The technology-focused market index that became a symbol of the dot-com crash after peaking in March 2000 was the Nasdaq Composite.
The Nasdaq Composite includes thousands of stocks listed on the Nasdaq exchange and has historically had substantial exposure to technology and growth companies. During the late 1990s, enthusiasm for internet businesses pushed valuations sharply higher.
The index reached an intraday peak of 5,132.52 on March 10, 2000. Many companies had limited revenue or no profits, but investors expected rapid future growth. When confidence changed, technology shares fell steeply.
The Nasdaq Composite lost roughly 78% of its value from its 2000 peak to its October 2002 low. The dot-com crash did not affect every company equally: established firms with strong finances eventually recovered, while many speculative internet ventures failed or were acquired.