4 great indicators to help investors survive market turmoil

Market Trends and Historical Context - The dot-com bubble peaked on March 10, 2000, with the Nasdaq closing at 5,048.62, marking a minimal increase of 1.76 points from the previous day [1] - The Dow reached an all-time high of 2,722.42 on August 25, 1987, but fell 17.4% by October 16, 1987, and experienced a significant crash of 22.6% on October 19, 1987 [2] - Current market performance shows the S&P 500 Index up 15.5% year-to-date, the Dow Jones up 11.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite up 21.7%, indicating a strong market but not at bubble levels compared to the 85% increase in the Nasdaq in 1999 [3] Investment Strategies and Indicators - Berkshire Hathaway is selling stocks, raising questions about Warren Buffett's concerns ahead of his retirement and the company's strategy to avoid high-risk investments [4] - The S&P 500 p/e multiple recently hit around 30, then fell to 22, with a long-term average of 20 or lower, indicating potential overvaluation [11] - The VIX, known as the Fear Index, spiked 58% in mid-February and tripled before the April tariff announcement, reflecting increased market volatility and investor anxiety [13][14] Technical Analysis Metrics - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) measures stock price changes over time, with levels above 70 indicating overbought conditions; Alphabet had an RSI of 77, while Meta Platforms dropped to 27 [15][16] - The S&P 500 Index's RSI dropped below 30 in early October 2023, prompting heavy buying, which led to a 64% increase following the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy change [17] ETF and Risk Management - Short ETFs are designed for professional investors to manage portfolio risk, with the Pro Shares Short S&P 500 ETF being a notable example for small investors to study [18] - The performance of a specific ETF rose rapidly from about 41 in mid-February to above 50, then fell back to around $36 after the market bottomed in April [19]