The Shanghai Composite reached its 2015 peak on June 12, 2015, before the Chinese stock-market crash.
The index closed at 5,178.19 that day after a rapid run-up fueled by retail participation, margin borrowing, and expectations of continued economic and policy support. Chinese shares had risen sharply during the preceding year, and leveraged investors were particularly exposed to falling prices.
The market then suffered a steep decline. Authorities introduced measures including trading restrictions, state-backed purchases, and efforts to limit forced selling, but volatility remained extreme. The August 24, 2015, sell-off became one of the most visible episodes of the turbulence, although the decline had begun weeks earlier. The Shanghai Composite tracks prices on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and should not be confused with the separate Shenzhen Composite.