Market Momentum
How far the S&P 500 sits above or below its 125-day moving average. Trading above the average scores toward greed; below it, toward fear.
36fear
How is market sentiment trending?
Based on CNN data through Sep 25On September 25 the index sits at 37, classified as Fear, after a weekly rise of 7 points but a monthly decline of 23 points. This marks the 14th consecutive session in the Fear zone, following entry from Neutral on September 8. The week’s sharpest underlying moves were the Stock‑vs‑bond returns up +105.6% and Net new 52‑week highs on the NYSE down −64.1%.
AI-generated description of the index series only — not analysis or investment advice.
37fearas of September 25
- Prev
- 36
- 1W
- 30
- 1M
- 60
- 1Y
- 51
Current Fear & Greed score: 37 (fear).
The seven components
How CNN scores each one: 0–100 against its own recent history, then averaged; the trendline is the raw indicator over the past yearStock Price Strength
Net new 52-week highs versus lows on the NYSE. Many more highs than lows scores toward greed; a wave of new lows toward fear.
0extreme fear
Stock Price Breadth
Volume flowing into rising versus falling stocks (McClellan Volume Summation). Rallies on thin breadth score lower than broad advances.
0extreme fear
Put / Call Options
The 5-day average ratio of bearish put buying to bullish call buying. More puts than usual reads as demand for protection — fear.
58greed
Market Volatility
The VIX against its 50-day average. A VIX well above its average reads as fear; a subdued one as greed.
50neutral
Safe Haven Demand
The trailing 20-day return gap between stocks and Treasury bonds. Bonds outperforming reads as fear; stocks outperforming as risk appetite.
55neutral
Junk Bond Demand
The yield spread between junk and investment-grade bonds. A narrow spread reads as investors accepting low pay for high risk — greed; a widening one as fear.
60greed
How to read the scale
| 0–24 | extreme fear | Panic-level selling pressure. Historically these readings have often coincided with market bottoms — but they can persist through prolonged declines. |
| 25–44 | fear | Investors are defensive: protection is bid, breadth is weak, safe havens outperform. |
| 45–55 | neutral | Sentiment is balanced; the indicators disagree or sit near their recent averages. |
| 56–74 | greed | Risk appetite is elevated: momentum is positive, junk bonds are bid, volatility is subdued. |
| 75–100 | extreme greed | Euphoric positioning. Contrarians treat sustained extreme greed as a caution sign for pullbacks. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Fear and Greed Index?
The Fear and Greed Index is a market-sentiment gauge published by CNN Business. It combines seven indicators — market momentum, stock price strength, stock price breadth, put/call options, market volatility, safe-haven demand, and junk-bond demand — into a single 0–100 score, where 0 is extreme fear and 100 is extreme greed.
What is the Fear and Greed Index today?
The Fear and Greed Index is currently 37, a reading of fear. The gauge on this page updates daily from CNN's published data.
How is the Fear and Greed Index calculated?
Each of the seven indicators is scored from 0 to 100 based on how far it deviates from its own recent average, then the seven scores are averaged with equal weight. For example, the VIX trading well above its 50-day average pushes the volatility component toward fear.
Is the Fear and Greed Index a buy or sell signal?
Not by itself. Contrarian investors watch extremes — extreme fear has historically coincided with buying opportunities and extreme greed with frothy markets — but the index measures sentiment, not value, and extremes can persist.
How often does the index update?
CNN updates the underlying indicators throughout the trading day; this page refreshes its reading daily and keeps a one-year history of closing values.
What is the difference between the stock and crypto Fear and Greed indexes?
This page tracks CNN's stock-market index. The separately published crypto Fear & Greed Index (by alternative.me) applies a similar 0–100 concept to Bitcoin using volatility, volume, social media, and dominance — the two are unrelated measurements.
The Fear & Greed Index is published by CNN Business, which owns the index and its methodology. This page displays its readings alongside our own market-hours data for context. Informational only — not investment advice.