I understand the range of price changes a security goes through over a certain time. If the price stays steady, the security has low volatility. A highly volatile security goes up and down a lot, moves around a lot, and has big ups and downs.
I also understand experienced traders know that it can also be a great way to make money for the patient investor.
Risk can go both ways, but right now it's volatility on steroids. Let's take today as an example, the "90 day tariff freeze" just upended the markets in short order, and people went bananas, even tho it was a false report. Trump is unpredictable and that uncertainty is making everyone squirm. If the Feds don't give in to Trump's demands, I personally feel Trump will pull back on tariffs and will cause further whiplash of the markets.