VIX falls 3.7% to 16.29 during US trading
Published on 10/29/2026 at 19:04 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSVIX falls during US trading
- The VIX stood at 16.29 at 12:59 p.m. Eastern time on October 29, down 3.7% on the day.
- The index was below the 16.91 level reported ahead of Thursday's session as technology shares weakened after Alphabet's earnings.
- US GDP growth exceeded expectations, while core PCE inflation matched forecasts; the Federal Reserve had kept rates unchanged the previous day.
The Cboe Volatility Index was lower during Thursday's US trading session, even as weakness in major technology shares kept equity-market risk in focus. The VIX stood at 16.29 at 12:59 p.m. Eastern time on October 29, down 3.7% on the day, according to Seeking Alpha. This corresponds to 18:59 in Berlin.
Volatility remains below Thursday's starting level
The index had been reported at 16.91 ahead of Thursday's session. The Cboe's market page listed 16.91 as the previous close and describes the VIX as a measure of near-term volatility expectations derived from S&P 500 options. The move from 16.91 to 16.29 represents a decline of 0.62 points, or 3.67%, before rounding.
The latest level was also below the 17.07 spot price shown by Cboe at 9:28 a.m. Eastern time. The different readings reflect the progression of the same trading session rather than different index variants.
Tech earnings keep risk in focus
Thursday's market backdrop combined a technology sell-off with important macroeconomic releases. Alphabet shares came under pressure after the company reported weaker-than-expected earnings per share and disappointing search and YouTube advertising revenue, while its cloud business grew strongly. Charles Schwab reported that third-quarter US GDP grew at a 3.4% annualized rate, ahead of the 3.2% expectation cited in its market update, while core PCE inflation rose 0.3% in September, in line with expectations.
The Federal Reserve had held its policy rate at 3.75% to 4% on Wednesday. The combination of firm growth, persistent inflation and technology-specific earnings concerns points to differentiated risks within equities rather than necessarily a broad increase in index-implied volatility. That is an analytical interpretation, not a forecast of the VIX's next move.
What investors should watch
For the remainder of the session, investors may compare the VIX with the S&P 500's direction and with further repricing in large technology stocks. A lower VIX does not eliminate single-stock earnings risk: index options can imply calmer aggregate conditions while individual companies continue to show large moves.
Further VIX coverage is available on the VIX topic page.
