The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a slight decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the “Fear” zone on Wednesday.
U.S. stocks settled mostly lower on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq Composite falling more than 100 points during the session amid a rise in crude oil prices.
Oil prices climbed as the U.S. carried out its 11th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, broadening its targets and stoking fears over the flow of crude through the Strait of Hormuz.
On the earnings front, GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) shares fell around 9% on Wednesday after the company reported mixed second-quarter financial results. Pegasystems Inc. (NASDAQ:PEGA) shares tumbled 16% after the company reported worse-than-expected second-quarter financial results. AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) stock gained more than 3% on Wednesday after the telecom giant reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings that topped Wall Street expectations.
On the economic data front, the volume of mortgage applications surged by 1.9% in the week ending July 17.
Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed on a positive note, with utilities, materials and energy stocks recording the biggest gains on Wednesday. However, communication services and consumer discretionary stocks were among the biggest losers.
The Dow Jones closed lower by around 6 points to 52,218.58 on Wednesday. The S&P 500 fell 0.14% to 7,498.96, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.57% to 25,690.90 during Wednesday’s session.
Investors are awaiting earnings results from Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:HON), Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) and T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ:TMUS) today.
What Is CNN Business Fear & Greed Index?
At a current reading of 43, the index remained in the “Fear” zone on Wednesday, versus a prior reading of 43.4.
The Fear & Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.
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