VIX Volatility Index Jumps After NYSE Trading Halt

A widely-followed measure of market volatility, the CBOE Volatility Index, jumped and remains elevated after the New York Stock Exchange halted trading in all securities at 11:32 a.m. Eastern. The index rose from around 18.11 immediately after the halt to trade as high as 19.10 before edging back to 18.62 in recent activity, a daily rise of around 15.5%. The index, often called Wall Street's "fear gauge," reflects traders' expectatons for price fluctuations in the S&P 500 index. The NYSE said the trade halt, which remains in place, is the result of a technical glitch. Trading in NYSE-listed stocks has continued via other exchanges.