Black Monday 30 years on: How it happened and what can we learn?

Markets went into freefall

clock • 6 min read

Thursday marks the 30th anniversary of 'Black Monday', the biggest one-day fall in stockmarket history. Here, Schroders' fund managers look at what happened and how today's markets compare with 1987.

On 19 October 1987, global stockmarkets came crashing down amid worries about a slowing global economy and high stock valuations. The concerns were compounded by a computer glitch. In the space of 24 hours, stockmarkets in Asia, Europe and the US suffered falls of up to 23%. It was the biggest crash in living memory. In the US, the Dow Jones fell 22.6%, destroying the previous record one-day fall of 12.8% set during the Wall Street Crash of 28 October 1929. But with the help of central bankers, stockmarkets recovered. Five years after the event stockmarkets in the UK, Europe and th...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Economics / Markets

'Discussion-worthy stuff': Chinese assets under pressure

'Discussion-worthy stuff': Chinese assets under pressure

China has an 18% share of global GDP and only a 3% MSCI ACWI weighting

Chris Justham
clock 02 April 2024 • 2 min read
Why investors 'can't outrun' slow-moving demographics

Why investors 'can't outrun' slow-moving demographics

'Demographic change is a key megatrend'

Darius McDermott
clock 07 March 2024 • 5 min read
Spring Budget 24: Ten key takeaways from Jeremy Hunt's speech

Spring Budget 24: Ten key takeaways from Jeremy Hunt's speech

British ISA, Office for Budget Responsibility, tax cuts

Valeria Martinez
clock 07 March 2024 • 4 min read