Nasdaq Dips Over 2%, Records Weekly Loss: Fear & Greed Index Remains In 'Extreme Fear' Zone

Market Sentiment - The CNN Money Fear and Greed index increased, indicating a heightened overall fear level, remaining in the "Extreme Fear" zone with a current reading of 10.2, down from 14.9 [1][4]. - The Fear & Greed Index measures market sentiment, where higher fear typically pressures stock prices downward, while higher greed has the opposite effect [5]. Stock Market Performance - U.S. stocks closed lower on Friday, with the Nasdaq Composite falling more than 2% during the session [1]. - The S&P 500 experienced its fifth consecutive weekly decline, dropping 2.1% for the week, while the Nasdaq fell 3.2% and the Dow decreased by 0.9% [1][3]. - Most sectors on the S&P 500 ended negatively, particularly communication services, consumer discretionary, and financial stocks, while energy and consumer staples stocks closed higher [3]. Economic Indicators - The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index decreased to 53.3 in March from a preliminary reading of 55.5 and down from February's 56.6 [2].