I literally agree with you. Not to THAT extent, but I'm in some stuff that could blow me out if we truly had a 2008 style meltdown. Or at least it might if I don't hedge a little. Probably not, 65% of my account is cash, but it might. Who knows if VIX goes to 120 ha. But after this, I'm putting it all into some low volatility ETF with minimal expenses or something. Then just very, VERY slowly switching to riskier stuff as the market pulls back. This feeling is NUTS.
We have an extra right shoulder of H&S pattern, higher lows/highs. I am loaded for bull-up/hedged, need my insurance. huh, I lost feelings long ago, maybe the early 90s, too long ago and don't matter. No such animal as riskier stuff, only thing risky is lack of knowledge, if I can't hedge it-I don't trade it.
Depending on what Powell does and says on this Wednesday. The market pretty much expects him to raise int. rate for another 0.25% but if he raises more than that and/or says he will raise int. rate more often in the future, expect the market to tank further. Otherwise the market should come back up either Thursday or this Friday after the market has gotten over the Wed. rate hike. Remember, the market ALWAYS reacts to SURPRISE news. If something is known already, the market would've already adjusted itself to it and wouldn't care much about it anymore.
Continued developments concerning global trade agreements and geopolitical tensions will effect this market on an almost daily basis. In addition, the yield curve is getting flatter almost every day, increasing concerns of liquity issues and increasing possibilities of a recession. In the very short term, focus is on the Fed regarding interest rates. For long term investors, although the SP500 may make new highs on short covering, the risk to reward is getting less favorable. There is record consumer debt currently and banks are now tightening up their lending standards on auto loans and credit cards. In this very uncertain trading environment, long term investors may want to manage their risk by reducing exposure, diversifying, or hedging depending on their specific situation. For certain intraday traders, this is a great market. Volatility has increased intraday ranges potentially allowing more profitable intraday trend trading. As far as a specific prediction, I can only offer “all of the above”. We will take out the recent lows decisively and take out the all-time highs decisively. Just wish I had a sense on “when”. Who doesn’t?
October 16, 1987 turned out historically, to be a GREAT day to be a buyer. So to was anytime in 2007, 2008. The fundamentals beneath this market are super-strong, and valuations are nowhere near where they need to be for the end of a bull market. What we've experienced so-far, is nothing. You have to be a buyer here, and stop thinking or trying to "get it cheaper," just do it, no one is that smart to buy it near the low, only lucky if they do. New highs are inevitable this year. Just buy it and stop looking atit every 5 minutes. Stop jacking off with your positions like most Western people do.
And have some pain-tolerance, something traders nowadays have seemingly very little of. This isn't church bingo.