The most widely-followed market fear gauge was creeping higher on Tuesday as investors weighed trade developments and the progress of President Donald Trump’s signature tax bill.
The Cboe Volatility Index, or VIX, climbed half a point to just over 17. Any level of below 20 tends to indicate low volatility, so the latest level is still pointing to a calm mood on Wall Street.
Still, Tuesday’s headlines were giving some cause for uncertainty. Investors will be monitoring U.S. trade policy after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Japan, and keeping an eye on the passage of his “big, beautiful bill,” which could face a Senate vote today.