VIX Drops 1.1% on Choppy Stock Market Session: Analyzing Volatility Trends

The Cboe Volatility Index, known as the VIX or fear gauge, stands at a current sale price of 20.60, reflecting a percent change of down 1.1 percent or minus 0.22 points from the prior close. This data comes directly from the Cboe website dashboard as of February 13, 2026, and is corroborated by Zacks Investment Research and Nasdaq market news for February 17, 2026.

The decline occurred on Friday amid a choppy stock market session where the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1 percent to 49,500.93 after swinging from a 292-point gain to a 367-point loss intraday. Sector performances were mixed, with Technology Select Sector SPDR down 2.6 percent, Financials Select Sector SPDR down 2 percent, Energy Select Sector SPDR down 1.8 percent, and Communication Services Select Sector SPDR down 1.8 percent, while Utilities Select Sector SPDR rose 1.5 percent. Trading volume totaled 18.61 billion shares, below the 20-session average of 20.75 billion. Advancers led decliners on the NYSE by a 2.57-to-1 ratio, but decliners edged out on Nasdaq by 1.92-to-1.

Underlying factors for the VIX drop include lower overall market fear despite tech and financial sector weakness, as more stocks advanced than declined on the NYSE. Recent historical data from FRED at St. Louis Fed shows the VIX closed at 20.82 on February 12, up from 17.65 on February 11 and 17.79 on February 10, indicating a sharp intraday spike earlier in the week before settling lower. Investing.com historical rates confirm volatility around mid-February, with levels hovering between 17 and 21 amid broader equity retracements from record highs due to valuation concerns and cooling economic signals.

Trends point to stabilizing volatility after a weekly uptick, with Cboe VIX futures showing nearby contracts like February 2026 at a last price of 22.55, down 0.24, suggesting markets anticipate moderate ongoing swings tied to economic data releases. The VIX remains above its long-term average of around 20, signaling persistent but easing investor caution.

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