Tech wreckage sent VIX surging 25% as defensives became the only shelter

It was a week that reminded traders why sector rotation matters as much as index direction. QQQ shed 5.05% while XLK collapsed 7.24% — the worst sector performance of the week — as semiconductor and mega-cap tech names bore the brunt of a broad risk-off flush. Meanwhile, XLU quietly gained 6.3%, a flight-to-safety signal hiding in plain sight inside the equity complex.

VIX exploded 24.63% week-over-week, confirming this was not a routine dip but a genuine volatility regime shift. NVDA printed a 7.09% loss, TSLA dropped 5.41%, and even AMZN gave back 1.6% — yet AAPL and MSFT bucked the tape, each closing green. GammaBrief subscribers had the bearish QQQ call dialed in early. Full breakdown below.