Presidential Election Day to Yearend Historically Bullish │ Jeff Hirsch

With a clear winner decided, the history of market gains from Presidential Election Day to year-end is encouraging. As shown in the tables above and below, the market tends to rally from Election Day to year-end, with a few exceptions due to exogenous factors.

 DJIA up 72.2% of the time, with an average gain of 2.38%.
S&P 500 up 66.7% of the time, with an average gain of 2.03%.
NASDAQ up 76.9% of the time, with an average gain of 1.50%.
Russell 2000 up 61.5% of the time, with an average gain of 4.93%.

Profit-taking at the end of 1984 kept stocks flat after the rally from the July bear market bottom, driven by anticipation of Reagan’s landslide reelection victory. The infamous undecided election roiled stocks at the end of 2000 amid the dot-com bear market of 2000-2001. The Great Financial Crisis and the 2007-2009 generational bear market caused a further plunge in late 2008, fueled by shrinking economic data and uncertainty surrounding a change in party and the incoming, unknown Obama administration. The escalating European Debt Crisis kept the stock market on edge in late 2012.

 » Bullish update: We have a winner. «

Jeffrey A. Hirsch, November 6, 2024.

Overall, from Election Day to year-end, the DJIA is up 72.2% of the time, with an average gain of 2.38%. The S&P 500 is up 66.7% of the time, with an average gain of 2.03%. The NASDAQ is up 76.9% of the time, with an average gain of 1.50%, and the Russell 2000 is up 61.5% of the time, with an average gain of 4.93%.

Reference:
Jeffrey A. Hirsch (November 6, 2024) - Presidential Election Day to Yearend Historically Bullish.

 

See also:

Jeffrey A. Hirsch (November 5, 2024) - Bullish Novembers in Election Years Have Weak Seasonal Points.

Jeffrey A. Hirsch (2011) - S&P 500 Projection Chart from 2009 to 2025.
Ryan Detrick (October 28, 2024) - Best Six-Month Stretch for the S&P 500 Begins in November.

Bullish Novembers in Election Years Have Weak Seasonal Points │ Jeff Hirsch

The first 5-6 trading days are typically bullish, followed by weakness in the week before Thanksgiving. The DJIA and S&P 500 strength has shifted to mirror the NASDAQ and Russell 2000, with the most bullish days occurring at the beginning and end of the month.

 

Jeffrey A. Hirsch, November 5, 2024

 

 November Performance in “All Years” (1930-2015) and “Election Years” (1932-2012) 

— Jeff Hirsch, November 15, 2016.

 

November Market Performance (2001-2021) — Jeff Hirsch,  October 20, 2022.

 

 S&P 500 and Nasdaq average performance during the presidential election week.

 

See also:

Jeffrey A. Hirsch (2011) - S&P 500 Projection Chart from 2009 to 2025.
Ryan Detrick (October 28, 2024) - Best Six-Month Stretch for the S&P 500 Begins in November.

 

S&P 500 Seasonal Pattern for November of the Election Year 2024.
Alternative approach: 4-Year Presidential Cycle in Line with the Decennial Cycle.

Halloween Trading Strategy Begins Next Week | Jeff Hirsch

Next week provides a special short-term seasonal opportunity, one of the most consistent of the year. The last 4 trading days of October and the first 3 trading days of November have a stellar record the last 30 years. From the tables below:

     S&P 500: Up 25 of last 30 years, average gain 1.96%, median gain 1.61%.
     NASDAQ: Up 25 of last 30 years, average gain 2.43%, median gain 2.29%.

     DJIA: Up 24 of last 30 years, average gain 1.95%, median gain 1.39%.
     Russell 2000: Up 23 of last 30 years, average gain 2.34%, median gain 2.56%.

Many refer to our "Best Six Months Tactical Seasonal Switching Strategy" as the "Halloween Indicator" or "Halloween Strategy" and of course “Sell in May”. These catch phrases highlight our discovery that was first published in 1986 in the 1987 Stock Trader’s Almanac that most of the market’s gains have been made from October 31 to April 30, while the market, on average, tends to go sideways to down from May through October.

Since issuing our Seasonal MACD Buy signal for DJIA, S&P 500, NASDAQ, and Russell 2000, on October 11, 2024, we have been moving into new long trades targeting seasonal strength in various sectors of the market via ETFs and a basket of new stock ideas. The above 7-day span is one specific period of strength during the “Best Months.” Plenty of time remains to take advantage of seasonal strength.

Quoted from:
Jeffrey A. Hirsch (October 24, 2024) - Halloween Trading Strategy Treat Begins Next Week. 

 

 Election-Year Octoberphobia — Jeff Hirsch, October 9, 2024. 

 

 November Performance in “All Years” (1930-2015) and “Election Years” (1932-2012) 

— Jeff Hirsch, November 15, 2016.

 November Market Performance (2001-2021) — Jeff Hirsch,  October 20, 2022.

 

October 28th has, on average since 1950, been the strongest day of the year.
 

 

 S&P 500 average Performance per Day & Day by Day Hit Rate (1928-2024).

