By Intense Life Desires 
It’s been a “low volatility holiday season,” according to Citigroup strategists, but don’t expect it to stay that way heading into 2026.
It certainly is quiet as we approach mid-day. The S&P 500 is down 0.1%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 0.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite is little changed. The CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, is still trading below 14, though it has ticked up a touch today.
Even individual stocks aren’t doing all that much. Freeport-McMoRan, the S&P 500’s best performer, is up just 2%, while Moderna, its worst, is down 4.5%. In fact, if you’re watching the market today, it might be time to go watch something a little more exciting, like watching the paint dry.