#MarketSentimentToday As of today, August 18, 2024, market sentiment across both the stock and crypto markets is showing signs of uncertainty and bearish tendencies.
In the stock market, indicators like the VIX Volatility Index and sentiment surveys suggest a potential extended decline, particularly for the S&P 500. The VIX briefly spiked above 65, signaling high volatility, and the NAAIM Exposure Index shows that money managers are shifting to more neutral positions from previously leveraged long positions. This all points to a cautious market environment with the possibility of further downturns [[â]](https://alphatrends.net/archives/premium_articles/stock-market-analysis-august-16-2024/) [[â]](https://www.seeitmarket.com/sp-500-update-august-2024-sentiment-indicators-point-to-extended-decline/).
On the cryptocurrency side, sentiment is also bearish. The overall sentiment score for the crypto market is low, indicating a lack of confidence. Bitcoin has been trading in a narrow range between $58,000 and $62,000, with muted reactions to macroeconomic data, which suggests that traders are being cautious. Additionally, challenges in the mining sector due to rising operational costs are adding to the bearish outlook [[â]](https://coincodex.com/sentiment/) [[â]](https://talkmarkets.com/content/us-markets/forex-and-cryptocurrency-forecast-for-august-19--23-2024?post=458651).
