Fear and Greed Index: Current Values for Stocks & Crypto

You’ve probably glanced at a market chart and wondered whether the crowd is panicking or piling in. That’s exactly what the Fear and Greed Index tries to measure—a single number that claims to capture the emotional temperature of investors across stocks, crypto, and even gold. Created by CNNMoney in 2012, the index now has multiple versions, each with its own quirks and limitations. Here’s how to read it, where it works, and where it falls short.

Current Fear and Greed Index (Stock Market): 42 (Fear) – feargreedmeter.com ·
Range: 0 (Extreme Fear) to 100 (Extreme Greed) ·
Indicators Used (Stock Version): 7 market indicators (CNN) ·
Crypto Version Range: 0 (Extreme Fear) to 100 (Extreme Greed) – alternative.me

The table below compares the two major versions of the Fear and Greed Index.

How is the Fear and Greed Index used in the crypto market?

We analyze the current sentiment of the Bitcoin market and crunch the numbers into a simple meter from 0 to 100.

What is the Crypto Fear and Greed Index?

The Crypto Fear and Greed Index, maintained by Alternative.me (crypto data provider), measures Bitcoin market sentiment on a scale from 0 (Extreme Fear) to 100 (Extreme Greed). It’s built from multiple signals including market volatility compared with 30-day and 90-day averages, market momentum and volume, social media activity, Bitcoin dominance, and trends (Caleb & Brown (crypto brokerage)). Low values suggest overselling, while high values indicate overbuying.

How does the crypto version differ from the stock version?

The stock-market version uses seven components—market momentum, stock price strength, stock price breadth, put/call options, junk-bond demand, volatility, and safe-haven demand (Bajaj Finserv (financial services firm)). The crypto version uses five signals and relies heavily on social media and Bitcoin dominance. Both share the same 0-100 scale but measure fundamentally different asset classes.

The implication: crypto traders get a sentiment snapshot that’s more reactive to social chatter, while stock investors see a broader institutional picture. Neither version accounts for fundamental developments like technology upgrades or regulatory changes (Kanga Exchange (crypto exchange)).

What is the Fear and Greed Index for the stock market and S&P 500?

The index is a way to gauge stock market movements and whether stocks are fairly priced.

How does the CNN Fear and Greed Index work?

The CNN Fear and Greed Index, introduced by CNNMoney in 2012, gauges stock market movements and whether stocks are fairly priced (Axiory (trading education platform)). It combines seven indicators into a single number that ranges from 0 (Extreme Fear) to 100 (Extreme Greed). The index is updated daily and is widely used by retail and institutional investors alike.

What is the current value for the S&P 500?

As of the latest reading, the stock-market Fear and Greed Index sits at 42 (Fear), according to feargreedmeter.com (aggregator). This places the market in the “fear” zone, suggesting investors are cautious but not panicking.

The implication: the stock version is most useful for broad market sentiment, not for individual sectors or stocks. For niche trades, you may need to look at additional data from sources like Wizz Air share price analysis or HSBA share price updates.

What is the current Fear and Greed Index and how to interpret its chart?

How to read the Fear and Greed Index chart?

The chart displays a meter from extreme fear to extreme greed, typically color-coded for quick interpretation. Each zone corresponds to a sentiment level: extreme fear (0-24), fear (25-49), greed (50-74), and extreme greed (75-100) (Bajaj Finserv (financial services firm)).

What does each color or zone mean?

• Extreme Fear (0-24): Investors are panicking; historically a buying opportunity for contrarians.
• Fear (25-49): Caution dominates; markets may be undervalued.
• Greed (50-74): Optimism is rising; watch for overvaluation.
• Extreme Greed (75-100): Euphoria; markets may be overbought and due for a correction.

The trade-off: the index is a lagging indicator that often confirms moves after they happen (Axiory (trading education platform)). It’s useful for context, not timing.

How has the Fear and Greed Index performed over the last 10 years?

What were the extremes during 2020 and 2021?

During the COVID-19 crash in March 2020, the index plunged to extreme fear territory, with readings below 10. In late 2021, the crypto bull market pushed the crypto version above 90, signaling extreme greed. These extremes aligned with major market turning points.

How did the index behave during the 2008 crisis?

The stock-market index showed prolonged extreme fear during the 2008 financial crisis, though the CNN version didn’t exist yet. Historical analysis of similar sentiment indicators confirms that extended periods of extreme fear often precede recoveries.

The pattern: charted extremes often mark turning points, but the index alone never triggers a trade.

Does the Fear and Greed Index work for gold?

Is there a gold-specific Fear and Greed Index?

No widely used gold-specific Fear and Greed Index exists. The general market index may serve as a proxy, but gold often moves inversely to risk assets, so the stock-market version may not accurately reflect gold sentiment.

How does gold sentiment correlate with the stock market index?

Gold typically behaves as a safe-haven asset, rising during periods of stock-market fear. However, the Fear and Greed Index reflects broader market sentiment, not gold-specific dynamics. Investors looking for gold sentiment signals may need to rely on other indicators like gold ETF flows or futures positioning.

The pattern: the index works best for the asset class it was designed for—stocks for the CNN version, Bitcoin for the crypto version. Applying it to gold requires caution and additional context.

How to use the Fear and Greed Index: a step-by-step guide

1. Step 1: Choose your version – Decide whether you’re trading stocks or crypto. Use the Bajaj Finserv (financial services firm) version for stocks or Alternative.me (crypto data provider) for crypto.
2. Step 2: Check the current value – Visit the index page and note the current reading. Compare it to the 0-100 scale to determine the sentiment zone.
3. Step 3: Look at the trend – Is the index rising or falling? A rising index from fear to greed suggests improving sentiment; a falling index from greed to fear signals deteriorating confidence.
4. Step 4: Compare with price action – If the index shows extreme fear but prices are stable, it may be a contrarian buying signal. If extreme greed coincides with a price rally, consider taking profits.
5. Step 5: Use as one tool among many – The index is a lagging indicator (Axiory (trading education platform)). Combine it with technical analysis, fundamentals, and news for a complete picture.

The catch: no single indicator replaces due diligence. The index works best when paired with broader research.

For a deeper dive into how sentiment drives digital asset prices, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index provides a practical walkthrough of using this emotional gauge in crypto markets.

Frequently asked questions

The Fear and Greed Index is a useful sentiment thermometer, but it’s not a crystal ball. For investors in the UK market, the implication is clear: use it to gauge crowd emotion, but never rely on it alone. Pair it with fundamental analysis and your own risk tolerance, or risk buying into euphoria and selling into panic.