The largest one-day point loss in the Dow Jones Industrial Average during the 2008 crash was 777.68 points on September 29, 2008.
The fall came after the U.S. House of Representatives rejected the first version of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, commonly associated with the proposed $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program. Investors feared that policymakers would be unable to stabilize the financial system.
The crisis had been building through losses on U.S. housing loans, mortgage-backed securities, and highly leveraged financial institutions. The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers on September 15 intensified concerns about credit markets and institutional solvency.
Although 777.68 points was the biggest numerical Dow drop at the time, point records depend on the index’s level. Percentage comparisons are often more meaningful across different eras because a 700-point move represents different proportions at different index levels.