VIX ends November 2 at 18.73, down 3.55 percent after volatility spike
Published on 11/02/2026 at 22:44 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSVIX retreats as market nerves ease
- The VIX ended November 2 at 18.73, down 0.69 points, or 3.55 percent, from the previous close.
- Cboe data showed the reading at 4:17 p.m. Eastern time, after the regular U.S. index session.
- Easing oil prices and a pause after Friday's technology-led selloff helped stabilize risk sentiment, while U.S. midterm elections remained an immediate catalyst.
The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) ended the November 2 U.S. trading session at 18.73, down 0.69 points, or 3.55 percent, from the previous close of 19.42. The Cboe's VIX page showed the spot index at 4:17 p.m. Eastern time on November 2, after the regular index session.
Volatility retreats after Friday shock
The decline followed a sharp rise on October 30, when the VIX closed at 19.42 as a technology-led selloff pushed the S&P 500 lower. The latest move indicates that near-term option-market expectations for S&P 500 volatility eased from Friday's elevated level, but it did not remove the risk signals embedded in the volatility market.
The VIX measures market expectations for near-term volatility derived from S&P 500 option prices. It is therefore an indicator of anticipated price turbulence rather than a direct measure of the stock market's direction. Cboe describes the index as a barometer of investor sentiment and market volatility.
Oil and politics shape the backdrop
According to Saxo Bank's market commentary, lower oil prices and the absence of new weekend developments helped stabilize risk sentiment. The firm also identified renewed concerns over artificial-intelligence spending and technology valuations as important factors behind the previous session's equity weakness.
Investors still faced several potential volatility catalysts. U.S. midterm elections were scheduled for the following day, while a busy week included additional technology earnings, central-bank decisions and the October employment report. Those events can influence both equity prices and the option premiums used to calculate the VIX.
What the reading means for investors
The fall below Friday's level suggests that immediate hedging demand moderated, but the index remained close to 19 points after its recent jump. The VIX should not be read in isolation: its level reflects the price of expected S&P 500 volatility, while the shape of the VIX futures curve and the underlying index performance provide additional context. The move is therefore better viewed as a partial easing of stress than as evidence that market uncertainty has disappeared.
Further coverage of the index is available on the VIX topic page.
