Which date marked the start of the 2020 stock-market crash’s rapid global sell-off?

February 20, 2020 marked the start of the 2020 stock-market crash’s rapid global sell-off.

Global equities had already faced uncertainty as COVID-19 spread, but February 20 is commonly identified as the point when the sharp worldwide decline began. Investors rapidly reassessed corporate earnings, economic activity, travel, supply chains, and public-health restrictions.

The sell-off accelerated during March. On March 9, March 12, and March 16, U.S. exchanges experienced historically large declines, activating market-wide circuit breakers. The S&P 500 entered a bear market in March, and on March 23 it reached its closing low for the crash.

The collapse was unusually fast: the S&P 500 fell roughly 34% from its February record close to its March low. Massive fiscal support, central-bank intervention, and improving expectations about reopening helped markets rebound. The market crash was distinct from the later economic recovery, which varied greatly among countries and industries.