Are investors fearful or greedy?
Markets swing between fear and greed, and the extremes are when prices move furthest from what businesses are worth. Six market gauges, from momentum to junk-bond demand, put a number on today’s mood.
Updated Oct 9, 2026
Fear
The six gauges together read 41, which is fear. A week ago they read 41 and a month ago 33. Safe havens leans greediest and highs vs lows the most fearful.
Over time
Select the overall reading or any gauge. Score runs from 0, extreme fear, to 100, extreme greed; Value is the reading behind it.
The six gauges
Sorted from greediest to most fearful. Change is the move in score over the past month. Select a column to sort.
| Gauge | Mood | Reading | 1M change | Score, past year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Safe havens Stocks against Treasury bonds, 20 days | 80Extreme greed | Stocks +5.4 pts against long bonds over 20 days | +50 pts | |
Momentum S&P 500 against its 125-day average | 49Neutral | S&P 500 3.9% above its 125-day average | +3 pts | |
Volatility VIX against its 50-day average | 47Neutral | VIX 3% below its 50-day average | +23 pts | |
Junk bonds High-yield against Treasury bonds, 20 days | 41Fear | Junk bonds +0.0 pts against Treasuries over 20 days | −20 pts | |
Breadth Stocks above their 50-day average | 19Extreme fear | 34% of stocks above their 50-day average | +2 pts | |
Highs vs lows New 52-week highs minus lows | 11Extreme fear | Net new highs −2.5% of stocks a day | −8 pts |
How to read this page
How it’s measured. Six gauges: S&P 500 momentum, new highs against new lows, the share of stocks above their 50-day average, the VIX against its own average, stocks against Treasury bonds, and junk bonds against Treasuries. Each is scored against its last five years and the six are averaged; 0 is extreme fear, 100 extreme greed.
Sources. Daily prices from Financial Modeling Prep; the VIX from Cboe via FRED.
The volatility gauge is turned around, so a calm VIX reads as greed. Safe-haven and junk-bond gauges compare price moves of funds over 20 trading days.
Extreme readings have often come near turning points, but they can last for weeks. The mood describes the market; it does not time it.
This page is information, not investment advice. About our data and methods ›