Nasdaq Jumps Over 200 Points as Chip Stocks Gain: Fear & Greed Index Remains in ‘Extreme Fear’ Zone
Key takeaways
- Tech gains lift the Nasdaq, but rising costs and mixed earnings signal a cautious outlook for the broader market.
- Nasdaq up 0.83% to 25,372.01
- Apple margin 45%-46% vs 46.3% consensus
guidance
What a company says it expects for future sales or profits — a forecast from the company, not a guarantee.
- Apple shares fell 2%
What happened
The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.83% to 25,372.01, its biggest gain of the day, driven by a rebound in chip stocks. Apple shares fell about 2% after the company said its December‑quarter gross margin would be 45%‑46%, below the 46.3% consensus, citing higher memory costs. Pfizer posted strong third‑quarter earnings, while Aehr Test Systems surged 26% on better‑than‑expected first‑quarter results and higher FY27 sales What a company says it expects for future sales or profits — a forecast from the company, not a guarantee.guidance
Why it matters
The Nasdaq’s jump shows that technology stocks can pull the index higher even when broader markets are mixed, highlighting sector strength. Apple’s margin miss signals rising component costs that could pressure future profitability. Strong earnings from Pfizer and Aehr suggest resilience in healthcare and…
Short-term and longer-term
Short-term. Over the next few days, watch for how the Nasdaq reacts to the earnings releases from McDonald’s, Uber, and Qualcomm.
Longer-term. Looking ahead, the mix of strong earnings and rising costs suggests that investors should monitor margin trends in tech and healthcare.
Words on this card
- Nasdaq Composite
- An index of over 3,000 technology and growth-oriented stocks listed on the Nasdaq exchange.
- Gross margin
- Revenue minus the cost of goods sold, expressed as a percentage of revenue.
- Fear & Greed Index
- A sentiment gauge that blends seven market indicators to rate overall investor mood from 0 (extreme fear) to 100 (extreme greed).
- Factory orders
- A measure of new manufacturing orders received by factories, indicating future production activity.
- Treasury yields
- The interest rates on U.S. government bonds, which influence borrowing costs across the economy.
- Guidance
- What a company says it expects for future sales or profits — a forecast from the company, not a guarantee.