Signal Observatory // Monitoring Station

VIX Volatility

vix // index

anomaly
AI Interpretation

The VIX volatility index is running at 26.67, meaningfully above its typical range of 17–23 and notably higher than the expected level of around 20. This signals elevated anxiety in financial markets, suggesting investors are pricing in greater uncertainty about near-term stock price swings. The reading has persisted at anomalous levels, indicating this isn't just a momentary blip but rather a sustained period of heightened market tension that correlates with broader concerns—whether geopolitical events, economic data surprises, or sector-specific shocks—though the exact trigger cannot be determined from the signal alone.

CBOE VIX index via Yahoo Finance

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4-Week Baseline
Score
+8.3
Expected
20.2
Current
29.5
Band: 18.022.5
12-Week Baseline
Score
+4.9
Expected
19.2
Current
29.5
Band: 14.923.4
Updated 21h ago
Recent Values
4w 12w
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Wed 11Fri 13Tue 17Thu 19Mon 23Wed 25Fri 27Tue 3Thu 5Mar 2026
Event Timeline
1d ago·driftanomaly

VIX spiked to 25.81, breaking both short-term (19.79–21.43) and long-term (14.66–23.11) bands with a perfect anomaly score of 10.00, representing a significant jump above the expected 20.61 level and marking an escalation from the prior drift status. The sustained elevation above the upper long-term threshold signals heightened market stress that warrants monitoring for potential portfolio volatility spillover.

Value: 25.8Expected: 20.6
+10.0
1d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 23.6, elevated vs expected 20.5

Value: 23.6Expected: 20.5
+1.9
1d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 23.7 — 17% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 23.7Expected: 20.3
+4.7
1d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 23.6, elevated vs expected 20.4

Value: 23.6Expected: 20.4
+1.9
1d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 24.4 — 21% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 24.4Expected: 20.1
+5.8
1d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 24.6, elevated vs expected 20.1

Value: 24.6Expected: 20.1
+2.8
2d ago·normalanomaly

VIX at 22.7 — 17% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 22.7Expected: 19.4
+3.5
2d ago·driftnormal

VIX at 22.8, within normal range for midweek

Value: 22.8Expected: 20.2
+1.5
2d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 23.0, elevated vs expected 20.1

Value: 23.0Expected: 20.1
+2.9
2d ago·driftanomaly

VIX surged to 22.18, breaking above the short-term band (18.67–21.46) with an anomaly score of 3.04, suggesting heightened near-term volatility expectations versus the 20.06 forecast. The index remains within the longer-term band (14.71–22.71) but has escalated from drift to anomaly status, indicating a meaningful shift in market uncertainty that warrants monitoring for sustained pressure above the intermediate range.

Value: 22.2Expected: 20.1
+3.0
2d ago·normaldrift

VIX drifted above its short-term band to 21.57, exceeding the 20.06 expectation with a score of 2.26, though it remains comfortably within the long-term normal range of 14.72–22.69. The shift from normal to short-term drift suggests a minor uptick in equity market uncertainty that warrants monitoring but does not indicate sustained volatility pressure.

Value: 21.6Expected: 20.1
+2.3
2d ago·driftnormal

VIX moved to normal status from prior drift, with the index at 21.34 slightly above the expected 18.74, generating a score of 1.25 and remaining well within both short-term (14.58–22.91) and long-term (14.74–22.65) normal bands. The modest positive deviation suggests volatility has stabilized near upper-normal levels without triggering concern, though data gaps prevent full session assessment.

Value: 21.3Expected: 18.7
+1.2
2d ago·normaldrift

VIX at 22.2, elevated vs expected 18.6

Value: 22.2Expected: 18.6
+2.1
2d ago·driftnormal

VIX rose to 21.89 from an expected 19.24, pushing it above the long-term band ceiling of 22.59 and triggering a drift signal with score 1.64, though short-term bands (13.95–24.53) still contain the move. The shift from previous drift status suggests volatility is accelerating beyond normal parameters, warranting attention to underlying market stress.

Value: 21.9Expected: 19.2
+1.0
2d ago·anomalydrift

VIX has drifted above its short-term band to 21.58 from an expected 18.06, pushing the score to 2.67 and reversing the prior anomaly designation. The move remains within the long-term band (14.77–22.59) with a normal long-term score of 1.48, suggesting elevated but contained volatility expectations.

