Wall Street Fear Index Slides as Tariff Fears Ease
The most widely followed market fear gauge was sliding on Monday, with investors hopeful that U.S. President Donald Trump might not follow through with all of his tariff threats.
The Cboe Volatility Index, which tracks S&P 500 options contracts and trades under the ticker VIX, was down 1.8% to just under 19 in early trading. Any reading of below 20 is typically seen as a sign of relatively low uncertainty.
The market was in a calmer mood after reports from publications including The Wall Street Journal said the White House is unlikely to put tariffs on specific sectors such as automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors on April 2, the deadline Trump has set to impose his levies.