The CBOE Volatility Index for March 2–6, 2026
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) rose this week, reaching its highest level since October 2025 as geopolitical tensions and jobs data contributed to market uncertainty.
Performance Summary (March 2–6, 2026)
The VIX saw a sharp rise throughout the week, driven by the escalating conflict in the Middle East and concerns over economic stagflation.
- Weekly High: The index spiked 20% during Friday's session, hitting an intraday high of 29.93.
- Performance Drivers: Volatility was ramped up by record-breaking gains in oil prices (surging above $90) and a wider-than-expected fall in February payrolls data.
- Weekly Context: This marked the VIX's highest close since April 2025.
Closing Levels
The VIX ended the week significantly higher than its previous close.
- Friday Close: The index closed at 24.96 (as of 3:15 PM EST on March 6).
- Daily Change: It finished the final trading day of the week up approximately 15.96% from the previous week's close of 23.75.
|
Date |
Close |
|
Friday, March 6 |
24.96 |
|
Thursday, March 5 |
23.75 |
|
Wednesday, March 4 |
21.15 |
|
Tuesday, March 3 |
23.57 |
|
Monday, March 2 |
21.44 |
Volatility and Conflict with Iran
VIX INDEX CBOE: 23.57
+2.13
Mar 3, 3:15 PM CST
Stability in the stock market can be expected to return as traders see a path forward or the conflict with Iran is perceived as contained. Market forecasts depend on the conflict's developments, including diplomatic progress and the severity of hostilities.
- Initial Volatility and Decline: Markets have responded with volatility and decline due to uncertainty and risk potential. Sectors involving travel and leisure have declined, while defense, energy, and gold have experienced upward price movement.
- Sector-Specific Performance:
- Energy and Commodities: Prices rise on anticipation of supply chain disruption, which can boost energy stocks.
- Defense: Companies in the defense and aerospace industries may see gains based on expected increases in military spending.
- Technology and Consumer Staples: These sectors are generally more resilient and could be expected to recover faster or experience less of a downturn.
Corporate Earnings for Q4 2025
The recent US corporate earnings season for Q4 2025 (concluding in February 2026) has been remarkably strong, characterized by high revenue growth and a rare streak of double-digit profit expansion.
As of late February 2026, with approximately 74% of S&P 500 companies having reported:
Key Profitability Metrics
- Earnings Growth: The blended year-over-year earnings growth rate is 13.2%. If this holds, it marks the 5th consecutive quarter of double-digit profit growth for the S&P 500.
- Revenue Growth: Revenue is up 9.0% year-over-year. This is the highest revenue growth rate reported by the index since Q3 2022, signaling robust demand despite economic headwinds.
- Beat Rates: While companies are still beating expectations, the enthusiasm is cooling slightly. Roughly 74% of companies have reported EPS above estimates, which is just below the 5-year average of 78%.
Standout Sectors
Profitability this season has been driven primarily by a few heavy-hitting sectors:
- Information Technology: The undisputed leader, seeing earnings growth above 20% fueled by continued AI infrastructure spending and software demand.
- Communication Services: Boosted by massive revenue beats from giants like Alphabet and Meta.
- Health Care: A significant contributor to index-wide revenue growth, led by companies like Eli Lilly and Cigna.
- Financials: Benefited from a major revival in Wall Street fees, with global M&A volume hitting nearly $5 trillion in 2025.
VIX at Close - 2/18/2026
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) and the CBOE 9-Day Volatility Index (VIX9D) both closed lower today as market volatility fell from previous sessions.
Regular Trading for February 18, 2026
| Index | Symbol | Value | Change |
| CBOE Volatility Index | VIX | 19.62 | -3.30% |
| CBOE 9-Day Volatility Index | VIX9D | 19.08 | -6.06% |
VIX at Close - 2/13/2026
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) closed at 20.82 on Friday, February 13, 2026. This modestly elevated figure signals higher-than-average implied volatility, indicating investors anticipate significant near-term market fluctuation.
