The S&P 500 in 2024 closely mirrors its performance in 1980, the year Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter in the presidential election. Wall Street celebrated Reagan's victory, expecting him to be a transformative leader capable of resolving the nation’s problems. However, despite Reagan's eventual success, the first two years of his presidency were challenging for stock investors.
Whether 2025 will follow a pattern similar to 1981 remains a topic of ongoing analysis. For now, attention is focused on the sharp market dip triggered by the December 18, 2024 FOMC meeting. The Fed announced a 0.25% rate cut, as expected, but tempered expectations for additional rate cuts in 2025, leading to a wave of sell-offs. This recent dip mirrors a similar decline that bottomed on December 11, 1980.
The difficulties of a transformative presidency are evident, as Reagan faced challenges in implementing his policies. Similar obstacles may arise for Trump, and even if his efforts succeed, there is a risk that investors could be overestimating their potential impact—much like the overoptimism seen in 1980.
Upper chart: S&P 500 vs shifted 1978-81 pattern.
Lower chart: S&P 500 vs daily spectrum cycle analysis composite.
Lower chart: S&P 500 vs daily spectrum cycle analysis composite.
Do not compare shapes; only focus on market turning points, which occur on very similar dates.
The difficulties of a transformative presidency are evident, as Reagan faced challenges in implementing his policies. Similar obstacles may arise for Trump, and even if his efforts succeed, there is a risk that investors could be overestimating their potential impact—much like the overoptimism seen in 1980.
