The Chicago Board Options Exchange, or CBOE, created the VIX® to measure expected volatility for the US stock market. It is calculated on a real-time basis based on the prices of put and call options for the S&P 500® index over a rolling 30-day period. The VIX® is the global standard for measuring volatility. It is also called the Fear Index because it spikes when markets are turbulent.
Volatility
Nancy Doyle
Nancy Doyle, CFA, is an author, speaker, and advocate for financial literacy. She has thirty years of experience in wealth management, investments, corporate finance, and consulting. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and received an MBA from University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.