S&P 500, Nasdaq Fall After 8-Session Winning Streak Ahead Of Powell's Comments And FOMC Minutes: Fear & Greed Index In 'Neutral' Zone

BY Benzinga | ECONOMIC | 08/21/24 02:15 AM EDT

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the “Neutral” zone on Tuesday.

U.S. stocks settled lower on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq snapping their eight-session winning streaks.

Investors are awaiting the Federal Reserve's annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium this week, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell set to issue comments on Friday. Minutes from the Fed's July policy meeting will be released today.

Shares of Palo Alto Networks, Inc (PANW). gained over 7% on Tuesday after the company reported better-than-expected results for its fourth quarter and issued strong guidance. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings, but revealed a decline in comparable sales and revised its FY24 outlook downward.

Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed on a negative note, with energy, materials, and financials stocks recording the biggest losses on Tuesday. However, consumer staples and healthcare stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.

The Dow Jones closed lower by around 62 points to 40,834.97 on Monday. The S&P 500 fell 0.20% to 5,597.12, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.33% at 17,816.94 during Tuesday's session.

Investors are awaiting earnings results from The TJX Companies, Inc (TJX). , Target Corporation (TGT) , and Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (ZM) today.

What is CNN Business Fear & Greed Index?

At a current reading of 44.8, the index remained in the “Neutral” zone on Tuesday, versus a prior reading of 46.9.

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.

Read Next:

  • Top 3 Tech Stocks Which Could Rescue Your Portfolio This Quarter

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

fir_news_article