MACRO · STRESS
VIX volatility index
The expected volatility over the next 30 days priced into US stock index options.
Current value15.27pt+0.06ptChange from previous observation · as of Oct 13, 2026
Latest value
Published every business day| Current value | 15.27pt |
|---|---|
| Observation date | Oct 13, 2026 |
| Published | Every business day |
| vs previous observation | +0.06pt |
| vs 1 month ago | -0.57pt |
| vs 1 year ago | -3.76pt |
| Past-year range | 13.47pt to 31.05pt |
| Position in range | 10% (0% = 1-year low, 100% = 1-year high) |
Source: Chicago Board Options Exchange, CBOE Volatility Index: VIX [VIXCLS], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
What this number measures
VIX is calculated backward from option prices on a leading US stock index. A higher value means option prices carry a stronger expectation of large stock price swings over the next 30 days.
It has often jumped when stocks fell sharply, which earned it the nickname fear index. What it measures, though, is the size of the swings, not their direction.
How it is calculated and when it is released
The expected 30-day volatility, annualized, derived from stock index option quotes. Jupick uses the closing series.
Updated at the close of every US stock market business day.
What this number does not tell you
- It does not tell the direction. It rises when large moves are expected, whether stock prices go up or down.
- It covers the US market. Expected volatility for the Korean market is calculated in a separate index.
- It is an expectation, not the volatility that actually happened. Outcomes often differ from expectations.
Common misreadings
- Reading it as a warning of a fall
VIX is an expectation about the size of swings, not a forecast of direction. A high value does not mean a fall in stock prices.
- Unit
The unit is points. A move from 20 to 25 is a rise of 5 pt and is not read as a percent.
※ This explains the definition and past observations of the indicator. It does not forecast future values or market direction.
This page is information based on public data and is not advice on any stock or financial product. The indicators summarize current and past facts and do not forecast the future.