Dow Tumbles Over 750 Points Following Fed Decision: Fear & Greed Index Remains In 'Extreme Fear' Zone

Market Sentiment - The CNN Money Fear and Greed index increased to a reading of 18.4, remaining in the "Extreme Fear" zone, down from a prior reading of 21.7 [4][5] - Higher fear levels are exerting pressure on stock prices, indicating a negative market sentiment [5] Economic Data - U.S. producer prices rose by 0.7% month-over-month in February, surpassing the previous month's increase of 0.5% and market estimates of 0.3% [2] - The Federal Reserve maintained interest rates at 3.50%–3.75% for the third consecutive meeting, reflecting a cautious approach amid low job gains and elevated inflation [2] Stock Market Performance - U.S. stocks closed lower, with the Dow Jones index dropping approximately 768 points to 46,225.15, the S&P 500 declining by 1.36% to 6,624.70, and the Nasdaq Composite falling by 1.46% to 22,152.42 [3] - All sectors on the S&P 500 ended negatively, with materials, consumer discretionary, and consumer staples experiencing the largest losses [2]