Market Fear Index — September 2026: 50.8

In September 2026, the Market Fear Index averaged 50.8, starting the month at a low of 48 on September 3 before climbing to a peak of 54 on September 10. Early worries were sparked by headlines about Russian sanctions evasion, rogue AI cyberattacks, and rising U.S.-Iran conflict involving Chinese satellite imagery, bond selloffs, and surging oil prices. Meanwhile, market tension was pushed lower by Robinhood's deal with Crypto.com, a broker peace deal using Nvidia chips, and a Wall Street bounce back after Warren Buffett stepped down. Despite these brief moments that helped calm investors, ongoing concerns over a prolonged war with Iran kept overall market fears elevated. The index ultimately reflected a volatile month shaped by shifting global and technological developments.

Peak 54 on 2026-09-10 · low 48 on 2026-09-03 · live month, refreshes daily · ← August · Market Fear Index timeline · · World Tension, same month

• Exclusive | U.S. Links Chinese Satellite Imagery to Iranian Strike That Killed Three Troops wsj.com · 2026-09-11
• Global bonds extend selloff, oil prices surge on renewed US-Iran strikes Reuters · 2026-09-01
• Exclusive | Cyberattack by Rogue AI Swarm Stokes Fears of Out-of-Control Agents wsj.com · 2026-09-11
• Exclusive | The Island Paradise That Is a Secret Hub for Russian Sanctions Evasion wsj.com · 2026-09-02
• Exclusive | Trump’s Top Advisers Confront Possibility That Iran War Lasts Through End of Term wsj.com · 2026-09-10
• Exclusive | Iran Is Producing Ballistic Missiles Again wsj.com · 2026-09-10
• Five takeaways from Canada's push to woo the world's richest investors BBC World · 2026-09-16
• U.S. Markets Sell Off After Fed’s Warsh Says Inflation Is Still ‘Too High’ wsj.com · 2026-09-16

• Exclusive | Robinhood Strikes Deal With Crypto.com in Latest Prediction-Markets Push
• Exclusive | U.S. Used Promise of Nvidia Chips to Broker Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal