CNN’s Fear & Greed Index rose to 31 on Wednesday, deep in “Extreme Fear,” after a hot inflation report, new Middle East attacks and a chip-stock selloff over AI debt worries. Most of its signals flash warnings, with the S&P 500 below its 125-day moving average and more 52-week lows than highs on the NYSE. The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 5.21% on October 13, up from 4.05% a year earlier, while the VIX at 18.52 sits within its normal range. Retail sales still rose 0.8% to $745.0 billion in September despite weak consumer sentiment. Watch whether the 10-year yield tops 5.31%, the VIX closes above 20, and October retail sales weaken.
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Related tickers and likely impact
QQQ
▼ Likely negativeInvesco QQQ Trust
Relevance: low
| Market | US stocks |
|---|---|
| Sector | ETF |
| Close on 10/21/2026 | 725.20 |
| Change that session | +1.05% |
SPY
▼ Likely negativeSPDR S&P 500 ETF
Relevance: low
| Market | US stocks |
|---|---|
| Sector | ETF |
| Close on 10/21/2026 | 773.09 |
| Change that session | +0.53% |
Impact is scored by AI from the headline and may be wrong. It is not investment advice.
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