Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500 reached an all-time high on Christmas Eve, marking its first record since 2013, indicating strong market performance during the holiday season [1] Market Performance - The S&P 500 increased by 0.3% on the day [1] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 288 points, or 0.6%, also closing at a new record [1] - The Nasdaq Composite advanced by 0.2% [1] Volatility Index - The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) closed below 14 for the first time since December 2025, reflecting a decrease in market volatility [1]

Group 1 - The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) has recently risen above the 20 mark, indicating increased market anxiety after spending most of the year below this level [4][5]. - The VIX serves as a forward-looking indicator, projecting the expected fluctuations of the S&P 500 Index over the next 30 days, making its recent increase significant [5]. - Historical patterns suggest that the VIX tends to rise around Halloween and Thanksgiving, often coinciding with major market crises and stock market pullbacks [5][6]. Group 2 - The Ultra VIX Short-term 2X Futures ETF (UVXY) aims to deliver twice the movement of the VIX, although actual trading experiences indicate a more typical range of 1.5-2.0 times the VIX movement [7].