Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Historic Mass Protests Coincided With Major Stock Market Declines
Large protests can happen at the same time as big changes in stock markets.
During the Arab Spring, protests spread across parts of the Middle East and North Africa.
Egypt’s main stock index dropped sharply in January 2011, and trading was stopped for two months during the unrest.
In Hong Kong, protests began after a proposed law about extradition to mainland China.
The Hang Seng Index fell nearly 12% during part of the protests in 2019.
More than $600 billion in stock market value was erased during July and August that year.
Greece also had long periods of protests against government austerity measures.
The article does not provide figures showing how Greece’s stock market changed during those protests.
The Arab Spring began in Tunisia and spread to Egypt and other Arab countries between 2010 and 2011.
Egypt’s EGX 30 fell 10.5% on January 27, 2011, and the market was suspended for two months during the unrest.
Hong Kong’s 2019 protests followed a proposed extradition bill that would have allowed extradition of Hong Kong citizens to mainland China.
The Hang Seng Index declined nearly 12% between July 2 and August 14, 2019, while more than $600 billion in stock market value was erased between July and August.
Greece experienced waves of anti-austerity protests beginning in May 2010 and again in May 2011, with the second wave continuing until 2014; the article gives no specific market figures for Greece.
- Who
- Protesters in Egypt, Hong Kong, and Greece, among others.
- What
- Mass protests coincided with stock market declines in Egypt and Hong Kong; the article also describes Greece’s anti-austerity protests.
- When
- The examples cover the Arab Spring in 2010–2011, Hong Kong protests in 2019, and Greek protest waves from 2010 to 2014.
- Where
- Egypt, Hong Kong, and Greece, within broader Arab Spring protests across the Middle East and North Africa.
- Why
- The protests concerned pro-democracy demands, a proposed Hong Kong extradition bill, and opposition to austerity measures in Greece.
- Arab Spring period
- 2010–2011
- Egypt index decline
- EGX 30 closed down 10.5% on January 27, 2011.
- Egypt market suspension
- The article says the stock market was suspended for two months during the unrest.
- Hong Kong index decline
- The Hang Seng Index fell nearly 12% between July 2 and August 14, 2019.
- Hong Kong market value
- More than $600 billion in stock market value was erased between July and August 2019.
- Hong Kong bill
- The proposed extradition bill was withdrawn in October.
- Greece protest periods
- The first wave began in May 2010; a second began in May 2011 and continued until 2014.