VIX Plummets Nearly 20%: “Fear Gauge” Drops Below 38 as Market Volatility Expectations Ease

Chicago, USA – The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), often referred to as Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” experienced a dramatic decline in early trading on Monday, signaling a significant easing of market anxiety.

As of 8:53 AM UTC-5 (Central Time) on April 8th, the VIX stood at 37.64. This marks a substantial drop of -9.34 points, representing a sharp decrease of nearly -19.88% for the session so far.

This steep fall represents a significant reduction from the previous closing level of 46.98. The VIX measures the market’s expectation of 30-day forward-looking volatility derived from S&P 500 index options.

Typically, the VIX moves inversely to the broader stock market; a sharp decline like the one seen today often accompanies strong rallies in equity indices as investor confidence grows and perceived risk lessens.

Early trading activity shown on the index chart indicates a significant gap down at the market open, with the VIX continuing to trend lower in the initial phase of the trading day. This substantial decrease reflects a marked shift in investor sentiment compared to the previous session’s close.