The Dow Jones Industrial Average’s lowest closing value during the 2020 COVID-19 crash was 18,591.93 on March 23, 2020. That close marked the bottom of the sharp bear-market decline that began in February.
The sell-off reflected the rapid spread of COVID-19, business shutdowns, travel restrictions, oil-market stress, and intense uncertainty about economic activity. The Dow had reached a record closing high of 29,551.42 on February 12, 2020, so the March low represented a fall of more than one-third from that peak.
Markets then rebounded as governments and central banks announced extensive fiscal and monetary support, while investors anticipated vaccines and economic reopening. The crash was unusually fast compared with many earlier bear markets. Its low should not be confused with the intraday low, which was below the closing value.