The S&P 500 fell nearly 34% during the COVID-19 market crash of 2020.
From its February 19, 2020 record close to its March 23 low, the S&P 500 declined about 33.9%. The rapid fall reflected the spread of COVID-19, business shutdowns, travel restrictions, supply disruptions, and uncertainty about the effects on the global economy.
The episode was unusually fast compared with many earlier bear markets. After governments and central banks announced major fiscal and monetary support, the index rebounded sharply. By August 2020, it had recovered its previous record closing level.
The S&P 500 tracks 500 large U.S. companies, so it is not the same measure as the Dow or Nasdaq Composite. All three indexes fell in early 2020, but they differ in construction, sector exposure, and the companies they represent.