Which U.S. stock index lost nearly 78% from its 2000 peak to its 2002 low?

The Nasdaq Composite lost nearly 78% from its March 2000 peak to its October 2002 low during the dot-com crash.

The index was heavily weighted toward technology and internet companies, many of which had rising share prices but little revenue or profit. The Nasdaq closed at 5,048.62 on March 10, 2000, as enthusiasm about internet businesses reached a peak.

After expectations changed, technology shares fell rapidly. The Nasdaq ultimately closed at 1,114.11 on October 9, 2002, a decline of about 78% from its peak. The crash damaged investors, employees, and venture-backed companies, though the internet itself continued to expand.

The dot-com crash is sometimes confused with the 2001 recession or the September 11 attacks. Those events affected markets, but the technology bubble’s rise and valuation reversal began before them.