Stock Sentiment Stays in Extreme Fear at 20 as Crypto Slides to Neutral at 50
The stock market's Fear & Greed Index edged up to 20 from 19 at the previous close but remains in Extreme Fear, with six of its seven indicators in that zone, while crypto sentiment has fallen to Neutral at 50 out of 100.
U.S. stocks remain in "Extreme Fear" on the Fear & Greed Index, which stands at 20 out of 100, according to the summary supplied. The reading edged up from 19 at the previous close but is below 22 a week ago. Crypto sentiment moved the other way, falling to "Neutral" at 50 out of 100.
The readings
| Gauge | Reading | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks, current | 20 | Extreme Fear |
| Stocks, previous close | 19 | Extreme Fear |
| Stocks, one week ago | 22 | Extreme Fear |
| Crypto, current | 50 | Neutral |
By our calculation, the stock index is up 1 point from the previous close and down 2 points from a week ago.
What is driving the stock reading
| Indicator | What the summary says |
|---|---|
| Market momentum | The S&P 500 remains above its 125-day moving average, though momentum has weakened |
| Stock price strength | NYSE 52-week lows outnumber highs |
| Stock price breadth | Breadth has begun recovering from early-October lows |
| Put/call options | The five-day put/call indicator signals Extreme Fear |
| Market volatility | The VIX is above its 50-day average |
| Safe haven demand | Treasury bonds have outperformed stocks over the past 20 trading days |
| Junk bond demand | Fear, the only indicator not in Extreme Fear; yield spreads have recently widened |
Why it matters
The mix is not uniformly bleak. The S&P 500 is still above its 125-day moving average and breadth has started to recover from its early-October lows, so the damage in the index comes mostly from options positioning, volatility, bond-market flows and the number of stocks hitting 52-week lows. Junk-bond demand sitting one notch above the rest suggests credit markets are somewhat calmer than equity and options traders, although spreads have recently widened.
The gap between the two gauges is notable. Crypto sentiment has fallen to Neutral, while stocks are still pinned near the bottom of their range. Sentiment gauges describe current positioning and mood rather than predict what comes next, so readings in Extreme Fear can persist or deepen before conditions change.
Sources: The Fear & Greed Index readings and indicator descriptions are as given in the summary supplied. This is informational, not a recommendation to buy or sell.
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