What financial firm's September 2008 bankruptcy intensified the global stock-market crash?

Lehman Brothers' September 2008 bankruptcy intensified the global stock-market crash.

Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy on September 15, 2008, after suffering enormous losses connected to U.S. mortgages and mortgage-related securities. With more than $600 billion in assets, it was the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history at that time. The failure sharply increased fears that other major financial institutions could also collapse.

The bankruptcy came during the global financial crisis, after the U.S. housing bubble had burst and falling home prices weakened mortgage-linked investments. Credit markets froze as banks became uncertain about their counterparties. Stock markets around the world then suffered severe losses, while governments and central banks introduced emergency lending, guarantees, rescues, and stimulus measures.

Bear Stearns had already been rescued and sold to JPMorgan Chase in March 2008, so it is often confused with Lehman Brothers. Merrill Lynch was acquired by Bank of America in September, while Washington Mutual failed later that month.