What is the Fear & Greed Index?

A composite of 7 market sentiment indicators — market momentum, stock price strength, stock price breadth, put/call options ratio, junk bond demand, market volatility (VIX), and safe haven demand — scoring market sentiment 0–100. Below 25 is extreme fear; above 75 is extreme greed.

What does extreme greed mean for stocks?

Extreme greed (75+) historically precedes market pullbacks as valuations stretch and institutional investors distribute shares to retail buyers. It is a contrarian warning signal — not an immediate sell trigger, but a reason to tighten stops and reduce leverage on new positions.

What does extreme fear mean for investors?

Extreme fear (below 25) often marks capitulation bottoms. When panic-selling dominates, the market has typically overshot to the downside. Many institutional buyers use extreme fear readings as accumulation windows, buying broad market exposure when retail investors are exiting.

How often does the Fear & Greed Index update?

APEX updates the Fear & Greed Index daily during market hours. The composite score reflects closing data from all 7 underlying indicators, refreshed each trading day.