Wall Street’s ‘fear gauge’ is rising — here’s how investors can protect their portfolios before it’s too late

Joseph Adinolfi Joseph Adinolfi is a markets reporter at MarketWatch.

Friday’s stock-market rally reveals what investors are really focused on in 2026

Published: Jan. 9, 2026 at 4:51 p.m. ET U.S. stocks pressed higher on Friday after the December…

Big changes are afoot in the U.S. stock market. That could mean more opportunities for investors in 2026.

The S&P 500 has barely budged since late October. Yet beneath the surface of the U.S.…

Stock market braces for a crucial jobs report after a lackluster start to 2026

Joy Wiltermuth Joy Wiltermuth is a news editor and senior markets reporter based in New York.

Stocks are on track for a third straight year of stellar returns. Why a fourth isn’t out of the question.

Published: Dec. 28, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. ET In a few days, investors will wrap up another…

S&P 500 hits record high on Christmas Eve for first time in more than a decade

Last Updated: Dec. 24, 2025 at 1:14 p.m. ETFirst Published: Dec. 24, 2025 at 1:07 p.m. ET Stocks…

Wall Street’s ‘fear gauge’ shows investors feeling confident heading into 2026 — and overlooking some big risks

Published: Dec. 23, 2025 at 2:28 p.m. ET The Cboe Volatility Index, better known as the VIX…

Don’t give up on a Santa Claus rally just yet — even after a rough December start for stocks

Frances Yue Frances Yue covers the cryptocurrency market for MarketWatch.

Investors are dumping stock-market winners and buying almost everything else. Why that’s a good sign.

The latest Fed rate cut is reigniting a “rotation trade” out of trendy AI-linked names. It…

Why the record rally for small-cap stocks could run into a big problem in 2026

Last Updated: Dec. 9, 2025 at 10:13 a.m. ETFirst Published: Dec. 9, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. ET Wall…