Nasdaq Gains Over 100 Points Following Release Of Fed Minutes: Fear & Greed Index Remains In 'Extreme Fear' Zone

Market Sentiment - The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a slight decrease, remaining in the "Extreme Fear" zone with a reading of 11.45, down from 11.52 [7][8] - U.S. stocks experienced a positive session, with the Nasdaq Composite gaining over 100 points [1] Federal Reserve Insights - The minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting revealed a division among officials regarding future interest rate paths, leading to uncertainty about a potential December rate cut [2] Economic Data - U.S. exports of goods and services rose by $0.2 billion to $280.8 billion in August, while imports fell by 5.1% to $340.4 billion, resulting in a reduced trade deficit of $59.6 billion, down from $78.2 billion [3] Company Performance - Lowe's Companies Inc. shares increased by 4% after exceeding profit expectations for the third quarter, although sales fell slightly short [4] - Target Corp. reported a profit beat for the third quarter but had disappointing sales and lowered its full-year earnings outlook [4] Sector Performance - Most sectors in the S&P 500 closed positively, with information technology, communication services, and materials stocks showing the largest gains, while energy and utilities sectors declined [5] - The Dow Jones increased by approximately 47 points, closing at 46,138.77, while the S&P 500 rose by 0.38% to 6,642.16, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.59% to 22,564.23 [5] Upcoming Earnings - Investors are anticipating earnings results from Walmart Inc., Maximus Inc., and Intuit Inc. [6]