Unlock Your Wealthier Future Today
We've been selecting winning stocks for 10 years. Get your investing life on the fast track now with our completely free, high-performing stock.
What is the VIX?
The CBOE Volatility Index gets a lot of attention in times of uncertainty. We're going to dive into what exactly is the VIX and what does it tell us.
July 21, 2020

The CBOE Volatility Index (INDEXCBOE: VIX), better known as the VIX, is a gauge of the market's future volatility. Founded by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), it is an indicator of the expected price fluctuations of the S&P 500 Index Option (INDEXSP: INX) over the next 30 days. The index rises in tandem with the expected volatility of the market. It is also known as the Fear Index or the Fear Gauge and is used by investors and traders alike as a signal for the level of fear and anxiety within the market. 

Read more from MyWallSt:



It's important to note that it is a forward-looking index and is not based on past performance and historical data like traditional measures of volatility, rather the expected or implied volatility for the proceeding month. As such, while closely correlated, the VIX is not a measure of actual volatility. 

Chart Courtesy of Yahoo Finance

When looking at VIX, there is a general rule of thumb: values greater than 30 indicate a time of increased volatility and fear amongst investors, while values under 20 signify more stability and predictability within the market. As we can see from the chart above, the three significant spikes in the VIX in February and March of 2018, December 2018, and February and March of 2020 represent the three most significant dips in the performance of the S&P 500 (NYSEARCA: VOO) we've seen in the last two years. 

What is probably most worrying is its current level, in comparison to those times. It is the highest the index has reached since the Great Financial Crisis of 2008.  



How is the VIX calculated?

The index is calculated in real-time by the CBOE based on the prices of options on the S&P 500 index. In an oversimplification of an incredibly complex process, the higher premium you have to pay on an option, the higher the risk. As such, the VIX moves in accordance with this figure. The higher the premium, the higher the risk, the higher the index. 

It's pertinent to note that due to the index concentration of the S&P 500, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) make up around 18% of the index, VIX may become skewed if there are any issues that threaten these tech giants specifically. For example, Elizabeth Warren's promise to break up big-tech. 

For those interested in a full explanation, check out the report from the CBOE.  








Download Your Free Stock of the Month Report


Check out the investment thesis for a company that has grown 40% since we picked it as our Stock of the Month










What does a low VIX mean?

While it is clearly more favorable than higher levels, a particularly low VIX is not seen as a good thing. It indicates complacency and an overly optimistic market. Significantly low levels could indicate irrational exuberance, a sign of overconfidence that usually leads to an overpriced market and a subsequent sell-off. 

In hindsight, one could look at the recent meteoric rise of meme stocks like Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE), and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) as evidence that irrational exuberance already existed. Perhaps a sell-off was inevitable and the coronavirus was just the catalyst that pushed it over the edge? 









Quickfire round


Why does the VIX go up when the market goes down?

Times of high volatility are usually when investors move their money from equities to safer havens like government bonds. As such, if the VIX indicates times of high expected volatility, the market will usually initiate a sell-off.

What is a normal VIX?

As stated earlier, below 20 indicates times of stability within the market. However, too low indicates complacency and over-exuberance. While it is hard to identify an optimum level for the VIX, between 12 and 20 usually indicates a strong, but not overconfident, market sentiment.

Can the VIX go to zero?

Like stocks, the VIX can technically go to zero, although the likelihood is minuscule. The lowest it has reached since January 2000 was 9.14 in late 2017.



MyWallSt operates a full disclosure policy. MyWallSt staff currently holds long positions in Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Tesla, and Virgin Galactic. Read our full disclosure policy here.



The Home of Successful Investing.

© 2024 MyWallSt Ltd. All rights reserved.


Services

Content

Social

Company

Support

Resources


This website is operated by MyWallSt Ltd (“MyWallSt”). MyWallSt is a publisher and a technology platform, not a registered broker-dealer or registered investment adviser, and does not provide investment advice. All information provided by MyWallSt Limited is of a general nature for information and education purposes, and you should not construe any such information as investment advice. MyWallSt Limited does not take your specific needs, investment objectives or financial situation into consideration, and any investments mentioned may not be suitable for you. You should always carry out your own independent verification of facts and data before making any investment decisions, as we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information we publish and any opinions that we publish may be wrong and may change at any time without notice. If you are unsure of any investment decision you should seek a professional financial advisor. MyWallSt Limited is not a registered investment adviser and we do not provide regulated investment advice or recommendations. MyWallSt Limited is not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. MyWallSt Limited may provide hyperlinks to web sites operated by third parties. Your use of third party web sites and content, including without limitation, your use of any information, data, advertising, products, or other materials on or available through such web sites, is at your own risk and is subject to the third parties' terms of use.