The Financial Post reports in its Thursday, Sept. 3, edition that a stock market correction was widely anticipated, but fear is still dominating investor sentiment. The Post's John Shmuel writes that stocks stabilized Wednesday, but the equity market has seen a sharp and sudden sell-off in the past month. In the past two weeks, the S&P has had three of its steepest one-day plunges in 2015, including the most recent 3-per-cent swoon Tuesday. The rapid capitulation has led investors to question whether the bull market is finally over. Analysts say the fear is normal given the continuing correction. Canaccord Genuity says: "Corrections only appear normal and healthy -- until they happen. ... Corrections come with perception of fundamental change." The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, known as the VIX and sometimes called the fear gauge, highlights just how spooked investors are. The VIX tracks market sentiment by measuring prices for puts and calls on the S&P 500 -- when stocks decline, investors tend to buy protection by using put contracts. The VIX is currently at a four-year high, as more than $1.2-trillion (U.S.) in value has been wiped from U.S. stocks in the most recent rout.