How long did the 2010 United States Flash Crash last from its rapid fall to recovery?

The 2010 United States Flash Crash lasted about 36 minutes from its rapid fall to recovery.

On May 6, 2010, major United States stock indexes dropped dramatically during the afternoon before recovering much of the loss. The Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly fell by roughly 1,000 points, or about 9%, within minutes. Many individual securities also experienced bizarre temporary prices.

Investigations concluded that high-frequency trading and automated order systems played a major role in amplifying the move. A large sell order in E-mini S&P 500 futures interacted with already stressed markets and triggered a feedback loop of rapid buying and selling. The exact mechanics were complex, and regulators later introduced reforms to improve market stability.

The event differed from a conventional bear market because its most extreme movement happened within one trading session. It also demonstrated how electronic markets could transmit pressure across products and exchanges faster than human traders could respond.