Dow Tumbles Almost 300 Points: Investor Sentiment Declines, But Greed Index Remains In 'Fear' Zone

Market Sentiment - The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a slight easing in the overall fear level, with a current reading of 27.2 compared to a prior reading of 26.1, remaining in the "Fear" zone [1][4] Stock Market Performance - U.S. stocks settled mixed, with the Dow Jones index falling by almost 300 points, closing lower by around 289 points at 47,417.27 [1][3] - The S&P 500 fell 0.08% to 6,775.80, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.08% to 22,716.13 during the session [3] Sector Performance - Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed negatively, with consumer staples, real estate, and financial stocks recording the biggest losses [3] - Energy and information technology stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing higher [3] Geopolitical Impact - Investors continued to monitor developments in the ongoing war against Iran, as Iran struck three more cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, extending a campaign that has targeted more than a dozen ships since the conflict began [1] Economic Data - U.S. consumer inflation held steady in February, with prices rising at an annual pace consistent with market expectations [2]