Ryley;

My minor was money and banking and I have been an active investor for more than 40 years. From all that I know a few things and believe a few others.

What I know:

The market is driven by fear and greed. Recently fear had had the upper hand.

The market almost never just goes, up and up without a correction. The run up of the past six months was a big one. A significant correction was overdue.

Whenever everyone knows which way the market will go they are usually wrong.

What goes up must come down and vice versa.

What I believe:

There is no conspiracy. The market is simply too big and complex to allow it. There can be manipulation of individual stocks, but to manipulate the entire market would be a really difficult task.

If you are sure the market will continue down significantly you can make a ton of money by short selling. Money can be made in either direction the market moves. Big moves – big money.

Trying to time the market almost always bites you in the butt.