Which stock index became the main symbol of the dot-com crash after peaking in March 2000?

The Nasdaq Composite became the main symbol of the dot-com crash after peaking in March 2000.

The index was heavily weighted toward technology and internet companies, so it captured the extraordinary rise and subsequent collapse of the dot-com bubble. On 10 March 2000, the Nasdaq Composite reached an intraday high of 5,132.52, a level it would not surpass for more than 15 years.

Many internet companies attracted enormous valuations despite limited revenue or no profits. Investors often focused on website traffic, potential growth, and the idea that traditional business measures no longer applied. When expectations changed, technology shares fell rapidly, bringing down the broader market.

The Nasdaq Composite is not the same as the Nasdaq-100. The Composite includes all common-equity securities listed on the Nasdaq exchange, while the Nasdaq-100 tracks 100 large non-financial companies. The dot-com crash also affected the S&P 500, but the Nasdaq’s technology concentration made its decline especially dramatic.