Which index led China’s 2015 stock-market crash after reaching a major peak in June 2015?

The Shanghai Composite led China’s 2015 stock-market crash after reaching a major peak in June 2015.

The index peaked at 5,178.19 on June 12, 2015, after a rapid rise driven partly by retail investor enthusiasm and margin borrowing. It then fell sharply as regulators tightened rules, leveraged investors faced margin calls, and confidence weakened. The decline became one of the most prominent episodes in China’s modern equity-market history.

The Shanghai Composite tracks many shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, including both large companies and other domestic listings. It is not the same as the Shenzhen Component Index, the CSI 300, or Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, although all were affected by regional market anxiety.

Chinese authorities responded with measures including trading suspensions, restrictions on some share sales, and support efforts. The crash did not represent a simple collapse of China’s entire economy; economic growth continued, though it slowed. The episode showed how leverage, concentrated retail participation, and policy expectations can magnify market moves.