Market watchers are speculating as to whether the economy is nearing a recession as the major U.S. stock indices are trading near recent lows amid persistent levels of elevated inflation. To examine the current state of financial markets, Zed Francis tracks the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), also knows as the Fear Index. Here Francis discusses the correlation between the VIX and chaotic stock markets in addition to how investors can utilize VIX in their portfolios.