The CNN Money Fear & Greed index improved to 31 from 29 but remained in the Fear zone on Wednesday, as U.S. stocks ended mixed after August inflation data came in below expectations. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, rose 0.3% month over month, versus a 0.4% consensus estimate, while core PCE increased 0.2% against expectations of 0.3%. The softer reading strengthened the case for Treasury bonds, with downward revisions to prior months contributing to the result. Private payrolls rose by 90,000 in September, above the 68,000 consensus, according to ADP. The Dow Jones fell around 444 points to 50,906.05, the S&P 500 slipped 0.25% to 7,651.54, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.24% to 26,861.06. Conagra Brands and Jabil reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings. Investors were awaiting results from Acuity, Accenture and Nike. Most S&P 500 sectors fell, led by health care, consumer staples and industrials, while information technology and consumer discretionary stocks advanced. Trump said he offered Iran nothing on sanctions relief, according to media reports.