The CBOE Volatility Index ($VIX), widely regarded as Wall Street's 'fear gauge,' has experienced its fastest reversal in history, dropping from above 40 to below 20 in just over two weeks. This rapid decline marks the quickest round trip from panic to calm ever recorded, surpassing previous reversals seen during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Global Financial Crisis. The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has shown remarkable resilience, erasing its year-to-date losses within 25 trading days and retracing approximately 80% of its February 19 to April 7 decline. Market participants attribute this swift recovery to a combination of a brutal short squeeze and systematic buying, with dealers hedging their positions leading to a sharp mean reversion in volatility. Despite the bullish gamma exposure implied by the low VIX levels, analysts caution that such low volatility can signal a fragile market environment. Overall, the velocity and depth of this near-perfect V-shaped recovery highlight an unusually strong rebound in equity markets.
$SPY has retraced 80% of the Feb 19-Apr 7 plunge. Fresh rebound highs this morning. https://t.co/U25rD2vgJf
VIX just pulled a lightspeed mean-reversion—40 → sub-20 in days. 📉 - Fastest collapse ever; faster than COVID, GFC - Implies brutal short squeeze + systematic buying (dealers hedging). - Now? Gamma exposure flips bullish, but... - Risk remains: Low VIX = fragile https://t.co/pQBMqatVWV
$SPX It took about 100 days to recover the entire Covid Crash losses. On it's way up, there were quite a few 5% ish drawdowns. This time around, the recovery is far sharper, and more unabated on the way up. Just amazing at the velocity and depth of this near perfect V shape...