According to Bloomberg, ECB staff "have been in contact with market participants over the current selloff in stocks to gauge if there is any risk to financial stability."

As Bloomberg adds, the latest communications are part of the ECB's regular interactions with financial institutions and the central bank isn't yet overly concerned by the global equity rout. The underlying assumption is that "it's simply a correction because valuations may have become overstretched."

Of course, if the VIX explosion continues, the ECB will be far more worried.

As a result, staff are "watching for signs the downturn might enter a self-reinforcing spiral or spread from equities to bonds."