What a High VIX Actually Tells You
The VIX is not a forecast of direction. It is a price on uncertainty itself — though in practice it tends to jump when stocks fall, which is how it earned the name "fear gauge." Understanding that distinction is most of what a beginner needs from it.
How the color is set · < 20 Bullish · 20–30 Two-way · ≥ 30 Bearish
Market North's own reading, derived from volatility data.
— What it is
The market's expected 30-day volatility — the 'fear gauge.'
— What it moves
US Stocks
A spike usually signals selling and risk-off; a drop signals calm.
- ▲Spike → fear · bearish
- ▼Falling → calm · bullish
Education only — not investment advice. The directional notes describe general tendencies, not predictions: the same data can move markets differently depending on context. Figures come from FRED and are labeled with the period they cover and the date they were published.