What does market volatility measure?

Market volatility measures the degree of variation of trading prices over time. It represents how much the prices of securities fluctuate in a given period. High volatility indicates substantial price swings, meaning that the price of a security can change dramatically over a short period, signaling a higher risk for investors. This is particularly important for traders and investors as they assess potential risks and returns on their investments. Understanding volatility helps market participants make informed decisions based on the stability or risk associated with certain assets. Meanwhile, other options such as stability of trading prices, total volume of trades, and overall profitability of investments describe different market characteristics but do not encapsulate the specific measurement of volatility itself.