The CBOE Volatility Index ($VIX) has experienced significant fluctuations this week, reaching its highest closing level since December and peaking at 21.51, the highest level so far in 2025. This surge in volatility comes amidst a pattern of market sell-offs each morning and a notable trend of declining S&P 500 returns on Fridays, averaging a 0.34% drop year-to-date. The $VIX has been closely watched by traders, with key levels at 20 and 22 acting as significant markers for market sentiment. A breakout above 21.50 was observed, but subsequent movements saw the index hovering around 21, with traders awaiting a potential fade to 20 to establish a bullish bias for the market. Additionally, movements in stocks like NVIDIA ($NVDA) and Tesla ($TSLA) have been monitored, with $TSLA showing signs of buying interest, while the broader market indices $SPY and $QQQ are also under scrutiny, particularly around the 10 AM trend. The 10-Year Treasury yield stood at 4.28%.