The CBOE VIX term structure across five tenors (1D, 9D, 1M, 3M, 6M).
How to read Contango = normal mean-reversion expectation; backwardation = near-term fear.
The VIX level against its long-run mean.
How to read Below 15 = complacency; above 25 = elevated (hedging expensive, reversals common). Mean-reversion dominates.
CBOE SKEW — tail-risk pricing from out-of-the-money S&P 500 puts.
How to read 100 = log-normal; >140 = elevated OTM put demand. Persistently high SKEW with a low VIX flags cheap tail hedging.
Vol-of-vol normalized by the VIX level.
How to read >6x = complacency (cheap hedging); <4x = fear already priced. Mean ~5.8x; contrarian at extremes.
The variance risk premium — the cost of variance insurance.
How to read The plot is implied minus realized variance against a zero line: above zero (the normal state) options are pricing more risk than the market has actually realized — that gap IS the fear premium, and a widening gap means demand for protection is rising. A collapse toward or below zero means realized swings have caught up to what was priced — complacency being tested, or a vol shock repricing in real time. Read the shape and the sign-flips, not the raw variance-point level.
VIX is a risk-NEUTRAL measure, not a volatility forecast.
The CBOE equity put/call ratio.
How to read >1.0 = bearish hedging dominates; <0.7 = complacency. Contrarian at extremes.
Kernel-density estimate of equity realized volatility — the current vol regime vs its historical range.
How to read A reading in the upper tail = an unusually stressed vol regime; near the mode = calm.