What was a major trigger for the stock market crash of 1929?

The major trigger for the stock market crash of 1929 was excessive speculation combined with a lack of regulation in the stock market. During the late 1920s, many investors engaged in speculative trading by buying stocks on margin, meaning they borrowed money to purchase more shares than they could afford outright. This led to inflated stock prices, as the value of many companies was driven up by demand rather than by their actual performance or economic fundamentals.

Moreover, there was a significant absence of regulatory measures to oversee the stock market. This lack of oversight allowed risky financial practices to flourish, creating an unstable market environment. When the market began to correct itself, the bubble burst, leading to a massive sell-off and ultimately the crash. The combination of rampant speculation and insufficient regulatory frameworks acted as a catalyst for the economic collapse, making this answer the most appropriate choice.

In contrast, while high unemployment rates, new technology, and government intervention may all be associated with the broader context of the Great Depression, they were not direct triggers of the stock market crash itself. These factors played roles in the economic turmoil that followed but did not specifically cause the initial collapse of the stock market.