S&P 500 Edges Higher as Investor Fear Eases Slightly

Greed Index Remains in 'Fear' Zone, Earnings Season Continues

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The S&P 500 closed slightly higher on Tuesday, up 0.1%, as the overall fear level eased slightly according to the CNN Money Fear and Greed index, though the index remained in the 'Fear' zone. Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed negatively, with consumer staples, energy and materials stocks recording the biggest losses, while real estate and financial stocks gained. The Dow Jones and Nasdaq also closed higher for the day.

Why it matters

The Fear and Greed index provides insight into the overall market sentiment, with higher fear typically exerting downward pressure on stock prices. The continued 'Fear' reading, despite the modest market gains, suggests investors remain cautious amid ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

The details

The S&P 500 gained around 0.1% on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones closing higher by 32 points and the Nasdaq Composite rising 0.14%. However, most sectors on the S&P 500 closed in negative territory, led by losses in consumer staples, energy and materials stocks. Real estate and financial stocks were among the few gainers. The Fear and Greed index, which measures market sentiment, eased slightly to 37.3 from 36.1 previously, but remained in the 'Fear' zone.

  • The S&P 500 fell 1.4% last week, while the Dow declined 1.2% and the Nasdaq lost 2.1%.

The players

S&P 500

A stock market index that tracks the performance of 500 large-cap U.S. publicly traded companies.

Dow Jones

A stock market index that tracks 30 large publicly traded companies.

Nasdaq Composite

A stock market index that tracks the performance of over 3,000 stocks listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

CNN Money Fear & Greed Index

A measure of current market sentiment, ranging from 0 (maximum fear) to 100 (maximum greed), based on seven equal-weighted indicators.

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The takeaway

While the S&P 500 edged higher on Tuesday, the continued 'Fear' reading in the CNN Money Fear and Greed Index suggests investors remain cautious amid ongoing economic and market uncertainties, even as some sectors like real estate and financials bucked the overall negative trend.