Value: 21.6Expected: 18.1
+2.7
2d ago·normalanomaly

VIX at 22.6 — 28% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 22.6Expected: 17.6
+8.0
2d ago·anomalynormal

VIX at 22.4, within normal range for midweek

Value: 22.4Expected: 19.0
+1.4
2d ago·normalanomaly

VIX at 22.0 — 26% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 22.0Expected: 17.6
+10.0
2d ago·anomalynormal

VIX at 22.2, within normal range for midweek

Value: 22.2Expected: 19.0
+1.5
2d ago·normalanomaly

VIX at 21.9 — 24% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 21.9Expected: 17.7
+10.0
2d ago·anomalynormal

VIX at 22.0, within normal range for midweek

Value: 22.0Expected: 18.9
+1.5
2d ago·driftanomaly

VIX spiked to 21.48 from an expected 17.77, triggering a short-term anomaly with score 7.15 as it broke above the 16.73-18.81 band, though it remains within the wider long-term range of 14.81-22.44, suggesting elevated but contained volatility concerns.

Value: 21.5Expected: 17.8
+7.1
2d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 21.2, elevated vs expected 18.7

Value: 21.2Expected: 18.7
+1.8
2d ago·normalanomaly

VIX at 21.0 — 17% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 21.0Expected: 18.0
+5.1
2d ago·anomalynormal

VIX at 21.1, within normal range for midweek

Value: 21.1Expected: 18.9
+1.2
2d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 21.2 — 17% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 21.2Expected: 18.2
+3.0
2d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 21.0, elevated vs expected 18.2

Value: 21.0Expected: 18.2
+2.9
2d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 21.1 — 16% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 21.1Expected: 18.1
+3.1
2d ago·normaldrift

VIX at 20.8, elevated vs expected 18.1

Value: 20.8Expected: 18.1
+2.9
2d ago·driftnormal

VIX at 20.7, within normal range for midweek

Value: 20.7Expected: 19.0
+0.9
2d ago·normaldrift

VIX at 20.6, elevated vs expected 18.1

Value: 20.6Expected: 18.1
+2.2
2d ago·driftnormal

VIX at 20.6, within normal range for midweek

Value: 20.6Expected: 18.8
+1.4
3d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 20.9, elevated vs expected 18.4

Value: 20.9Expected: 18.4
+3.0
3d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 21.0 — 14% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 21.0Expected: 18.4
+7.0
3d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 20.9, elevated vs expected 18.6

Value: 20.9Expected: 18.6
+2.8
3d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 20.9 — 13% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 20.9Expected: 18.4
+5.0
3d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 20.7, elevated vs expected 18.4

Value: 20.7Expected: 18.4
+2.7
3d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 21.6 — 15% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 21.6Expected: 18.8
+7.4
3d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 22.8, elevated vs expected 18.7

Value: 22.8Expected: 18.7
+2.9
3d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 23.0 — 23% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 23.0Expected: 18.7
+3.2
3d ago·normaldrift

VIX at 22.3, elevated vs expected 18.8

Value: 22.3Expected: 18.8
+2.3
3d ago·driftnormal

VIX at 22.5, within normal range for midweek

Value: 22.5Expected: 19.5
+1.3
3d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 23.7, elevated vs expected 19.9

Value: 23.7Expected: 19.9
+1.9
3d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 23.2 — 19% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 23.2Expected: 19.5
+3.1
3d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 22.9, elevated vs expected 19.7

Value: 22.9Expected: 19.7
+3.0
3d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 22.8 — 16% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 22.8Expected: 19.6
+4.0
3d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 22.6, elevated vs expected 19.7

Value: 22.6Expected: 19.7
+1.7
3d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 22.3 — 14% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 22.3Expected: 19.6
+5.0
3d ago·anomalydrift

VIX at 22.8, elevated vs expected 19.8

Value: 22.8Expected: 19.8
+1.8
3d ago·driftanomaly

VIX at 22.9 — 16% elevated, significantly outside band

Value: 22.9Expected: 19.7
+8.0