Which U.S. market index fell 12.93% on March 16, 2020, during the COVID-19 crash?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 12.93% on March 16, 2020, during the COVID-19 stock-market crash.

The decline came as the COVID-19 pandemic spread internationally, governments imposed travel restrictions and business closures, and investors assessed the likely economic damage. Oil prices also plunged after a dispute between major producers, adding pressure to energy companies and credit markets.

March 16 was one of several exceptionally volatile sessions. The Dow’s fall was its largest percentage decline since the 1987 Black Monday crash. U.S. exchanges triggered circuit breakers several times during the wider March sell-off, temporarily pausing trading when prices moved too quickly.

The market later rebounded sharply after central banks cut interest rates, governments introduced fiscal support, and investors anticipated vaccines and economic reopening. The speed of both the fall and recovery made the 2020 crash unusual. It should not be confused with the 2020 recession, which involved the broader economy rather than share prices alone.