Market Sentiment Gauge: Fear & Greed Index Shows Slight Relief, But Remains in Fear Zone

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The market witnessed a slight relaxation in fear, as per the latest update from the CNN Money Fear and Greed Index, although it continues to hover in the “Fear” zone. On Thursday, U.S. stocks experienced a dip, primarily influenced by the surge in Treasury yields. Notably, the U.S. inflation rate remained steady at 3.7% in September, aligning with market expectations. Initial jobless claims in the U.S. remained unchanged from the previous week, with 209,000 claims recorded in the week ending October 7, almost in line with market forecasts of 210,000.

In terms of corporate updates, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA) posted lower-than-anticipated earnings for the fourth quarter, whereas Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL) reported encouraging earnings for the third quarter on Thursday.

Across the S&P 500 sectors, most industries concluded on a downward trajectory, with notable declines observed in materials, real estate, and utilities stocks. However, the energy and information technology sectors defied the broader market trend, concluding the session with slight gains.

The Dow Jones marked a decline of roughly 173 points, closing at 33,631.14 on Thursday. The S&P 500 experienced a 0.62% fall, settling at 4,349.61, while the Nasdaq Composite observed a 0.63% dip, closing at 13,574.22 during Thursday’s session.

Investors are closely anticipating the forthcoming earnings reports from key players such as Citigroup Inc. (C), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH), and Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) scheduled for today.

The Fear & Greed Index serves as a comprehensive measure of the current market sentiment. It operates on the principle that heightened fear tends to suppress stock prices, while increased greed typically has the opposite effect. The index computation is grounded on seven equally weighted indicators, and it ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 signifies maximum fear and 100 signals extreme greed.