When the World Pressed Pause
Welcome to the “2020 COVID Crash Uncovered” Series.
This isn’t just about lockdowns and toilet paper shortages—this is about what happened behind the scenes in the financial system when the world stopped.
In just a few weeks, the stock market fell faster than any time in history.
The S&P 500 dropped 34% in 33 days.
So what triggered the panic? What key indicators were flashing? And how did governments and central banks manage to pull off the fastest recovery ever?
How COVID created a perfect storm of panic-selling, halted economies, and market breakdowns in record time.
2. VIX: The Fear Index Hits the Roof
When the volatility index spiked higher than 2008—signaling raw fear in the markets.
3. Oil Prices Go Negative (Yes, Below $0)
How a collapse in demand, full storage tanks, and futures trading quirks caused one of the weirdest moments in financial history.
4. The Federal Reserve: From Bystander to Superhero
How the Fed stepped in with trillions to stop the bleeding—and started buying everything from bonds to ETFs.
5. Unemployment, GDP, and the Real Economy
How the economic indicators fell off a cliff, even while the stock market quickly recovered—creating a weird disconnect.
Why It Still Matters
- The 2020 crash was a stress test for the modern financial system.
- It showed how fast things can fall—but also how powerful central bank tools have become.
- Understanding what happened helps you prepare for future “black swan” events.
💬 “COVID didn’t break the system—it exposed how fragile it already was.”
