Dow Jumps Over 200 Points Following Strong Bank Earnings: Investor Fear Eases Slightly, But Greed Index Remains In 'Fear' Zone - JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM)

Market Overview - The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some easing in the overall fear level, remaining in the "Fear" zone with a current reading of 29.5, slightly up from 29.3 [5] - U.S. stocks settled mixed, with the Dow Jones index gaining over 200 points during the session, driven by strong bank earnings, while U.S.-China trade tensions limited investor enthusiasm [1][4] Company Earnings - Major banks including Wells Fargo, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs all surpassed analyst expectations, contributing to positive market sentiment [2] - Investors are awaiting earnings results from Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Abbott Laboratories [4] Economic Indicators - The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined to 98.8 in September from 100.8 in the previous month, missing market estimates of 100.5 [3] - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated increased employment risks, which shifted the Fed's balance of risk and bolstered market confidence in a 25-basis-point interest rate cut [2] Sector Performance - Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed positively, with industrials, consumer staples, and financials recording the biggest gains, while consumer discretionary and information technology stocks closed lower [3]