The CBOE Volatility Index VIX, -5.89% often used as a measure of fear in the market, rose 18% on Tuesday at 17.85—its highest level since June 28 and implying that investors are starting to dial up bets that stocks could suffer further near-term swings turbulent.
The VIX has hovered around 12 since mid-July. That level usually signals quiescence, while a reading of 20 or above indicates that investors are bracing for moves sharply south
The rise in the VIX comes as the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -0.37% and the S&P 500 index SPX, -0.29% and the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, -0.05%relinquished all of the sharp gains racked up 24 hours ago. Monday’s rally followed another tumble on Friday that saw the VIX jump 40%—the largest daily move since the U.K.’s vote to secede from the European Union on June 23.
On Tuesday, volume in an exchange-traded fund that tracks the VIX, Barclays Bank PLC iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN VXX, -1.68% exceeded that of stocks on the S&P 500 for the first time ever,
profitable for the Group.