The most widely followed gauge of market fear and uncertainty was a touch lower on Monday, suggesting investors were feeling a little less on edge about Friday’s dismal jobs report.
The Cboe Volatility Index, or VIX, slipped by nearly 1.5 points to about 19 in early trading. Any reading of below 20 tends to indicate relatively low volatility.
The VIX’s move coincided with a jump in stock futures as investors bet that a rough July jobs report would cement the chances of a Federal Reserve interest-rate cut. Labor-market weakness remains a big concern, but the market appears to be zeroing in on that silver lining for now.
