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VIX Roils Markets Again With Biggest Jump Since February Rout

The Cboe VIX Index’s 44 percent jump Wednesday to 22.96 leaves it a good distance from its peak close in early February of 37.32.

VIX Roils Markets Again With Biggest Jump Since February Rout
A trader looks over computer monitors as he works in the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) pit on the floor of the Cboe Global Markets, Inc. exchange in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. (Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- Wall Street’s “fear gauge” rose the most since February, raising alarms that investors could be in for a repeat of the market meltdown seen earlier this year.

The Cboe VIX Index’s 44 percent jump Wednesday to 22.96 leaves it a good distance from its peak close in early February of 37.32. But the speed of the increase, on top of advances in the past few sessions that ended a midyear hibernation, may give traders pause.

VIX Roils Markets Again With Biggest Jump Since February Rout

Today’s level pulls the VIX above its long-term average of around 19.3. The most-traded options on the gauge were Oct. 25 calls, 17 calls and 21 calls.

VIX Roils Markets Again With Biggest Jump Since February Rout

To contact the reporter on this story: Joanna Ossinger in New York at jossinger@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Chris Nagi at chrisnagi@bloomberg.net, Brendan Walsh, Andrew Dunn

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