VIX Volatility Index (Fear Gauge) – Live Levels & Market Sentiment
Track the CBOE VIX Index in real time, visualize its history, and learn how volatility regimes relate to market fear, risk appetite, and U.S. stock trading conditions.
VIX Volatility Index & Market Sentiment Overview
Live CBOE VIX index snapshot with day range, 52-week range and volatility regime classification — a practical alternative to generic fear and greed style indicators.
VIX Chart — Historical Volatility Levels
Interactive VIX chart with adjustable history window to study volatility spikes, calm periods, and how the fear gauge behaved around major market events.
VIX Result Analysis & Market Interpretation
Based on the latest VIX reading and the intraday / 52-week ranges, current market volatility and perceived risk level can be described as moderate . Rather than predicting direction, the VIX summarizes how aggressively investors are pricing risk through SPX options.
- VIX near 13.47 is within the 12–20 “MID” band, a historically typical range for normal volatility.
- Day range: 13.47 – 13.47; 52-week percentile: -1.21%. Higher percentiles indicate the current reading is near the top of its 1-year range.
- VIX is most informative when combined with price action in the S&P 500 and other indicators: sudden spikes tend to align with sharp sell-offs, while gradually rising VIX during sideways markets can hint at brewing risk.
Bands (illustrative): VERY LOW <12 · MID 12–20 · HIGH 20–30 · VERY HIGH 30–50 · EXTREME >50. These ranges are descriptive, not trading rules.
Understanding the VIX Index — The Market’s Fear Gauge
1. What is the VIX Volatility Index?
The VIX Index (CBOE Volatility Index) measures the market’s expectation of 30-day volatility in the S&P 500, derived from real-time SPX option prices. Put simply, it reflects how much investors are willing to pay for protection against future moves. When investors rush to buy options, VIX rises; when demand for protection is low, VIX tends to drift lower.
2. VIX versus simple “fear and greed” meters
Many websites popularize a Fear & Greed Index. The VIX is different: it is not a survey or opinion poll, but a market-based indicator built from option prices where real money is at stake. This makes it a powerful complement to survey-based sentiment or composite indicators.
3. Historical behavior: spikes and calm periods
Large VIX spikes have historically coincided with credit stress, liquidity events, or sharp equity drawdowns. Extended low-VIX periods, by contrast, often align with steady bull markets — but can also encourage leverage and set the stage for future volatility bursts.
4. Using VIX in practice
- Context matters more than a single level. A jump from 15 to 25 in a few days can be more informative than VIX holding at 25 for weeks.
- Watch rate of change. Sudden moves often reflect rapid changes in risk appetite.
- Compare with equity price action. Divergences between VIX and index levels sometimes hint at shifts in underlying sentiment.
5. Not a direct trading recommendation
VIX is best used as a background risk indicator, not a stand-alone trading signal. It can help frame expectations about volatility, position sizing, and scenario planning, especially when combined with fundamental and technical analysis.
Many investors also monitor complementary indicators, such as the Buffett Indicator (market valuation vs. GDP), the Retail Investor Sentiment Index, and the Tech–Treasury Yield Spread to build a broader view of risk and sentiment across markets.
VIX Term Structure — Contango vs. Backwardation
Beyond the spot VIX level, many volatility traders watch the VIX term structure, which compares near-term VIX futures with longer-dated contracts. When longer-dated futures are higher than near-term (contango), markets often assume that volatility will stay contained. When near-term futures rise above longer maturities (backwardation), it typically signals short-term stress or demand for immediate protection.
While this page focuses on the spot index and its history, combining spot VIX with term structure data can provide a more complete view of volatility regimes and how persistent a shock may be.
What Is the VIX Volatility Index?
The VIX Volatility Index, often called the “fear index” or “fear gauge,” is essentially a measure of the market’s expected volatility for the S&P 500 over the next 30 days, derived from option prices. When investors aggressively buy protective options, the VIX tends to rise sharply, reflecting growing concern about risk. When the VIX stays low for an extended period, it usually suggests calm market sentiment — and sometimes even complacency.
It’s important to remember that the VIX is not a direct “up or down prediction tool,” but rather a thermometer for how the market is pricing risk and emotion. Used together with indicators like the Buffett Indicator and the Retail Investor Sentiment Index, it can help you better understand the overall risk environment in the U.S. stock market.