Wall Street’s go-to gauge of fear and uncertainty was sliding on Thursday, with earnings and trade developments putting investors in a calm mood.
The Cboe Volatility Index, or VIX, fell 0.3 points to just over 15 in early trading. Any reading of below 20 tends to indicate relatively low volatility.
The VIX’s decline came as investors weighed earnings from the likes of Alphabet and Tesla and waited for more news on the trade front. They’re hoping that President Donald Trump’s deal with Japan is a sign that more agreements will be struck before Aug. 1, the deadline when tariffs are expected to snap higher.
