The shortened Thanksgiving trading week culminating in the big Black Friday shopping day is typically a good one for consumer stocks and certain retail names in particular, history shows.

Shares of Verizon,  Exxon Mobil and Procter & Gamble have historically performed the best among Dow members when the stock market in a correction.

But history shows there are certain stocks that thrive during these volatile times. Steady stocks with big dividends and consistent revenues such as UnitedHealth Group, Chevron and Verizon came back as winners.

The VIX was popping in early trading Tuesday as Dow futures pointed to steep declines for stocks. When a sell-off is accompanied by this kind of fear, it usually means there aren't many places to hide your money.

History shows certain U.S. stocks are positively correlated to big up moves by China's equities — namely Caterpillar.

When China's stock market falls sharply, there's a good chance U.S. stocks —and some big blue-chip names like Goldman Sachs and Caterpillar—go down with it.

Normally, a sharp stock market sell-off sets off a buying spree in Treasurys, but in a rare move, the stock market and bonds sold off together Wednesday.

Interest rates are on the rise, spooking investors who fear the trend will make the economy sluggish and increase costs for companies. But history says there are ways to profit in this environment.

Rising borrowing costs have Wall Street's top investors trying out new sector plays, including energy and financials, hoping to cash in on wider profit margins and higher interest rates.

Rates are surging and stocks like J.P. Morgan Chase and Goldman Sachs would make great additions to a portfolio in times like these, if history is any indication.

If rates keep rising over the next three months, buying shares of Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Visa and Apple could be profitable trades, if history is a guide.