Wall Street is showing signs of renewed confidence following the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, with market volatility declining sharply even as technology and semiconductor stocks remain under pressure. On FINTECH.TV’s Market Movers, Remy Blaire speaks with FINTECH.TV contributor Errol Coleman, reporting from the Cboe trading floor in Chicago, about the latest premarket activity, falling investor anxiety and why strong earnings are no longer enough to satisfy expectations for AI related companies.
Coleman examines the significant decline in the Cboe Volatility Index, commonly known as the VIX, which has fallen from approximately 22 to 16.79 during the period discussed. The move suggests that investors are pricing in less near term uncertainty following the midterm elections, providing a more comfortable trading environment as Wall Street prepares for the opening bell.
The conversation explores why falling volatility is an important development for the broader stock market. The VIX measures expected volatility in the S&P 500 over the next 30 days using options prices, making it a closely watched indicator of investor expectations. Coleman explains why the sharp decline is encouraging, although lower volatility does not necessarily guarantee that stock prices will continue rising.