How to Read the Bull-Bear Index (BBI)

What the BBI measures

The Bull-Bear Index is a single 0–100 number answering one question: "how favorable is the current news flow for markets?" It does not predict prices — it is a live thermometer of the direction and weight of financial news published over the last 24 hours.

How it is computed

Individual calls: our AI classifies each story as bullish, bearish, or mixed, and assigns a 0–100 impact score. A Fed rate decision lands in the 90s; a minor exchange listing might be a 40. Not all news weighs the same.
Weighted aggregation: bullish and bearish stories from the last 24 hours are summed, weighted by impact. Bigger stories move the index more.
Time decay: older stories count less (roughly a 12-hour half-life). A morning catalyst has about half its influence by evening.
Deduplication: stories covering the same event are clustered and counted once. An event reported by ten outlets does not move the index ten times.

Reading the ranges

0–35 (Bearish): bearish news clearly dominates — negative catalysts are driving the tape.
35–48 (Mild Bear): mixed, tilted negative. Slightly more risk than reward in the flow.
48–52 (Neutral): balanced flow, no clear direction.
52–65 (Mild Bull): mixed, tilted positive.
65–100 (Bullish): bullish news clearly dominates.

The change often matters more than the level. If the BBI moves from 45 to 58 in half a day, something changed the flow — the Top Driver card on the homepage shows you what.

How it differs from Fear & Greed

CNN's Fear & Greed and Alternative.me's index are computed from market data — momentum, volatility, volume. The BBI is computed from news text. That means it can show a different picture in phases where the news builds before the price moves. They are complements, not substitutes.

What the BBI is NOT

Not a buy/sell signal. "BBI 70" does not mean "buy".
Not a price forecast. News sentiment and price often travel together — but not always.
Not infallible. AI calls can be wrong, which is exactly why we verify every call in a public accuracy ledger.

This guide is informational only, not investment advice. See our Editorial Policy & Disclaimer.