Shorting the Market on a down turn can be profitable, just ask Soros.
Doesn’t mean the market won’t go down.
Of course not but the big players can make money when the market goes up or down! That is the key and they have the advantage. Small investors have no chance (well except for luck) of making the right choices at the right time.
This is NOT the stock market of the 70’s or 80’s. Technology have moved the big players way past equal opportunities for all players...