Nasdaq Surges Over 100 Points Following Fed's Rate Cut: Investor Fear Eases Further, Greed Index Remains In 'Fear' Zone
Benzinga·2025-10-30 07:21

Market Overview - U.S. stocks exhibited mixed performance, with the Nasdaq Composite gaining over 100 points after the Federal Reserve lowered rates by 25 basis points to a range of 3.75%-4.00% for the second consecutive meeting [2] - The Dow Jones closed lower by approximately 74 points at 47,632.00, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.01% to 6,890.59, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.55% to 23,958.47 [4] Company Performance - Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) shares increased around 12% following better-than-expected third-quarter financial results [3] - Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA) shares fell approximately 4% after reporting a wider loss for the third quarter of 2025 [3] - Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) reported mixed third-quarter results and reaffirmed its 2025 guidance [3] Economic Indicators - U.S. pending home sales remained flat in September, contrasting with market expectations of a 1.6% increase [3] Sector Performance - Most sectors within the S&P 500 closed negatively, with real estate, consumer staples, and materials stocks experiencing the largest losses [4] - Conversely, communication services and information technology stocks closed higher, defying the overall market trend [4] Investor Sentiment - The CNN Money Fear and Greed Index recorded a reading of 42.3, indicating a continued presence in the "Fear" zone, up from a previous reading of 39.3 [6]