Nasdaq Composite Falls More Than 10% From Oct. 6 Closing High

The Nasdaq Composite had fallen more than 10% from its Oct. 6 closing high by Thursday morning, putting the U.S. benchmark in correction territory and adding to the risk-off backdrop crypto traders monitor.

At 10:10 a.m. ET Thursday (15:10 UTC), the index was more than 10% below that session-end peak. The comparison is measured against the Oct. 6 close, not an intraday high. The 10% threshold marks the move as a correction. The index crossed that line during a period of broader weakness in U.S. stocks.

The VIX rose four points to 21 while U.S. stocks fell. That rise in the fear gauge accompanied the Nasdaq's decline and added another sign of pressure across U.S. equities. The moves put the Nasdaq correction and higher VIX reading in focus for crypto traders monitoring U.S. risk sentiment.