The spelling of the term "black Mondays" refers to a particular type of financial crisis. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word is /blæk ˈmʌndeɪz/. The word "black" is pronounced as /blæk/ with a short "a" sound followed by a voiceless velar stop. The word "Mondays" is pronounced as /ˈmʌndeɪz/ with a stress on the second syllable and a long "a" sound in the first syllable. This term is often used to describe major market crashes and economic downturns that have occurred on Mondays.
"Black Mondays" refer to significant and drastic drops in stock markets that occur on a Monday. This term primarily gained prominence due to two major stock market crashes that both happened on a Monday, leading to catastrophic losses and economic downturns.
The first occurrence of Black Monday is commonly associated with October 19, 1987. This event was marked by a severe crash in global stock markets, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeting by a record-breaking 22.6% in a single day. The crash was triggered by a combination of factors, including concerns about valuation levels, computerized trading strategies, and international economic instability.
The second Black Monday took place on October 19, 2008, when stock markets around the world faced a massive sell-off due to the global financial crisis. This crash was triggered by the collapse and subsequent bailout of major financial institutions, investor panic, and a general loss of confidence in the markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered a significant drop of 7.87% on this day.
The phrase "Black Monday" has since become a metaphorical representation of any unexpected and severe stock market crash that occurs on a Monday. Such crashes typically result in widespread panic, enormous losses for investors, and can often contribute to broader economic recessions or depressions.
The term "Black Mondays" is a play on the phrase "Black Monday", which has a different etymology. "Black Monday" originally referred to a specific event in financial history. It was first used to describe the stock market crash that occurred on October 19, 1987. On this day, stock markets around the world experienced significant losses, leading to a global financial crisis.
The term "Black Monday" itself has its roots in earlier historical events. The use of "Black" to describe catastrophic events or disasters dates back to the early 19th century. For example, the phrase "Black Friday" was used to describe a severe financial crisis in 1869. Similarly, the term "Black Thursday" was used to describe the financial panic of 1873.
The association of the color black with negative events or disasters likely stems from its traditional association with evil, darkness, or misfortune.