Think for the best, but prepare for the worst.
What the major indexes are telling us
CNN Fear and Greed Index sits at 23 - Extreme Fear Zone
Right now the CNN Fear and Greed Index sits at 23 points - the Extreme Fear Zone. This means most investors are nervous. The CBOE VIX, which measures how much volatility the market expects over the next 30 days, currently reads 18.76, placing it in the stable period between 10 and 20 points. Despite the fear, the major indexes have not collapsed - they are forming recognizable chart patterns that experienced traders use to forecast what comes next.
Both the NASDAQ (NDX) and the S&P 500 are in what analysts call a trumpet shape - a pattern that widens over time, suggesting growing uncertainty but not yet a breakdown. The S&P 500's version is described as firmer and clinging upward. The DJIA is rising steadily with the 50-day moving average acting as support, making it the relative safe haven among the three major indexes. Investment firms have still kept their S&P target above 8,000 for mid-year 2027.