Which Chinese benchmark, the Shanghai Composite, fell by about 8.5% on August 24, 2015?

The Chinese benchmark that fell about 8.5 percent on August 24, 2015, was the Shanghai Composite.

The Shanghai Composite tracks the performance of shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. During 2015, Chinese equities had risen sharply, supported by retail speculation, margin borrowing, and expectations of continued economic growth. The market then reversed, and authorities introduced measures intended to slow the decline and stabilize prices.

On August 24, 2015, the Shanghai Composite fell about 8.5 percent, contributing to a worldwide sell-off often called Black Monday. Concerns about China’s economic outlook, the handling of its currency, and the effects of falling commodity prices affected markets from Asia to Europe and North America.

The 2015 turbulence was not the same as the 1987 global crash or the 2008 financial crisis. It was centered on China’s equity and currency concerns, although its international effects demonstrated the importance of Chinese markets to global investors.