Dow Jumps Over 200 Points Following Strong Bank Earnings: Investor Fear Eases Slightly, But Greed Index Remains In 'Fear' Zone

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