On March 16, 2020, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2,997 points, its largest point drop at that time.
The fall occurred during the 2020 stock-market crash, when investors reacted to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic, economic shutdowns, and emergency monetary and fiscal measures. The Dow fell 2,997.10 points, or about 12.9%, in one session. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also suffered major declines that day.
The record was measured in points rather than percentage terms. That distinction matters because a point loss depends on the index’s level, while a percentage loss allows comparisons across different periods. March 16 was also the third trading halt in a week under newly expanded circuit-breaker rules. The Dow later reached a pandemic-era low on March 23 before beginning a powerful recovery.