Which U.S. stock index fell more than 78% from its 2000 peak during the dot-com crash?

The NASDAQ Composite fell more than 78% from its March 2000 peak during the dot-com crash.

The technology-heavy index reached an intraday record of 5,132.52 on March 10, 2000. As investors reassessed internet companies with weak profits, uncertain business models, and extreme valuations, the index declined for roughly two and a half years. It reached a bear-market low of 1,108.49 on October 9, 2002, a drop of about 78% from the peak.

The crash followed a period in which venture capital, public offerings, and speculative trading poured money into internet businesses. Many companies failed, while a smaller group with durable technology and revenue eventually survived.

The NASDAQ Composite is often confused with the NASDAQ-100, a different index. The Composite includes thousands of companies listed on Nasdaq, while the NASDAQ-100 tracks 100 large nonfinancial Nasdaq-listed companies.