What was the main stock index that plunged during China’s 2015 stock-market crash?

The Shanghai Composite was the main stock index that plunged during China’s 2015 stock-market crash.

The index rose rapidly in the first half of 2015, fueled by retail-investor participation, margin financing, and strong optimism about Chinese equities. It reached an intraday peak of 5,178.19 on June 12, 2015. Prices then reversed, and the Shanghai Composite fell sharply through the summer.

Chinese authorities responded with measures including trading halts, restrictions on some share sales, and efforts to support the market. The turbulence also affected global investor confidence because China was a major contributor to world economic growth and commodity demand.

The Shanghai Composite represents companies listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, while the Shenzhen Component tracks a different exchange and group of companies. The Hang Seng Index is based in Hong Kong, so these indexes should not be treated as interchangeable when describing the 2015 mainland Chinese crash.