The Nasdaq Composite's largest one-day percentage drop was 12.32% on March 16, 2020. This reference compares the biggest historical Nasdaq losses by percentage and points, including the 1987 Black Monday crash, 2000 dot-com collapse, 2008 financial crisis and 2026 sell-offs.
The largest Nasdaq one-day percentage drop occurred on March 16, 2020, when the Nasdaq Composite lost 12.32%. Its largest point drop occurred on November 5, 2026, with a decline of 1,421.52 points. This reference helps beginner investors, traders and financial researchers compare historical crash dates, losses and causes to understand market risk.
Largest Nasdaq One-Day Percentage Drops in History
The Nasdaq Composite has experienced significant single-day declines since its introduction in 1971. The following list ranks its ten largest historical closing percentage losses.
| Rank |
Date |
Daily Drop |
Points Lost |
Main Cause |
| 1 |
March 16, 2020 |
-12.32% |
-970.28 |
COVID-19 market panic |
| 2 |
October 19, 1987 |
-11.35% |
-46.1 |
Black Monday crash |
| 3 |
April 14, 2000 |
-9.67% |
-355.49 |
Dot-com bubble collapse |
| 4 |
March 12, 2020 |
-9.43% |
-750.25 |
Pandemic uncertainty |
| 5 |
September 29, 2008 |
-9.14% |
-199.61 |
Global financial crisis |
| 6 |
October 26, 1987 |
-9.01% |
-29.6 |
Continued market selling |
| 7 |
October 20, 1987 |
-9.00% |
-32.4 |
Black Monday aftermath |
| 8 |
December 1, 2008 |
-8.95% |
-137.5 |
Recession concerns |
| 9 |
August 31, 1998 |
-8.56% |
-140.43 |
Russian financial crisis |
| 10 |
October 15, 2008 |
-8.47% |
-150.68 |
Banking and credit fears |
Source: Nasdaq Composite historical closing-price data. Percentage changes are calculated against the previous trading day's close.
Key Takeaways
-
March 16, 2020: The Nasdaq Composite suffered its largest one-day percentage decline of 12.32%.
-
October 19, 1987: Black Monday caused an 11.35% Nasdaq loss, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 22.6%.
-
September 29, 2008: The Nasdaq declined 9.14% during the global financial crisis.
-
November 5, 2026: The Nasdaq recorded its largest point drop of 1,421.52 points and its steepest percentage fall in 19 months.
Largest Nasdaq One-Day Point Drops
Percentage declines measure relative losses, while point declines represent the absolute change in index value.
| Date |
Point Loss |
Percentage Loss |
| November 5, 2026 |
1,421.52 |
-5.52% |
| June 5, 2026 |
1,121.53 |
-4.18% |
| April 3, 2025 |
1,050.44 |
-5.97% |
| March 16, 2020 |
970.28 |
-12.32% |
| April 4, 2025 |
962.82 |
-5.82% |
On June 5, 2026, the Nasdaq lost 1,121.53 points, surpassing the previous record drop of 1,050.44 points on April 3, 2025.
The April 2025 decline followed tariff announcements by President Donald Trump, which increased concerns about trade restrictions and economic growth.
On Thursday, November 5, 2026, the Nasdaq fell another 1,421.52 points, its biggest daily point drop in history. The 5.52% loss was also its steepest percentage decline in 19 months, following Wednesday's market rally.
Technology-stock weakness, concerns about artificial intelligence investment spending and changing regulatory expectations contributed to the decline.
What Caused the Largest Nasdaq Crashes?
Black Monday: October 19, 1987
Black Monday resulted in an 11.35% Nasdaq decline and a 22.6% Dow Jones Industrial Average loss.
Automated trading, portfolio insurance strategies and reduced liquidity accelerated selling across markets.
The Federal Reserve's historical analysis identifies market structure and investor behavior as important factors.
The crash later influenced market risk management practices, including trading restrictions and circuit-breaker rules.
Dot-Com Crash: April 14, 2000
The Nasdaq Composite dropped 9.67% as investors sold technology stocks following years of speculative investment.
Rising valuations, uncertain company earnings and Federal Reserve interest rate policy contributed to the collapse.
Historical comparisons with the dot-com bubble and AI investment cycles highlight the risks of paying high prices for expected future growth.
Financial Crisis: September 29, 2008
The Nasdaq Composite declined 9.14%, losing 199.61 points, after the U.S. House of Representatives rejected an initial financial rescue package.
Bank failures, property-market losses, mortgage-backed securities and limited credit availability intensified investor concerns.
The broader crisis demonstrated how financial-system instability can spread to technology stocks and other investments.
COVID-19 Crash: March 16, 2020
The Nasdaq experienced its biggest percentage loss of 12.32% as the pandemic disrupted global economic activity.
The S&P 500 also declined approximately 33.9% from its February peak to its March 2020 low.
The history of major U.S. stock market crashes shows how pandemic shocks, financial crises and market speculation produced different recovery patterns.
How Are Nasdaq Daily Losses Calculated?
Nasdaq percentage losses compare the current closing value with the previous session's closing value.
Daily percentage change = (Current close − Previous close) ÷ Previous close × 100
For example, a 1,000-point decline from 25,000 equals a 4% loss. The same point decline from 10,000 represents a 10% loss.
This difference is important when conducting historical market analysis.
Investors should also distinguish between:
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Closing losses: Changes between consecutive market closes.
-
Intraday losses: Declines measured during an open trading session.
-
Drawdowns: Losses from a previous market peak to a subsequent low.
-
Market value losses: Changes in the total value of constituent companies.
The calculation is based on index levels, not the amount individual investors must pay to buy or sell securities.
How This Data Was Compiled
This report uses historical Nasdaq Composite closing values and publicly reported market events.
The Nasdaq Composite historical data provides the reference framework for tracking index performance.
The methodology follows three rules:
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Rank percentage and point declines separately.
-
Use closing values rather than intraday price movements.
-
Identify documented causes without treating market commentary as proof of a single reason.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversees U.S. securities markets, but historical price rankings do not constitute SEC investment recommendations or guarantees.
Historical figures may be corrected when providers revise records. No deleted, incomplete or unverified observation is accepted as a confirmed market record.
Why Do These Declines Matter to Investors?
Historical Nasdaq losses help people understand the perils of concentrated investments, leverage and sudden changes in market sentiment.
Investors can use these records to assess how markets respond to Federal Reserve decisions, financial instability and unexpected economic events.
Such perils cannot be eliminated through historical analysis. Even diversified investments remain exposed to market losses, and past recovery patterns provide no warranty of future results.
The data is educational and does not determine whether a particular investor should buy, hold or sell securities.
FAQ
What was the largest Nasdaq one-day drop?
March 16, 2020 was the largest percentage decline at 12.32%. November 5, 2026 was the largest point decline at 1,421.52 points.
How much did Nasdaq fall on September 29, 2008?
The Nasdaq Composite fell 9.14%, losing 199.61 points and closing at 1,983.73 during the global financial crisis.
What was the previous Nasdaq point-drop record?
Before June 5, 2026, the previous record was approximately 1,050 points, recorded on April 3, 2025. The June decline of 1,121.53 points was subsequently surpassed in November 2026.
When did Nasdaq experience its biggest daily drop in 19 months?
On November 5, 2026, the Nasdaq Composite declined 5.52%, its steepest one-day percentage loss in approximately 19 months. The index closed at 24,315.00.
* The information is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice or any other recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by Gate.
