The CBOE Volatility Index ($VIX) has finally awoken from its long slumber, surging from under 17 in late January to nearly 24 at Thursday’s close. That type of 40% move in just 5 weeks signals that the markets are worried. We’ll see if that concern is justified. Either way, as a risk manager, I always have disaster protection at the front of my mind. As well as a small stable of ETFs to deploy as shock absorbers.
The most recent part of that VIX pickup is a direct response to the sudden military escalations in the Middle East, which have injected a level of fear into the market that was largely absent during the steady climb of 2025.
