VIX closes at 17.20 after volatile session

The Cboe Volatility Index ended Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 17.20, according to Cboe. That was a gain of 0.29 points, or 1.71%, from the previous close of 16.91.

VIX finishes above its opening level

The index opened at 17.15 and moved through a 16.21 to 17.36 intraday range before finishing at 17.20. The close therefore stood 0.05 points above the opening level and 0.99 points above the session low. Because the US equity session had ended, the reading represents a closing level rather than a live intraday snapshot.

The session's range shows that the volatility gauge moved in both directions before ending modestly higher. The VIX had traded below the previous close during the day, but recovered before the close. The move should be read as a change in options-implied expectations for broad US equity volatility, not as a direct measure of realized price swings in the S&P 500.

What the volatility gauge measures

Cboe describes the VIX as a leading measure of market expectations for near-term volatility conveyed by S&P 500 Index option prices. It is commonly used as a barometer of investor sentiment and market uncertainty. A higher reading generally indicates that options markets are pricing greater expected volatility, while a lower reading indicates less expected movement; the index does not itself predict the direction of the S&P 500.

For investors, Thursday's close leaves the VIX above the prior session's level but within the day's established range. The practical signal is therefore a moderate firming in broad-market volatility expectations rather than evidence of a sharp, index-wide stress event. Separate gauges, such as short-dated volatility measures or volatility tied to individual technology stocks, can send different signals and should not be conflated with the VIX.

Further coverage of the VIX and related market developments is available on the VIX topic page.