Which global stock-market crash followed the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020?
Answer
COVID-19 market crash
The global stock-market crash that followed the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020 was the COVID-19 market crash.
As governments introduced travel restrictions, business closures, and social-distancing measures, investors rapidly reassessed corporate earnings and economic growth. Major indexes around the world fell at exceptional speed during February and March 2020.
The S&P 500 entered a bear market on March 12, 2020, after closing more than 20% below its February peak. It reached a short-term low on March 23. Central-bank support, government stimulus, and expectations of economic reopening then helped markets recover rapidly.
The crash is sometimes confused with the broader COVID-19 recession. The crash refers to the abrupt financial-market decline, while the recession describes the economic contraction that followed. The market reaction also varied greatly by sector: airlines and energy companies were hit hard, while some technology shares proved more resilient.