Market Fear Gauge Hits $14.76 — Investors Expect Calm

The VIX — a gauge of how much volatility investors expect from S&P 500 stocks — closed at $14.76 on August 13, 2026, up $0.21, per Cboe Global Markets. Think of it as a fear thermometer: today's reading sits near the bottom of its typical range, far below the long-run average of about 19–20. Translation: investors see little risk of a sharp market drop. The tiny uptick is noise; the mood is calm.