Which index fell most sharply during the 2000–2002 crash of technology and internet stocks?

The index most closely associated with the 2000–2002 technology-stock crash was the NASDAQ Composite.

The NASDAQ Composite rose dramatically during the dot-com bubble as investors bought shares in internet and technology companies. Many businesses had little revenue or no profits, yet their valuations soared on expectations that the internet would transform commerce and communication.

The index reached an intraday peak of 5,132.52 on March 10, 2000. As investors reassessed company finances and interest-rate conditions, technology shares began a prolonged collapse. The NASDAQ Composite eventually fell about 78 percent from its peak to its October 2002 low.

The crash destroyed large amounts of paper wealth and contributed to a U.S. recession, although the broader economy did not experience a collapse on the scale of the Great Depression. The term “dot-com crash” refers to the market bust, while “dot-com bubble” describes the speculative period that preceded it.