Commodities
VIX Volatility Index Jumps as US-Iran Tensions Escalate Oil Prices
The VIX volatility index surged 5.34% on August 31, 2026, as US-Iran tensions escalated and oil prices jumped.
Oil prices rose 3% to $91.09 a barrel, with Brent crude reaching $93.14 after the US and Iran exchanged strikes in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments.
The VIX had fallen to 14.13 on Friday before the volatility spike, but the current move marks the third time this year that geopolitical escalation in the Middle East has driven sharp market moves.