• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

After hitting oil tankers, Iran targets Navy warships and U.S. retaliates with 'higher economic cost' in new escalation that could transform the war

2

Widow of airman killed in Mideast was told hazard pay and combat-related tax breaks wouldn't apply because 'we were not at war.' A viral post fixed it

3

Despite being a multimillionaire, Suze Orman still cooks at home whenever possible—and says eating out is one of the biggest wastes of money

1

After hitting oil tankers, Iran targets Navy warships and U.S. retaliates with 'higher economic cost' in new escalation that could transform the war

2

Widow of airman killed in Mideast was told hazard pay and combat-related tax breaks wouldn't apply because 'we were not at war.' A viral post fixed it

3

Despite being a multimillionaire, Suze Orman still cooks at home whenever possible—and says eating out is one of the biggest wastes of money
FinanceCoronavirus

Here’s how far the S&P has to fall Monday for the dreaded circuit breaker to kick in

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 16, 2020, 8:27 AM ET
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Despite the Federal Reserve dropping interest rates to near zero Sunday, stocks are poised for another brutal fall Monday morning. Circuit breakers, once exceedingly rare, are likely to kick in for the third time in a week as investors continue to panic about the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Dow futures were limit down by early Sunday evening, halting pre-trading at a 5% drop. So now, all eyes turn to the S&P 500. Here’s how far the index will need to drop for circuit breakers to be instituted:

Level I

A 7% drop Monday would be -198.77 points, taking the S&P to 2,521.25. That would result in a 15-minute halt to trading. If last week is any judge, the time-out would come within minutes of the opening bell.

Level II

The 13% threshold is hit if the S&P 500 drops -352.43 points to 2,358.59. That, too, would result in a 15-minute pause if it’s before 3:25 p.m. ET. (If it’s later, trading will continue until market close at 4:00 p.m. ET.)

Level III

Should the S&P fall -542.20 points (to 2,168.82), that would constitute a 20% drop and would result in the immediate cessation of trading for the day, regardless of the time.

The expected drop comes after Friday’s monster rally that saw stocks climb 9%.

Donald Trump, on Friday, declared the pandemic a national emergency. And over the weekend, things got worse, with the White House extending the travel ban to the U.K. and Ireland, Georgia postponing its presidential primaries and many states closing schools for several weeks.

Global markets were sharply lower Monday morning as well.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—The stock market is usually a poor predictor of recessions—but this time it’s right
—Bitcoin bloodbath: What people are saying about the crypto collapse
—1 in 3 Americans were stocking up before coronavirus was ruled a pandemic
—It’s time to start preparing your personal finances for a recession. Here’s how
—Dormant PayPal Credit accounts are coming back to hurt credit scores


Subscribe to Fortune’s Bull Sheet for no-nonsense finance news and analysis daily.

About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in Finance


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.