New Delhi, April 9 -- Are there any trends that seem certain in markets right now? Anything at all that seems likely to be sustained with a clear path forward over the balance of the year?

While certainty appears to be in short supply these days, one constant has been with us during the short duration of President Donald Trump's second term: volatility. To wit: Look no further than the VIX, or the Cboe Volatility Index, also known as Wall Street's fear gauge, which measures the expected volatility in the S&P 500 over the next 30 days using options prices on the index. The VIX recently soared above 65 in intraday trading this week, the highest since August, according to Dow Jones Market Data. The highest intraday level on record was set d...