Investors wishing for a slightly less-awful portfolio for Christmas have just a fifty-fifty shot despite the fact that December is traditionally a good month in markets, according to Merrill Lynch strategist Mary Ann Bartels. She writes:
... S&P data shows that, despite the fact that December and January are historically the two strongest months, investors should not count on a Christmas rally. Using the index’s behavior from the Friday before Christmas to the Friday after New Years as a guide, there have only 13 holiday rallies over the past 25 years. In the last eight years (2000-2007) there have been four rallies.
What to watch for:
A base often takes months to complete, can involve multiple tests of the lows, and requires patience. A decline by the S&P 500 back though 840-815 would open the door for another test of 740-700 and perhaps 679-658. As for resistance, the dominant post-May downtrend line is crossing 1158 at the rate of a bit more that nine points per week. The top of the post October base provides first resistance at 1000-1050; second resistance could be as high as 1200-1325, which represented support prior to September’s breakdown.
Reader Comments Read all comments (1)
Ray Fisher of NM 11:15PM December 22, 2008