Stock Market Fear & Greed Index Today
Track today's stock market sentiment with the Fear & Greed Index, historical trends, sentiment zones and market analysis.
Current Sentiment
Historical Fear & Greed Trend
What Is the Stock Market Fear & Greed Index?
The Stock Market Fear & Greed Index is a sentiment indicator designed to show whether investors are behaving relatively fearful, neutral or optimistic.
The index uses a 0-100 scale to provide a simple way to interpret broad market sentiment. Lower readings indicate greater fear, while higher readings indicate greater optimism and greed.
Sentiment is only one part of market analysis. Investors should consider price trends, volatility, market breadth, economic data, valuation and other relevant information when evaluating market conditions.
You can also compare sentiment across markets using our Crypto Fear & Greed Index and Gold Fear & Greed Index .
Fear & Greed Index Sentiment Zones
The 0-100 scale is divided into five practical sentiment zones. These ranges make the current market mood easier to understand.
How to Read the Stock Market Fear & Greed Index
The current value is most useful when interpreted together with its recent trend and historical context.
Current Score
The current score represents the latest available market sentiment reading on a 0-100 scale.
Fear: 0-45
Lower readings generally indicate more cautious or pessimistic investor sentiment. Fear does not guarantee that prices will rise next.
Neutral: 46-55
Neutral readings indicate relatively balanced sentiment compared with the index's defined scale.
Greed: 56-75
Higher readings indicate stronger optimism and risk appetite across the market.
Extreme Fear: 0-25
Very low readings indicate unusually pessimistic sentiment and can occur during periods of market stress.
Extreme Greed: 76-100
Very high readings indicate unusually optimistic sentiment and can coincide with elevated risk appetite.
How Investors Can Use the Fear & Greed Index
Current Score
Use the current score as a quick snapshot of broad market sentiment rather than as a standalone investment signal.
Watch the Trend
A sustained change in sentiment can provide more context than a single daily reading.
Compare Time Periods
Compare current sentiment with the previous close, one-week, one-month and one-year readings.
Combine Indicators
Consider sentiment alongside price action, volatility, volume, fundamentals and macroeconomic conditions.
Avoid Exact Timing
Extreme sentiment can persist. The index should not be treated as a guaranteed market-timing mechanism.
Use Historical Context
Historical readings help show whether today's sentiment is relatively fearful, neutral or optimistic.
Fear & Greed as a Contrarian Market Indicator
One common way investors study market sentiment is through a contrarian lens. The idea is that unusually fearful conditions may eventually become oversold conditions, while unusually optimistic conditions may become vulnerable to disappointment.
However, sentiment can remain extreme for extended periods. A Fear & Greed reading should therefore not be treated as an automatic buy or sell signal.
The most useful approach is to treat the index as one piece of market information rather than a standalone timing tool.
FearGreedIndex.org Data & Methodology
A transparent methodology is important when using any market sentiment indicator. FearGreedIndex.org presents a 0-100 sentiment framework and historical market readings to help users evaluate changes in investor sentiment over time.
1. Market Momentum
Measures the strength and direction of broad stock-market momentum relative to historical market levels or averages.
2. Stock Price Strength
Considers the balance between stocks reaching strong highs and stocks experiencing significant weakness.
3. Stock Price Breadth
Examines participation across the market rather than relying only on a small number of large stocks.
4. Put & Call Options
Options activity can provide information about investor demand for downside protection versus upside exposure.
5. Market Volatility
Volatility measures can help identify periods when expected market price fluctuations are increasing or decreasing.
6. Safe-Haven Demand
Relative demand for traditionally defensive assets can provide context about investor risk appetite.
7. Credit / Junk-Bond Demand
Credit-market conditions can provide additional context about investors' willingness to accept higher-risk assets.
0-100 Sentiment Scale
The resulting sentiment framework is presented on a 0-100 scale, moving from Extreme Fear toward Extreme Greed.
Reference context: CNN describes its own Fear & Greed Index as a compilation of seven indicators covering market momentum, stock price strength, stock price breadth, put/call options, market volatility, safe-haven demand and junk-bond demand. CNN states that its indicators are equally weighted in its 0-100 calculation. FearGreedIndex.org is a separate website and does not represent itself as CNN.
Data Limitations & Responsible Use
Market sentiment can change quickly. A Fear & Greed reading describes market conditions at a particular point in time and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed forecast of future prices.
Historical readings can provide useful context, but historical performance does not guarantee future results.
FearGreedIndex.org provides market sentiment information for educational and informational purposes. The index should be considered alongside other relevant market information rather than used as the sole basis for an investment decision.
Explore Other Market Sentiment Indexes
Compare stock-market sentiment with other market sentiment dashboards available on FearGreedIndex.org.
Stock Market Fear & Greed: Interpretation Tips
- Watch for extremes: Very high Extreme Greed or very low Extreme Fear readings can provide important market context.
- Study the trend: The direction of sentiment changes can be more informative than a single isolated reading.
- Compare historical periods: Use the historical chart to place today's reading in context.
- Confirm with other indicators: Consider price action, volatility, volume, fundamentals and macroeconomic conditions.
- Do not use it as an exact timing tool: Extreme sentiment can remain extreme for longer than expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Extreme Fear mean the stock market will crash?
Not necessarily. Extreme Fear describes unusually pessimistic market sentiment and does not predict a market crash by itself.
How can I use the Fear & Greed Index for stock market analysis?
Use it as a sentiment and context indicator alongside price, volatility, volume, macroeconomic information and your own research.
How often is the Current Sentiment updated?
The current value is updated when new data becomes available through the site's existing data system. Check the displayed update information on the dashboard for the latest reading.
What is the data source?
The live value and historical observations are loaded through FearGreedIndex.org's data and historical endpoints.
Is this financial advice?
No. FearGreedIndex.org provides educational and informational content and should not be used as the sole basis for an investment decision.
About FearGreedIndex.org
Our Purpose
FearGreedIndex.org provides market sentiment information, historical market context and educational analysis for people researching stock, cryptocurrency and gold-market conditions.
Responsible Use
Market sentiment information can help investors understand the emotional environment of markets, but it should be combined with other research and should not be treated as personalized financial advice.
Data Policy
Market readings and historical observations are processed through the site's data systems. The dashboard is designed to present market sentiment and historical context in a clear and accessible format.
Editorial Policy
Educational content is written to explain market sentiment concepts clearly and responsibly. We do not present the Fear & Greed Index as a guaranteed prediction of future market prices.
Trading stocks, cryptocurrencies and commodities involves a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. The content on FearGreedIndex.org is strictly for EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY .
It should NOT be considered financial or investment advice. We do not accept liability for any loss or damage, including without limitation any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on such information.