trading can lead to significant gains in bull markets (or rising markets) since the borrowed funds allow investors to buy more stock than they could otherwise afford by using only cash. As a result , when stock prices rise, the gains are magn ified by the leverage or borrowed funds.
What was the cause of the 1929 stock market crash?
Most economists agree that several, compounding factors led to the stock market crash of 1929. A soaring, overheated economy that was destined to one day fall likely played a large role.
What happened in 1929?
In August 1929 – just weeks before the stock market crashed – the Federal Reserve Bank of New York raised the interest rate from 5 percent to 6 percent. Some experts say this steep, sudden hike cooled investor enthusiasm, which affected market stability and sharply reduced economic growth.
What was the worst economic event in history?
The stock market crash of 1929 was the worst economic event in world history. What exactly caused the stock market crash, and could it have been prevented?
When did the Dow go up?
The market officially peaked on September 3, 1929, when the Dow shot up to 381.
When did the stock market peak?
The market officially peaked on September 3, 1929, when the Dow shot up to 381. By this time, many ordinary working-class citizens had became interested in stock investments, and some purchased stocks “on margin,” meaning they paid only a small percentage of the value and borrowed the rest from a bank or broker.
Why did people buy stocks in the 1920s?
During the 1920s, there was a rapid growth in bank credit and easily acquired loans. People encouraged by the market’s stability were unafraid of debt.
Who was the bankrupt investor who tried to sell his roadster?
Bankrupt investor Walter Thornton trying to sell his luxury roadster for $100 cash on the streets of New York City following the 1929 stock market crash. (Credit: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) Bettmann Archive/Getty Images.
What was the stock market crash of 1929?
The stock market crash of 1929 was a collapse of stock prices that began on Oct. 24, 1929. By Oct. 29, 1929, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had dropped 24.8%, 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 happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1929?
By Oct. 29, 1929, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had dropped 24.8%, 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 happened in 1929?
Updated September 02, 2020. The stock market crash of 1929 was a collapse of stock prices that began on Oct. 24, 1929. By Oct. 29, 1929, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had dropped 24.8%, marking one of the worst declines in U.S. history. 1 It destroyed confidence in Wall Street markets and led to the Great Depression .
Who is Thomas Brock?
Thomas Brock is a well-rounded financial professional, with over 20 years of experience in investments, corporate finance, and accounting. The stock market crash of 1929 was a collapse of stock prices that began on Oct. 24, 1929.
Who is Kimberly Amadeo?
Kimberly Amadeo is an expert on U.S. and world economies and investing, with over 20 years of experience in economic analysis and business strategy. She is the President of the economic website World Money Watch.
Why did the Federal Reserve start?
One of the reasons Congress created the Federal Reserve in 1914 was to stem this kind of credit-fueled market speculation. Starting in 1928, the Fed launched a very public campaign to slow down runaway stock prices by cutting off easy credit to investors, Richardson says.
When did the Fed raise interest rates?
General Photographic Agency/Getty Images. In a last ditch effort to undercut the spike in stock prices, the Fed decided to raise interest rates in August 1929.
Who is Gary Richardson?
Gary Richardson, an economics professor at the University of California Irvine and a former historian for the Federal Reserve, has researched the Fed’s role in the 1929 crash and the ensuing Great Depression. He says that the first warning sign of a looming market correction was a general consensus that the blistering pace at which stock prices ...
Is it risky to buy on margin?
Buying on margin lets investors buy more stock with less money, but it’s inherently risky since the broker can issue a margin call at any time to collect on the loan. And if the share price has gone down, the investor will have to pay back the full loan balance plus some change.
Who was the prophet of doom?
Economist Roger Babson was one of the most prominent prophets of doom, concluding that stock prices were wildly inflated compared to the prospect of future dividends. In September 1929, Babson told a National Business Conference in Massachusetts that “sooner or later a crash is coming which will take in the leading stocks and cause a decline from 60 to 80 points in the Dow-Jones barometer… Some day the time is coming when the market will begin to slide off, sellers will exceed buyers and paper profits will begin to disappear. Then there will immediately be a stampede to save what paper profits then exist.”

