The Dow Jones Industrial Average reached its lowest close of the 2020 COVID-19 crash on March 23, 2020.
The Dow closed at 18,591.93 that day, after markets had fallen rapidly as the coronavirus pandemic disrupted travel, production, employment, and consumer activity. Investors also reacted to uncertainty about public-health restrictions, corporate earnings, and the global economic outlook.
The 2020 decline was unusually fast. The S&P 500 entered a bear market in March, and U.S. exchanges triggered several temporary circuit breakers during the sell-off. Central banks and governments then introduced large monetary and fiscal support measures, while progress on vaccines later helped improve expectations.
March 9 and March 16 were also dramatic trading days, which can cause confusion. March 23 marks the Dow’s closing low for that crash; the index then rebounded sharply, although economic damage and market volatility continued.