Since the index itself isn't tradable, Wall Street created "proxies."
What is the VIX Volatility Index and How Do You Trade it? - IG buying vix stock
However, you can trade the sentiment it represents. Here is the reality of "investing" in the market's fear. 1. You Aren't Buying a Stock, You’re Buying Expectations Since the index itself isn't tradable, Wall Street
The VIX measures the "implied volatility" of S&P 500 options over the next 30 days. What is the Volatility Index (VIX)
Just like you can’t buy the "average temperature" in Florida, you can't buy the VIX.
What is the Volatility Index (VIX)? The VIX is a real-time volatility index, created by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE). www.ig.com
The "Fear Index" Unlocked: What "Buying VIX" Actually Means If you’ve ever seen a "Buy VIX" headline during a market crash, you might have rushed to your brokerage app only to find... nothing. You can’t actually "buy" VIX stock. The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) is a mathematical calculation, not a company.