December’s Strong Stock Market Performance History Might Not Hold Up in 2015

Jon Market Commentary

It’s only about five weeks until 2016. Stock market performance history shows these are typically good days for the Dow and S&P 500 – but this year could be different…
According to the Stock Trader’s Almanac, the S&P 500 has averaged a 2% gain from Thanksgiving through the end of the year. The broad-based benchmark has been higher roughly 70% of the time, rising in 46 of those 65 periods.
However, if the S&P 500 ends today in the red year to date, its performance for the rest of the year has historically deteriorated. It averages a 1.8% dip through the remainder of the year, according the Almanac. That has occurred 22 times over the last 65 years. The index has been higher 64% of the time.
Heading into this Thanksgiving holiday, as of mid-day Wednesday, the index is up 1.55% for the year. The Dow is up 0.12%.

This post was published at Wall Street Examiner by Diane Alter ‘ November 25, 2015.