S&P 500 Bear Market History and Patterns
The S&P 500 has experienced significant bear markets approximately every 5-7 years since its inception. Major stock market crashes include the 2022 Fed tightening bear market (-25.4%), the 2020 COVID crash (-33.9%), the 2008 financial crisis (-56.8%), the 2000 dot-com bubble burst (-49.1%), and Black Monday 1987 (-33.5%). Each bear market presents unique characteristics but follows recognizable patterns of euphoria, denial, panic, and capitulation.
Current Stock Market Risk Indicators
Key indicators for stock market crash risk include the VIX volatility index (fear gauge), market breadth (advance-decline ratio), Shiller PE ratio (CAPE), yield curve inversions, and sector concentration. The current market shows elevated risk from AI stock bubble concerns reminiscent of the dot-com era, extreme concentration in Magnificent 7 mega-cap technology stocks, and sensitivity to Federal Reserve interest rate policy decisions.
Equity Market Crash Protection Strategies
Investors can prepare for stock market corrections through diversification across sectors and asset classes, maintaining cash reserves for buying opportunities, using protective put options, and monitoring leading indicators like credit spreads and insider selling patterns. Historical analysis shows that markets typically recover from crashes within 2-4 years, rewarding patient long-term investors who avoid panic selling.