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The most widely followed gauge of market fear and uncertainty was sliding on Wednesday, suggesting investors were feeling a little calmer ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision. The Cboe Volatility Index, or VIX, slipped 0.

U.S. stock investors should look to the other side of the world for guidance next week.

The market is pricing in a rate increase as the most likely outcome at the central bank's upcoming meeting, according to CME Fed Watch. Odds the Fed will announce an increase in rates on Sept. 16 ticked lower to 64% from 66% on Wednesday, though were still significantly higher than they were just last week. The slight pullback came after New York Federal Reserve President John Williams said the recent rise in Treasury yields reflected a strong economy and signaled a wait-and-see approach to September's meeting.

Consider what is perhaps the most commonly cited rationale: The inflationary impact of federal government debt, which earlier this month eclipsed the $40 trillion mark. After all, as Wes Crill, a vice president at Dimensional Fund Advisors, points out, debt level concerns have been around for a while. The inflation threat that many bond investors face is from unexpected inflation—which, by definition, is unexpected.

The temperature of the market was rising ahead of the open Wedensday on what could be a key day on Wall Street. The Cboe Volatility Index, or Vix, also known as the market's fear gauge, was up 1.8% ahead of inflation data and Nvidia earnings.

The most widely followed gauge of market fear and uncertainty was rising on Tuesday as investors fretted about a flare-up in oil prices that could drive inflation higher and strengthen the case for the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates.

Wall Street’s benchmark reading of investor concern, often referred to as the “fear index,” is trading near the lowest levels of the year this week as a surprising summer rally has stocks hitting all-time highs. The Cboe Volatility Index, or designed as a real-time estimate of the expected daily moves for the based on equity options trading, was trading around 14.56 on Friday. At current levels, the VIX is suggesting daily swings of just 67 points for the S&P 500, in either direction, over the next 30 days, a muted level of movement in a market beset with concerns over Federal Reserve rate hikes, government debt and deficit figures, AI spending and investments, and the U.S. war with Iran.

Market pulses were elevated on Tuesday as Wall Street contended with surging oil prices amid renewed fighting in the Middle East and braced for key economic indicators from the Consumer Price Index and the Fed, and earnings from America's big banks. The Cboe Volatility Index, or Vix, rose 1% to 17.32. The widely watched gauge takes the temperature of Wall Street and any reading above 20 tends to indicate increased market volatility.

Micron's earnings report gave the Nasdaq the jumpstart it desperately needed on Thursday. The Nasdaq was up 0.9%. Micron not only reported blowout results but also gave a forecast that had Wall Street ready to pile back into the chip sector after a brief road bump.

ETF flows in March 2026 were highlighted by a massive flight to the short end of the yield curve. Investors sought refuge in short-term bonds to escape the downpour of geopolitical volatility mixed in with a thick fog of stubborn inflation. It’s a perfect environment to consider the Fidelity Limited Term Bond ETF (FLTB). One [...]

The CBOE Volatility Index (^VIX) is in a whipsaw trajectory, trading between 17.32 and 18.73 in today’s session alone, a range of 8.2% in this uncertain market climate. The move lands amid a dense macro week: blowout earnings from four mega-caps, a $725 billion AI capex revelation, Q1 GDP of 2.0%, and a Fed rate hold ... VIX in Whipsaw on Sticky Inflation, Fed Dissent and Lofty AI Capex

The most widely followed gauge of market fear and uncertainty was pretty much unchanged on Wednesday, suggesting Wall Street was feeling relatively calm ahead of looming Big Tech earnings and the Federal Reserve's policy decision.

Wall Street is getting ready for one crazy Wednesday: A Federal Reserve meeting, a Senate committee vote on a new Fed chairman, and earnings reports from four Mag Seven companies after the closing bell. The Cboe Volatility Index, also known as Wall Street’s fear gauge, has tumbled from above 30 in late March to a more reasonable level of 18. Adding to the stakes: Never before have powerhouses Alphabet Microsoft Amazon and Meta Platforms all posted earnings on the same day.