What was the peak date of the Nasdaq Composite during the dot-com crash?

The Nasdaq Composite reached its dot-com-era peak on March 10, 2000.

It closed at 5,048.62, after years of enthusiasm for internet companies and technology shares. Many businesses attracted large valuations despite limited revenue, profits, or established business models. Investors often focused on future growth rather than conventional measures of financial performance.

After the peak, the Nasdaq fell sharply as expectations changed and highly valued companies struggled to justify their prices. The decline became known as the bursting of the dot-com bubble. Many internet start-ups failed, while a smaller group of companies with durable products and business models survived.

The crash is sometimes confused with the broader 2000–2002 bear market, which unfolded over a longer period. March 10 identifies the index’s major peak, not the end of the entire decline.