VIX 'fear Index' Skyrockets To Highest Level In Nearly 7 Years | Fox Business

The CBOE Volatility Index jumped to its highest level in more than six-and-a-half years Monday following a broad early morning stock selloff. The VIX, or so-called "fear index," hit an intraday high of 53.29 at the beginning of the trading day, its highest reading since January 21, 2009, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted more than 1,000 points, and the S&P 500 Index dropped more than 100 points. At last check, the VIX was up 35% at 37.13, as stock losses pared about halfway. Last week, the VIX saw its largest weekly surge in the history of the index, as it soared more than 46% on Friday.