Track real-time stock market sentiment. Our Stocks Fear & Greed Index combines price strength, VIX, momentum, market breadth and sector rotation into a single 0-100 score, updated daily.
Very pessimistic sentiment. Panic-level selling pressure.
Cautious sentiment. Investors seeking safety.
Balanced sentiment. No clear trend.
Optimistic sentiment. Investors taking risks.
Market euphoria. Stretched, one-sided optimism.
The Stocks Index measures sentiment towards equities using 7 components. Combines direct price performance with volatility, breadth, rotation, and cross-asset signals to capture when investors are buying or panicking. All scores from 0-100:
Direct SPY 14-day performance
Measures S&P 500 (SPY) price change over 14 days with a x8 multiplier. SPY +6% = score 100. SPY -6% = score 0. This directly captures buying/selling sentiment. When stocks crash -10%+, this component drives the score to Extreme Fear, signaling panic selling.
Market fear gauge (CBOE Volatility Index)
Measures expected stock market volatility using a continuous linear formula: score = 90 - (VIX - 10) x 3.2, capped 0-100. VIX 10 = score 90 (extreme complacency). VIX 20 = score 58. VIX 30 = score 26. VIX 38+ = score 0. Smooth transitions eliminate artificial cliff effects between VIX thresholds.
RSI + 50-day moving average position
Combines 14-day RSI (70% weight) with price position relative to 50-day MA (30% weight). RSI >70 + Price > MA50 = overbought/bullish = high score. RSI <30 + Price < MA50 = oversold/bearish = low score. Captures technical momentum and trend strength.
Equal-weight vs cap-weight performance (RSP vs SPY)
Compares Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) to SPY over 14 days with a x18 multiplier. RSP outperforming SPY = broad participation across all stocks = healthy greed. SPY outperforming RSP = narrow leadership (only mega-caps rising) = fragile market = lower score. Saturates at +/-2.8% divergence.
High-yield corporate bonds vs Treasuries (HYG vs TLT)
Compares iShares High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG) to TLT over 14 days. HYG outperforming TLT = risk appetite for junk bonds = greed. TLT outperforming HYG = flight to safety from risky corporate debt = fear.
TLT 14-day momentum (inverted)
Measures flight-to-safety flows via iShares 20+ Year Treasury ETF (TLT). Rising TLT = investors buying safe Treasuries = fear for stocks = lower score. Falling TLT = investors leaving safe havens = confidence in stocks = higher score.
Tech vs Defensive rotation (QQQ vs XLP)
Measures sentiment shift between offensive and defensive sectors via 14-day relative performance with a x5 multiplier. QQQ (Nasdaq-100 tech) outperforming XLP (Consumer Staples) = risk-on = greed. XLP outperforming QQQ = defensive rotation = fear. Saturates at +/-10% divergence.
Full cross-asset methodology and data sources available on the About page.
The Stocks Fear & Greed Index uses 7 components: Price Strength (20%), VIX (20%), Momentum (15%), Market Participation (15%), Junk Bond Demand (10%), Safe Haven Demand (10%), and Sector Rotation (10%). It combines technical, volatility, breadth, and cross-asset signals to capture stock market sentiment.
CNN's index only covers US stocks with proprietary, undisclosed calculations. OnOff.Markets provides four separate indices (Stocks, Bonds, Gold, Crypto) with fully transparent methodology. Every formula, weight, and data source is published. The VIX component uses a continuous linear formula instead of step thresholds.
The VIX measures expected S&P 500 volatility. Our index uses a continuous formula: score = 90 - (VIX - 10) x 3.2. VIX at 10 = score 90 (extreme complacency), VIX at 20 = score 58, VIX at 30 = score 26, VIX above 38 = score 0. Smooth transitions eliminate artificial cliff effects.