Which 2000–2002 crash followed the bursting of the dot-com bubble?

The dot-com crash was the 2000–2002 collapse in technology-stock prices after the dot-com bubble burst.

During the late 1990s, investors placed very high values on internet and technology companies. Many firms had little revenue or no profits, yet their share prices rose on expectations of future growth. The Nasdaq Composite reached a closing peak of 5,048.62 on March 10, 2000.

The bubble then deflated. Investors became less willing to fund unprofitable companies, and numerous internet businesses failed or were acquired. The Nasdaq fell about 78% from its peak to its October 2002 low.

The crash affected technology shares most severely, although broader markets and the economy also weakened. It did not mean that the internet itself lacked value; companies such as Amazon survived and later expanded. The common lesson is that a transformative technology can be genuine while valuations based on unrealistic expectations are unstable.