 

S&P 500 Seasonal Pattern for Q4 of the Election Year 2024
- Presidential Cycle in line with the Decennial Cycle.
 

The Cycle Composite for 2024 combines the 1-year, 4-year, and 10-year cycles. 

Trends are more important than levels. —  Ned Davis Research, October 15, 2024.

 

 S&P 500 E-mini Futures (daily bars) and current 21-Trading Day Cycle ( ± 3 TD).

 

ooooOoooo

 

Goldman Sachs' technical strategist Scott Rubner indicates that US stocks are entering a favorable trading environment due to capital flow trends. He expects the quiet period for stock repurchases to end on October 25, with listed companies likely to engage in significant buybacks in November and December, estimated at $6 billion per day, accounting for 21.1% of annual buybacks.

As mutual funds, the largest sellers of US stocks, begin to withdraw before Halloween, this may positively impact stock prices. October marks the end of the fiscal year for most mutual funds, potentially leading to sell-offs of underperforming assets for tax reasons. Rubner noted that all 756 mutual funds, valued at $1.853 trillion, end their fiscal year on October 31, 2024. Historically, American households increase stock purchases in November, with capital inflows into mutual funds and ETFs peaking during this month.

 In Q4 2024, the NASDAQ may gain more than double what the S&P gains.

Looking ahead to the US election, Rubner suggests that post-election, market volatility may reset, benefiting various trading strategies. Additionally, strong non-farm payroll growth and shifting inflation expectations are becoming critical market factors, particularly regarding a potential Trump election victory, which may reignite trading interest.

By end of 2024, S&P far above 6,000 —  Scott Rubner, October 15, 2024.

 

See also:
Steve Miller (October 25, 2024) - S&P 500 Cycle Analysis - Time and Price Projections Update (video)

October Volatility After Big Gain First Three Quarters | Jeff Hirsch

The history of years with gains of this magnitude at this juncture in the year with solid Q3 and September upside performance for the most part have been followed by more bullish market behavior and a continuation of the rally. But as you can see in the table of S&P 500 Performance Following Big Q3 Year-to-Date Gains the bulk of any damage occurred in October.

Jeff Hirsch — September 25, 2024.

Of the top 30 S&P 500 9-month gains since 1930 all 30 years ended higher with average gains of 25.9%. Q4s were up 24, down 6, average gain 4.6%. Octobers were up 15, down 15 with an average gain of 0.01%. Of the most recent 12 occurrences October is down 7, up 5 with an average loss of -1.1%, which includes the Crash of 1987 and a -21.8% loss for October 1987.

Quoted from: 

Jeffrey A. Hirsch (October 1, 2024) - October Volatility After Big Gain First Three Quarters.

S&P 500 Projection Chart from 2009 to 2025 | Jeff Hirsch

We are revising our 15-Year Projection chart. This was first drawn in 2011 when our book Super Boom: Why the Dow Jones Will Hit 38,820 and How You Can Profit From It (Wiley) hit the stores. The projection was based upon, drawn from, years of historical patterns and data. In the years to follow numerous unprecedented events occurred, the Fed held its key lending rate in a range of 0 to 0.25% for an incredible seven years, under took multiple rounds of quantitative easing (QE) and essentially pledged unwavering support for the market. Many other nations and central banks around the world were taking similar or even more aggressive steps to support their own economies and markets. Negative interest rates and negative yields on 10-year bonds are not what we consider normal.
 

 

 

Our current updated projection is illustrated in the red line in the chart. In keeping with the history of market performance in pre-election years and the current trajectory of the indices, it would not surprise us for the market to continue rising through April make new high here in Q2, then pause over the weaker summer months before hitting higher highs toward yearend. Next year promises to be an embattled election year and the likelihood of another significant correction or even a bear market are higher.

 

Quoted from:
Jeffrey A. Hirsch (April 11, 2019) - Super Boom Is Underway!

 

 

 David Hickson: Hurst Cycle Projection for NASDAQ and S&P 500 — September 9, 2024.

 

 Jeffrey A. Hirsch: S&P 500 after Quadruple Witching Week — September 17, 2024.

 

Jeffrey A. Hirsch: S&P 500 Seasonal Pattern for September 2024 — September 5, 2024.

   

Jeffrey A. Hirsch: S&P 500 Seasonal Election Year Pattern for 2024 — February 28, 2024.

 

Robert Miner: S&P 500 and the Election Year Cycle — April 25, 2024.

 

 Ned Davis: S&P 500 Cycle Composite for 2024 — February 2, 2024.

 

Ned Davis: DJIA Presidential Cycle 2024 to 2027 — December 29, 2023. 

 

Ned Davis: Unprecedented Times vs DJIA Election Cycle — August 14, 2024.

 

Nautilus Research: Full View of the S&P 500 Election Cycle — September 1, 2022.

 

  Moore Research: S&P 500 23 Year Seasonal (1997-2019) — January 2, 2020.

Larry Williams: 2024 US Stock Market Outlook — December 15, 2023.

 

 Ned Davis: DJIA Decennial Cycle for 2021-2030 — February 2, 2024.

