Wall Street's 'Fear Gauge' Reaches 24-Year Low

A figure that measures Wall Street's volatility hit a 24-year low Monday.

According to Market Watch, the Chicago Board Option Exchange Index's VIX — known simply as the fear gauge — hit 9.72. The fear gauge was at 9.70 on Dec. 27 1993.

The all-time low, according to Market Watch, is 9.31 on Dec. 22, 1993.

The fear gauge has averaged 20 over the years. It has been on the decline since reaching the low-50s in late 2015.

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday's drop might be due to the French presidential election result from over the weekend.

The Financial Times also pointed to the French election as a reason, and claimed the S&P 500 index's realized 90-day volatility is at 6.7 percent — another low number.

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