Which stock-market index was most associated with the dot-com crash after its 2000 peak?

The Nasdaq Composite was the stock-market index most associated with the dot-com crash after its 2000 peak.

The index was heavily weighted toward technology and internet companies, many of which had rapidly rising valuations despite limited profits or no established business revenue. The Nasdaq reached an intraday high of 5,132.52 on March 10, 2000, as enthusiasm for internet-based businesses reached its peak.

After the bubble burst, investors reassessed companies whose prices depended more on optimistic expectations than on earnings. The Nasdaq fell sharply over the following years, losing roughly 78% from its 2000 peak to its October 2002 low. Many start-ups failed, while a smaller group of stronger companies survived and later became major technology firms.

The dot-com crash is not the same as the 2008 financial crisis. It centered on technology-stock valuations, whereas 2008 was driven mainly by housing, credit, banking, and complex financial products.