Fear & Greed Index

What the market is feeling right now, what the big averages are doing, and what it all means. Explained simply, updated all day.

The mood over time

One point per day. The colored lines mark where each mood zone starts.

S&P 500 and Nasdaq

The two big scoreboards for the US stock market. Pick a time range to see how each one has moved.

S&P 500

The S&P 500 tracks the 500 biggest US companies. When it rises, most of the US stock market is rising. It is the number people usually mean when they say 'the market'.

Nasdaq

The Nasdaq leans heavily on technology companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. It usually moves further than the S&P 500 in both directions, up and down.

Daily Market Analysis

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Everything on this page, explained in plain English.

What is the Fear & Greed Index?

It is a score from 0 to 100 that measures the mood of the stock market. A low score means investors are scared and selling. A high score means investors are excited and buying. It blends seven market signals, like how many stocks are rising and how much protection investors are paying for.

How should I use it?

Think of it as a mood ring, not a crystal ball. History shows that when everyone is fearful, stocks are often cheap, and when everyone is greedy, stocks are often expensive. It will not tell you what to buy or when. It just tells you what the crowd is feeling, so you can think for yourself.

Why does the mood matter for my money?

Big market swings are usually driven by emotion, not by companies suddenly becoming better or worse. Knowing the mood helps you stay calm. If the market drops while the index shows extreme fear, panic is doing the selling, and panic usually passes.

What are the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq?

They are the two most-watched scoreboards for US stocks. The S&P 500 tracks the 500 biggest US companies, so it shows how the overall market is doing. The Nasdaq leans toward technology companies, so it shows how tech is doing. News anchors quote these two numbers every day.

The five moods on the dial

Extreme Fear0-25When investors are panicking and selling everything. Markets are often near a bottom here, but the swings are violent.

Fear26-45When investors are nervous and playing defense. Markets tend to be choppy, and bad news gets sold hard.

Neutral46-55When there is no strong mood either way. Markets usually drift and follow whatever the day's news brings.

Greed56-75When investors are confident and buying. Rallies are common, but surprises hit harder when everyone expects good news.

Extreme Greed76-100When everyone is piling in at once. Markets often keep climbing, but this is where tops tend to form.