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The VIX is near 19 after pulling back sharply from a March spike above 31, indicating volatility has cooled but remains elevated versus calmer markets. The Fed is holding rates steady at 3.75% after 75 bps of cuts over the prior year, leaving the April 2026 equity backdrop ambiguous. The combination of a still-elevated volatility regime and unchanged policy rates is likely to keep sentiment cautious and market-wide risk pricing in focus.

Analysis

The VIX is near 19 after pulling back sharply from a March spike above 31, indicating volatility has cooled but remains elevated versus calmer markets. The Fed is holding rates steady at 3.75% after 75 bps of cuts over the prior year, leaving the April 2026 equity backdrop ambiguous. The combination of a still-elevated volatility regime and unchanged policy rates is likely to keep sentiment cautious and market-wide risk pricing in focus.