S&P Dow Jones Indices Market Attributes: Risk & Volatility Index Dashboard

•	After a rocky start to the year, the past two weeks have provided respite to U.S. equities. Nonetheless, it remains an interesting time in global markets: 13 out of the 15 measures of volatility shown are above their average for the last 200 days.
•	The S&P 500 is making new highs yet again and the VIX is back at 15.45, down by more than five points versus one month ago. Part of the increasing demand for U.S. equities is based on U.S. dollar strength and with currency wars breaking out across the globe, correlations between the U.S. dollar and the S&P 500 are on the increase, while correlations between U.S. and global equities have declined.
•	Meanwhile a modest rally in oil prices converted into a newfound enthusiasm among retail investors for high yield bonds; large flows into associated ETFs saw yields tighten by nearly 40 basis points.