Well controlled is a great way to put it:
From Jeff Hirsch a day or so ago:
Following yesterday’s solid, one-plus percent across-the-board gains, today’s across the board loss of nearly equal magnitude is a clear reminder that volatility tends to really begins to pick up in August. In an average year, VIX typically reaches a low in July and then begins to steadily climb toward a high sometime during October and then to decline once again.
Since VIX does not measure actual volatility (daily price moves), let’s compare it to actual daily price swings of the S&P 500 since 1950. August has the third highest percentage of days +/- 1%. October has the most which matches the 1-year seasonal pattern above.
This historical data suggests the market has just begun its most volatile four-month span of the year, August through November. There are likely to be many more days like today, and yesterday, in coming weeks.