Which stock index reached its peak on March 10, 2000, just before the dot-com bubble burst?

The Nasdaq Composite reached its peak on March 10, 2000, just before the dot-com bubble burst.

The index closed at 5,048.62 on that date. The Nasdaq had become closely associated with technology and internet companies, many of which attracted enormous valuations despite limited revenue or no profits. Investors often valued businesses according to anticipated future growth rather than established earnings.

After the peak, the index fell sharply as enthusiasm for internet stocks reversed. By October 2002, the Nasdaq Composite had lost roughly 78% of its value from the 2000 high. Numerous technology companies failed, while others survived and later became important parts of the digital economy.

The Nasdaq did not represent every company affected by the downturn, but its concentration in technology made it the clearest market symbol of the dot-com crash. The bubble’s collapse also affected venture capital, telecommunications, advertising, and technology employment.