Just found this article on

    Posted by frtaylor on 4th of Jan 2016 at 10:14 am

    Just found this article on the "first five days" January market predictor, and was surprised by it. Depending on how far back you look, it is not such a good predictor, and even has a period in which it predicted the opposite (1970 to 2012, when the article was written). I'm not trying to be controversial or contrary; I love to look at stats and was surprised when I found this article. Note that author is looking at the DOW, not S&P, since it has so many years of data. I'd love to hear anyone's reaction or further information.

    http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-first-five-days-of-january-indicator-2012-01-11

    I want all studies on

    Posted by a_l_ on 4th of Jan 2016 at 10:22 am

    I want all studies on broader indices than the dow.

    Me too. But for really

    Posted by frtaylor on 4th of Jan 2016 at 10:32 am

    Me too. But for really long term data, only the DOW goes back 100+ years.

    Also not sure why data

    Posted by a_l_ on 4th of Jan 2016 at 10:35 am

    Also not sure why data earlier than the S&P would be as important on this study.

    Definitely a point of debate,

    Posted by frtaylor on 4th of Jan 2016 at 10:38 am

    Definitely a point of debate, since the DOW is so few stocks. I think he's just saying more historical data is better, which is generally true for statistics, but I don't know about this case.

    In any case, the study

    Posted by a_l_ on 4th of Jan 2016 at 10:40 am

    In any case, the study should match the instrument you trade.

    The January barometer is about

    Posted by steve on 4th of Jan 2016 at 10:27 am

    The January barometer is about 90% but not sure about the stats on first 5 days.  However, I'd focus on the more recent data since 1950. 

    Trading days for January.  Today

    Posted by EdZ on 4th of Jan 2016 at 10:38 am

    Trading days for January.  Today normally down and next day up.

    first 5 days, see annotations

    Posted by matt on 4th of Jan 2016 at 10:32 am

    first 5 days, see annotations on the image bottom left I took those from Stocktraders Almanac.  That shows if the SPX is positive the first 5 days, which won't be the case this time

    otherwise I'm dealing with medical issues today as Steve may have alluded to, with neck and back

    Sorry you're having back/neck problems!

    Posted by frtaylor on 4th of Jan 2016 at 10:34 am

    Sorry you're having back/neck problems! God, do I ever hate back pain!

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