The CNN Money Fear and Greed index has increased, with the Nasdaq Composite falling more than 2% during the session and the S&P 500 recording its fifth consecutive weekly decline. The index remained in the "Extreme Fear" zone, based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index also dipped to 53.3 in March, down from the preliminary reading of 55.5 and down from February's reading of 56.6.