The Cboe Volatility Index, commonly known as the VIX, is currently trading at 17.17 as of 8:34 AM on November 4, 2025. This represents a percent change of -1.55% from the previous session, or a decrease of 0.27 points compared to the last reported value according to the Cboe indices dashboard.
The VIX, often labeled the "fear gauge," reflects market expectations for near-term volatility based on S&P 500 Index options prices. In the past week, the VIX has oscillated between its 52-week high of 60.13 and low of 12.70, but recently has stabilized in the high teens. This move lower in the VIX suggests that investors perceive less risk of imminent market turbulence, following a period where implied volatility across asset classes had increased due to ongoing global tensions and economic uncertainty.
Several factors are influencing this recent percent change in the VIX. Over the weekend, strikes by the US affected market sentiment, but oil prices remained relatively steady, and investors are now awaiting further geopolitical developments, particularly Iran's response. Last week, WTI crude's one-month implied volatility surged, but fears of a significant oil supply disruption have since ebbed, leading to a halving of the spread between implied and realized volatility in the oil markets. In other asset classes, volatility has also normalized, with rates and foreign exchange volatility hitting new lows after the recent Federal Reserve meeting, while US inflation expectations have stayed steady despite oil price spikes.
Market participants have been using VIX futures and options not just for hedging, but also as a way to capitalize on differences between expected and realized volatility. Historically, the VIX exhibits mean-reversion, returning to its long-term average over time. This has created opportunities for calendar spreads depending on traders’ views of risk and volatility. Additionally, following soft consumer price index (CPI) data and signs of easing trade tensions, VIX options have been actively traded for portfolio protection, but the recent drop in volatility led many investors to look for upside opportunities by adding call positions.
The current downward shift in the VIX can be attributed to a more optimistic tone in equity markets, subsiding fears over oil-related disruptions, muted inflation worries, and a reassessment of monetary policy risk following the Federal Reserve’s latest communications. Nevertheless, the market remains watchful for further developments, especially in geopolitical hotspots, and any surprise could prompt a quick reversal in volatility expectations.
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