S&P 500 Settles Above 7,200: Investor Sentiment Improves, Fear Index Remains In 'Greed' Zone

U.S. stocks rallied as the S&P 500 recorded its first settlement above the 7,200 level, settling at 7,209.01 (+1.02%). Investor sentiment improved with CNN’s Fear & Greed Index rising to 66.6 (still in “Greed”), even as Q1 GDP came in at a below-expectations 2% annualized, core PCE accelerated and initial jobless claims dropped to the lowest level since 2022. Most S&P sectors closed higher (utilities, communication services and industrials led); information technology lagged. Strong corporate results helped propel the rally — Caterpillar and Alphabet jumped ~10% after beats — while Meta and Microsoft fell after their reports. The S&P posted a strong April gain (up 10.4%), with the Nasdaq up 15.3% and the Dow up 7.1% for the month. Investors are watching upcoming releases from major energy and consumer names. Overall market tone is bullish, supported by strong breadth and improving sentiment despite mixed macro data.