What Was The Stock Market Crash of 1929?
Understanding The Stock Market Crash of 1929
- The stock market crash of 1929 followed a bull market that had seen the Dow Jones rise significantly in five years. But with industrial companies trading at price-to-earnings ratios (P/E ratios) of over 15, valuations did not appear unreasonable after a decade of record productivity growth in manufacturing; that is, until you take into account the public utility holding companies.…
Other Factors Leading to The 1929 Stock Market Crash
- Another factor experts cite as leading to the 1929 crashis the overproduction in many industries that caused an oversupply of steel, iron, and durable goods. When it became clear that demand was low and there were not enough buyers for their goods, manufacturers dumped their products at a loss and share prices began to plummet. Some experts also cite an ongoing agricultural rec…
The Aftermath of The 1929 Stock Market Crash
- Instead of trying to stabilize the financial system, the Fed, thinking the crash was necessary or even desirable, did nothing to prevent the wave of bank failures that paralyzed the financial system—and so made the slump worse than it might have been. As Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon told President Herbert Hoover: "Liquidate labor, liquidate stocks, liquidate the farmers, liq…
Special Considerations
- The lack of government oversight was one of the major causes of the 1929 crash, thanks to laissez-faire economic theories. In response, Congress passed an array of important federal regulations aimed at stabilizing the markets. These include the Glass Steagall Act of 1933, the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, and the Public Utility Holding Companies Act of 1935.
Black Thursday
Before The Crash: A Period of Phenomenal Growth
- In the first half of the 1920s, companies experienced a great deal of success in exporting to Europe, which was rebuilding from World War I. Unemployment was low, and automobiles spread across the country, creating jobs and efficiencies for the economy. Until the peak in 1929, stock prices went up by nearly 10 times. In the 1920s, investing in the stock market became somewha…
Overproduction and Oversupply in Markets
- People were not buying stocks on fundamentals; they were buying in anticipation of rising share prices. Rising share prices brought more people into the markets, convinced that it was easy money. In mid-1929, the economy stumbled due to excess production in many industries, creating an oversupply. Essentially, companies could acquire money cheaply due to high share prices an…
Global Trade and Tariffs
- With Europe recovering from the Great War and production increasing, the oversupply of agricultural goods meant American farmers lost a key market to sell their goods. The result was a series of legislative measures by the U.S. Congress to increase tariffs on imports from Europe. However, the tariffs expanded beyond agricultural goods, and many nations also added tariffs t…
Excess Debt
- Margin trading can lead to significant gains in bull markets (or rising markets) since the borrowed funds allow investors to buy more stock than they could otherwise afford by using only cash. As a result, when stock prices rise, the gains are magnified by the leverageor borrowed funds. However, when markets are falling, the losses in the stock positions are also magnified. If a port…
The Aftermath of The Crash
- The stock market crash and the ensuing Great Depression (1929-1939) directly impacted nearly every segment of society and altered an entire generation's perspective and relationship to the financial markets. In a sense, the time frame after the market crash was a total reversal of the attitude of the Roaring Twenties, which had been a time of great optimism, high consumer spen…
A Timeline of What Happened
Financial Climate Leading Up to The Crash
- Earlier in the week of the stock market crash, the New York Times and other media outlets may have fanned the panic with articles about violent trading periods, short-selling, and the exit of foreign investors; however many reports downplayed the severity of these changes, comparing the market instead to a similar "spring crash" earlier that year, after which the market bounced b…
Effects of The Crash
- The crash wiped many people out. They were forced to sell businesses and cash in their life savings. Brokers called in their loans when the stock market started falling. People scrambled to find enough money to pay for their margins. They lost faith in Wall Street. By July 8, 1932, the Dow was down to 41.22. That was an 89.2% loss from its record-high close of 381.17 on September …
Key Events
- March 1929:The Dow dropped, but bankers reassured investors.
- August 8: The Federal Reserve Bank of New York raised the discount rate to 6%.16
- September 3: The Dow peaked at 381.17. That was a 27% increase over the prior year's peak.1
- September 26: The Bank of England also raised its rate to protect the gold standard.17