Remember what happened in 2011 when the Gov. shut down? This is once again possible. They temporarily delayed the inevitable, but the market is markedly nervous. So I bought some gold and put options. The whole thing smells fishy, and I am not going to be exposed on the long side. Edit I cannot short QQQ, and SPY thus I mentioned options, this is not an options discussion, but market timing (to which we have no category?)
I would think more along 2018 shutdown. In 2011, no one fathomed that congress would be that stupid - now we all know.
Why can't you short QQQ and SPY? Those shares are usually easy to borrow... Not enough capital? If you're that bearish, why not sell vertical call spreads? And how are you buying gold? ETF?
I am speculating only in retirement accounts (no short allowed), gold I bought as ETF. Call spreads would have worked, too, I guess. Maybe next time.
I would look to short Tesla, and basically anything having to do with battery chargers. The Green New Deal infrastructure spending is going to need to be cut. I am thinking the default day happens, the long end of the yield curve spikes and that's when the Fed actually pivots. Not to bail out the market but to bail out the Treasury Department. I would look to short Tesla, and 20+ Yr. Treasuries, and long the VIX.
There are ETFs that you can buy that allow you to short QQQ and SPY. For you it is a long equity position. But within the fund, they use derivatives to establish a short position. They are called inverse ETFs. But be careful, and read the specs. Make sure you know what the f**k you are buying LOL. Some of those funds use heavy leverage, and aim to double or triple the inverse of the index.