US fear & greed index
As of the 13 Nov 2026 close
Is the US market fearful or greedy right now? Six readings, each scored against the last year, in one number, and checked against the S&P 500's history.
What makes up today's reading
| Reading | Score (0–100) |
|---|
| Volatility (VIX) VIX 19.30: nervous, higher than most of the year | 25 |
| S&P 500 trend S&P 500 -0.4% vs its 125-day average: weaker than usual | 10 |
| Advances vs declines 50% of stocks rose over 5 days: about usual | 55 |
| Stocks above 200-day average 43% of stocks above their 200-day average: fewer than usual | 10 |
| New 52-week highs vs lows -6.4% net new 52-week highs over 5 days: more lows than usual | 27 |
| Stocks vs gold S&P 500 +5.7% vs gold over 20 days: money favouring stocks | 66 |
Each reading is scored by where today stands against the last 250 trading days: 100 = the most greedy level of the year, 0 = the most fearful. The mood is their average. Extreme greed or Extreme fear is called only after two sessions in a row in that zone.
What happened after extreme readings
S&P 500's move after each time the mood entered Extreme greed or Extreme fear.
| After | 1 week later | 1 month later | 3 months later |
|---|
| Extreme greed 47 times | -0.1% up 55% of the time | +0.4% up 70% of the time | +2.3% up 79% of the time |
| Extreme fear 40 times | +0.5% up 57% of the time | +0.6% up 61% of the time | +2.6% up 70% of the time |
Each time
| Date | Mood | S&P 500 | 1 week | 1 month | 3 months |
|---|
| 6 Nov 2026 | 20 Extreme fear | 7,377 | +2.5% | not yet | not yet |
| 19 Oct 2026 | 20 Extreme fear | 7,691 | -0.2% | not yet | not yet |
| 16 Sept 2026 | 23 Extreme fear | 7,552 | +2.0% | +2.2% | not yet |
| 29 May 2026 | 75 Extreme greed | 7,580 | -2.6% | -1.8% | +1.3% |
| 9 Mar 2026 | 21 Extreme fear | 6,796 | -1.4% | -2.6% | +11.1% |
| 14 Aug 2025 | 79 Extreme greed | 6,469 | -1.5% | +1.8% | +4.0% |
| 23 Jul 2025 | 83 Extreme greed | 6,359 | +0.1% | +0.6% | +4.2% |
| 3 Jul 2025 | 81 Extreme greed | 6,279 | -0.3% | -0.7% | +6.1% |
| 24 Feb 2025 | 8 Extreme fear | 5,983 | -2.2% | -3.6% | -0.7% |
| 10 Jan 2025 | 11 Extreme fear | 5,827 | +2.9% | +4.1% | -14.5% |
| 19 Dec 2024 | 11 Extreme fear | 5,867 | +1.8% | +3.7% | -3.5% |
| 26 Nov 2024 | 78 Extreme greed | 6,022 | +1.1% | +0.3% | -1.1% |
Mood worked out back to 31 Mar 2016. Treat this as history, not a forecast: the market can stay fearful or greedy for weeks.
How each reading has lined up with the S&P 500
S&P 500's average move one month later, on days when a reading was at its greediest (top fifth of its year) and its most fearful (bottom fifth).
| Reading | When greedy | When fearful |
|---|
| Volatility (VIX) since 2016 | +1.0% up 69% · 812 days | +1.9% up 67% · 484 days |
| S&P 500 trend since 2016 | +0.2% up 62% · 611 days | +1.5% up 64% · 650 days |
| Advances vs declines since 2016 | +1.1% up 69% · 511 days | +1.4% up 67% · 548 days |
| Stocks above 200-day average since 2016 | +0.4% up 66% · 567 days | +0.9% up 59% · 693 days |
| New 52-week highs vs lows since 2017 | +0.5% up 71% · 547 days | +1.1% up 61% · 584 days |
| Stocks vs gold since 2016 | +1.6% up 75% · 556 days | +1.6% up 66% · 567 days |
| Market mood (all together) since 2016 | +1.0% up 71% · 230 days | +1.4% up 60% · 313 days |
Fearful readings have been followed by better months than greedy ones. The links are weak, so this describes the mood; it does not forecast.
From the VIX, S&P 500 and gold fund daily closes and the daily prices of every US stock. Updated after each US close. Information only, not investment advice.
What does the fear and greed index show?
Whether the US market is acting fearful or greedy compared with the last year: 0 is the most fearful reading of the year, 100 the most greedy.
Which readings go into it?
The VIX (low = calm), the S&P 500 against its 125-day average, how many stocks rose over the last 5 days, the share of stocks above their 200-day average, new 52-week highs minus lows, and the S&P 500 against gold over 20 days.
Does it predict the market?
No. It describes the mood. The tables on this page show how each reading lined up with the S&P 500 afterwards, and the links are weak.