A bear market is typically defined as a decline of 20% or more from a recent high. The Nasdaq Composite Index reached an all-time closing high of 20,173.89 on December 16, 2024.  As of 3 Mar 202, the index closed at 18,622.93, reflecting a decrease of approximately 7.7% from its peak.

To enter bear market territory, the Nasdaq would need to decline by 20% from its all-time high, which equates to a level of 16,139.11. From its current level, this would require an additional drop of about 13.3%, or 2,483.82 points. 

So I can say the bear is not far away. 

But what if the Nasdaq enters a bear market while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones do not? This may suggests that the market downturn is concentrated in tech-heavy and growth-oriented stocks rather than the broader economy. 

While a Nasdaq bear market alone wouldn’t necessarily signal a full-blown market crisis, it would indicate trouble in the tech sector, which has been a major driver of stock market gains in recent years. This may pull down other sectors soon after.