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S&P 500, Nasdaq Settle At Record Levels As Iran Ceasefire Extends: Investor Sentiment Improves, Fear Index Remains In 'Greed' Zone

Benzinga·04/23/2026 07:04:36
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The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed an increase in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the “Greed” zone on Wednesday.

U.S. stocks settled higher on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closing at record levels during the session after President Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran.

In earnings, AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T)announced upbeat financial results for its fiscal first quarter of 2026 on Wednesday. Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA) reported better-than-expected results for the first quarter on Wednesday. Calix Inc. (NYSE:CALX) shares dropped 14% on Wednesday following first-quarter results

On the economic data front, U.S. mortgage applications surged 7.8% from the previous week in the week ending April 17, following a 1.8% gain from the prior period.

Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed on a positive note, with information technology, communication services and energy stocks recording the biggest gains on Wednesday. However, real estate and industrials stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.

The Dow Jones closed higher by around 341 points to 49,490.03 on Wednesday. The S&P 500 jumped 1.05% to 7,137.90, while the Nasdaq Composite surged 1.64% at 24,657.57 during Wednesday's session.

Investors are awaiting earnings results from American Express Co. (NYSE:AXP), Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) and Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:HON) today.

What Is CNN Business Fear & Greed Index?

At a current reading of 68.1, the index remained in the “Greed” zone on Wednesday, versus a prior reading of 67.8.

The Fear & Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.

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