Call it $1 billion Monday… AOL sold patents to Microsoft (MSFT) for $1 billion this morning; Facebook is paying $1 billion for Instagram in cash and stock; and AT&T (T) will sell most of its stake in Yellow Book for nearly $1 billion.

With today’s decline in equity markets, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) hit its highest point in over a month – ending the day 12% higher at 18.81. Despite a mid-day rally on low volume, equity markets closed down by at least 1%, with the S&P futures dropping to support in the mid-1370s. Gold gained 0.7%, natural gas rose 1%, and oil dropped 1%. In the treasury markets, bonds on the long-end were relatively unchanged.  

What’s in store for tomorrow? At this point, hard to think anything different than more of the same. Low volume, tight trading ranges, boring markets. We dare markets to prove us wrong.

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The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) hit its highest level in over a month, gaining nearly 10%. However, equities, oil, and the Euro bounced off their session lows, leading the VIX to lose ground as well.

Oil is down 1.8% to $101.50, with support at $100 below. Natural gas is flat on the session, trading at 2.088.

EUR/USD is higher by 30 pips to above 1.31 figure, while USD/JPY is trading in the mid-81 figure range. Further uncertainty could push USD/JPY to test support at figure 80.

More News and Numbers:
– Apple (AAPL) is higher by 0.4% following a downgrade at BTIG
– AOL (AOL) is higher by 45% after announcing a patent deal with Microsoft (MSFT). AOL hit its highest price since November 2010
– AT&T (T) will sell its stake in Yellow Pages to private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management for $950 million. T is down 1% today
– Facebook is giving $1 billion in cash and shares to Instagram 

– Randgold Resources Limited (GOLD) Raised to Buy: Stifel Nicolaus

– SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC) Raised to Buy: Citigroup

– Tyco International Ltd. (TYC) Raised to Buy: Argus

– Walt Disney Co. (DIS) Cut to Neutral: Citigroup

Equity futures are down roughly 1%, pushing S&P futures to the low end of its bull channel. Today’s price action will be incredibly important, technically speaking. If prices close below the bull channel, we could see further declines in the week ahead. Most of this price action is a result of a dismal jobs report from Friday, which only saw 120,000 new jobs created in March – about half of what economists were expecting. In addition, earnings reports begin this week, starting with Alcoa (AA) tomorrow afternoon.

Overseas, European markets were closed for Easter Monday, while Asian markets were down. China reported that CPI rose 3.6% in March, up from 3.2% in February. China has been outspoken that it could further tighten monetary policy in the wake of rising inflation – a negative for the overall global growth story.

As is typically the correlation, we should see the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) spike when it opens this morning. VXX, an ETF that follows VIX short-term futures, is indicated 5.2% higher in premarket trade.

Commodities are mixed in early trade. Oil is off over 1.5%. Reports overnight suggest that Iran may reenter talks over its nuclear program, helping to ease angst over a supply disruption. Gold futures are 0.8% higher to near $1,650 per ounce.

Other News and Notes:

– AOL shares are up nearly 32% after announcing a plan to sell $1.1 billion in patents to Microsoft (MSFT). MSFT shares are lower by 0.9%

– Sony (SNE) will cut 6% of its workforce

– Needham & Company starts LinkedIn (LKND) at a hold. LKND shares look to open down 0.5% at $98.80

– The analyst who put a $1,000 price target on Qualcom (QCOM) has downgraded Apple (AAPL) to neutral from buy. AAPL shares down 1% to $626.84

– Avon (AVP) appointed a new CEO, perhaps in a bid to have someone to negotiate with Coty products over its proposed takeover. AVP is down 1.8% to $23.00

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