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.
VIX at the Close - 2/12/2026
For the close of normal trading, Thursday, February 12, 2026, the volatility indices ended as follows:
Index Closing Values
| Index | Symbol | Value | Change |
| CBOE Volatility Index | VIX | 20.82 | +17.96% |
| CBOE 9-Day Volatility Index | VIX9D | 19.80 | +39.63% |
US Equity Markets Close
US equity markets fell sharply on Thursday, February 12, 2026, marking the second-worst daily performance for the S&P 500 since Thanksgiving. The downturn was primarily driven by a sell-off in technology and software sectors as investors reassessed the long-term impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on various industries.
Major Index Performance
|
Index |
Price |
Change |
Change |
|
S&P 500 |
6,832.76 |
-108.71 |
-1.57% |
|
DJI Average |
49,451.98 |
-669.42 |
-1.34% |
|
Nasdaq |
22,597.15 |
-469.32 |
-2.03% |
Market Drivers
- AI Disruption Concerns: Investors "punished" companies viewed as potential losers in the shift toward automation. Growth shares were particularly hard-hit, with the Nasdaq dropping more than 2% as valuation-sensitive names faced pressure.
- Earnings Disappointments: Cisco Systems fell over 12% after warning of higher expenses, while AppLovin tumbled nearly 20% on AI competition fears. Conversely, Palantir fell 4.8% despite reporting 70% revenue growth, as bearish scrutiny over its high valuation weighed on the stock.
- Economic Data: A "new housing crisis" narrative emerged after existing home sales plunged to a 16-month low in January. Additionally, initial unemployment claims came in higher than expected (227,000), further signaling a softening economy.
- Flight to Safety: As equities and cryptocurrencies dipped, investors moved capital into U.S. Treasuries, causing the 10-year yield to drop to 4.10%.
Other Asset Closures
- Commodities: Gold broke below $5,000 (dropping 3.5%), and Silver plunged over 10%. WTI Crude Oil closed lower at $62.91 per barrel.
- Volatility: The VIX (fear gauge) spiked as participants added hedges ahead of tomorrow's Consumer Price Index (CPI) report.
VIX at the Close
| Index | Closing | Change |
| CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) | 17.63 | +1.56% |
| CBOE 9-Day Volatility Index (VIX9D) | 14.42 | -6.55% |
The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), commonly known as the "Fear Gauge," is a real-time market index that represents the stock market's expectation of 30-day forward-looking volatility.
Introduced by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (Cboe) in 1993, it provides an estimate of how much the S&P 500 Index is expected to fluctuate over the next 30 days
