VIX (Fear Index)
A measure of expected 30-day volatility based on S&P 500 option prices. Quantifies investor psychological anxiety.
Market Impact
RISING / BULLISH
Investor risk-off. Rapid spikes signal panic selling, but extreme highs can suggest a buying opportunity (selling climax).
FALLING / BEARISH
Investor optimism. Stable levels encourage carry trades and leveraged investment.
Context 2026
With AI-driven ultra-high-speed algorithmic trading now mainstream, VIX spikes tend to be short-lived ('spike transience'). Also heavily influenced by Zero-Day Options (0DTE).
OmniMetric Relevance
High. Used as an inverse correlation indicator to detect reversals in risk tolerance. Algorithms significantly lower the score when above 20.