what is the cboe volatility index vix 
the cboe volatility index vix is a real time index that represents the market s expectations for the relative strength of near term price changes of the s p 500 index spx because it is derived from the prices of spx index options with near term expiration dates it generates a 30 day forward projection of volatility volatility or how fast prices change is often seen as a way to gauge market sentiment and in particular the degree of fear among market participants the index is more commonly known by its ticker symbol and is often referred to simply as the vix it was created by the cboe options exchange and is maintained by cboe global markets it is an important index in the world of trading and investment because it provides a quantifiable measure of market risk and investors sentiments 