Market Instability and Volatility

Recent market activity has revealed significant instability, with global stock markets suffering one of their worst downturns in years. Following a disappointing US jobs report, volatility surged, exemplified by the VIX Index spiking to its highest levels since early 2020. Key indexes, including Japan's Topics Index, faced drastic declines, erasing substantial yearly gains and prompting descriptions of the market's behavior as reminiscent of penny stocks. Key players in the US tech sector, collectively termed the 'Magnificent Seven', experienced substantial losses, with valuations decreasing by around $1 trillion in a matter of days.