While closing down only 3.5% on Monday at 9955.50, The Dow Jones Industrial Average was earlier down as much as 800 points, or 7.7%.
It was the first time it closed below 10,000 since October 26, 2004 and saw its largest intra-day decline in history, according to Dow Jones Indexes. At its low, the index saw its lowest intra-day level since October 24, 2004.
The sell-off was also the 19th largest point decline in history.
The Dow has plunged 4209 points, or nearly 30%, from its record close of 14,164.53 hit on October 9, 2007. Year-to-date it is down 24.95% and is off 29.1% from 52 weeks ago.
