March 10

On March 10, 2000, the Dot-com bubble reached its zenith when the NASDAQ Composite stock market index closed at an all-time high of 5,048.62. Fueled by rampant investment in internet and technology companies, valuations soared to unprecedented levels. Many startups achieved sky-high market capitalizations despite lacking sustainable revenue models. Investor enthusiasm and speculative trading drove daily price swings in the volatile market. Analysts later identified this peak as the turning point before the subsequent market crash and bursting of the bubble. The event highlighted the risks of overvaluation and herd behavior in financial markets. The collapse that followed reshaped technology investing and led to more rigorous scrutiny of online business fundamentals.

On March 10, 2023, Silicon Valley Bank, a key lender to technology startups, failed after experiencing a rapid withdrawal of customer deposits. Concerns over the bank's exposure to rising interest rates and significant unrealized losses eroded investor confidence and undermined a planned capital raise. Regulators intervened overnight, placing SVB under the control of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to protect depositors. The collapse reverberated through the tech and venture capital communities, prompting U.S. officials to guarantee all deposits temporarily and prevent broader financial panic. The failure sparked debates about risk management, the regulation of niche banks, and the oversight responsibilities of regulators. It highlighted vulnerabilities in specialized banking sectors dependent on a concentrated client base.