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The Stock Market's Stomach-Churning Ride

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By Tara Kalwarski/Charts by Ray Vella

The Stock Market's Stomach-Churning Ride

In times of market turmoil, analysts track volatility for any indication of where the market may be headed. The VIX, which measures the expected volatility of the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index, hit an all-time high on Oct. 10—the same day the S&P hit a 5½-year low—suggesting a chaotic outlook for the next 30 days.