Volatility index hits lowest level in a decade

Saw a 9% fall yesterday

The CBOE Volatility (VIX) index, the so-called 'fear' index, has hit its lowest level in ten years, as some US markets reach fresh highs.

The index, which shows the market expectations for 30-day volatility and also measures the number of options purchased by investors as protection, reached the low point yesterday when global equity markets remained open while the UK closed for a Bank Holiday. In the US, markets were unwavered even as President Donald Trump said he was "looking at" breaking up the big Wall Street banks in an interview with Bloomberg. The tech-heavy index Nasdaq reached new highs, having broken past 6,000 last week while the Dow Jones and S&P 500 also closed higher. Warnings of equity sell-off as in...