Santa Claus came in the waning days of December and brought his namesake rally. But as the calendar turned, Santa left, and the markets started the year with a stumble.
The Santa Claus Rally
The holidays are upon us, and at Ferguson Wellman, that means giving thanks, being grateful, staying humble and wishing for the best . And while we take the time to enjoy the festivities, we also keep one eye on the markets to see what lies ahead as the year closes. From now to the end of the year, market participants wait to see what rewards the “Santa Claus Rally” brings.
September Effect
For the fourth consecutive week, stocks posted negative returns with the S&P 500 trading near 3,220 for most of this week. Market technicians would view this as a technical support level or a base from which the market can work. At the current levels, the market can consolidate and take a breath to prepare for what is next.