 

seasonax: DJIA Decennial Cycle & 4 Year Election Cycle — 2024.

 

September Quadruple Witching Week Dodgy, Week After Dreadful | Jeff Hirsch

Since the S&P index futures began trading on April 21, 1982, stock options, index options as well as index futures all expire at the same time four times each year in March, June, September [20 - Fri], and December. September’s quarterly option expiration week has been up 54.8% of the time for S&P 500 since 1982. DJIA and NASDAQ have slightly weaker track records with gains 52.4% of the time and 52.4% respectively.

However, the week has suffered several sizable losses. The worst loss followed the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. In the last twenty-one years, S&P 500 and NASDAQ are tied for best record during September’s quarterly option expiration week, up thirteen times, but NASDAQ has been down the last six straight. Friday had been firm with all three indices advancing every year 2004 to 2011, but S&P 500 has been down 11 of the last 12 and NASDAQ has been down 10 of the last 12 since.

S&P 500 Down 27 of 34 Week After September Quarterly Options Expiration, Average Loss 1.06%

The week after September options expiration week, has a dreadful history of declines most notably since 1990. The week after September quarterly options expiration week has been a nearly constant source of pain with only a few meaningful exceptions over the past 34 years. Substantial and across the board gains have occurred just four times: 1998, 2001, 2010 and 2016 while many more weeks were hit with sizable losses. In 2022 DJIA and S&P 500 declined over 4% while NASDAQ fell 5.07%.

Full stats are the sea-of-red in the tables here. Average losses since 1990 are even worse; DJIA –1.09%, S&P 500 –1.06%, NASDAQ –1.06%. End-of-Q3 portfolio restructuring is the most likely explanation for this trend as managers trim summer holdings and position for the fourth quarter.

Reference:
Jeffrey A. Hirsch (September 17, 2024) - September Quarterly Options Expiration Week Dodgy, Week After Dreadful.

See also:

Wayne Whaley (September 14, 2024) - September 19-26 Weakest Seasonal S&P Week of the Year.   

David Hickson (September 12, 2024) - Hurst Cycle Projection for the NASDAQ and S&P 500.

Jeffrey A. Hirsch (September 5, 2024) - S&P 500 September 2024 Seasonality.

S&P 500 September 2024 Seasonality | Jeff Hirsch

The Bull Market is still intact but wait for a fatter pitch. Ramped of election uncertainty, extended valuations, some big earning misses and a few troubling economic data points helped the worst month of the year deliver an opening blow. Fund managers tend to sell under-performers, restructure portfolios and window dress ahead of the end of Q3. Also a tough month in election years. 

 

 Sep 03 (Tue) = High | Sep 09-10 (Mon-Tue) = Low | Sep 12 (Thu) = High 

Sep 18 (Wed) = Low | Sep 20 (Fri) = High | Sep 26-27 (Thu-Fri) = Low

Jeffrey A. Hirsch @ Twitter/X - Feb 28, 2024 

[STA Aggregate Cycle = Combo Of All Years] 

There have been some nasty selloffs near month-end over the years. The week after [September 20, 2024 (Fri)] Quadruple Witching has been brutal, S&P 500 down 27 of the last 34, averaging a loss of 1.06%. In 2022, DJIA, S&P 500, and NASDAQ all dropped 4% or more.

September Weakness & October-phobia loom large. Bullish election forces at play, but September-October are the worst months of the election years. Lack of clarity about economy, election and Fed’s next move. Expect chop and sideways action over next several weeks w/ a likely test of the lows. This should set up the Q4/post-election rally. So be patient and be ready for the fatter pitch later in Q3 or early Q4.

Quoted from:
Jeffrey A. Hirsch (September 5, 2024) - Tough September Off to Rough Start.  

See also:
Martin Armstrong (July 14, 2024) - Panic Cycles Week July 15 - 19 & Week September 9 - 13.
Martin Biber (August 29, 2024) - Decoding S&P 500 Seasonality.
Sergey Tarassov (June 26, 2024) - 2024 DJIA vs 40 & 42 Month Cycles.
TPR (August 28, 2024) - Cosmic Cluster Days - September 2024.

S&P 500 Slide Until September 18th & Potential Rally to 25th | Allen Reminick

As of September 4 (Wed), lower prices on the S&P 500 are expected. The market should decline further until September 12 (Thu), potentially hitting another low around September 18 (Wed). A rally is anticipated from then until September 23 (Mon) or 25 (Wed).

Historical patterns from 2000 and 2007 suggest similar market behavior, including a likely 50 basis point Fed rate cut around September 18-19 (Wed-Thu), which might initially seem bullish but could be bearish in the long run. A 10% decline might occur before the election, with a possible bounce post-election.

Reference:
Allen Reminick (September 5, 2024) - S&P Down Until 9-18-24. (video)

High in US-Stocks July 3-5 and Small Pullback into July 14-26 | Allen Reminick

Today is June 24th. The market is still very bullish. I am looking for a small pullback starting around July 3rd or July 5th-9th lasting into July 14th-26th. Another rally - possibly to new highs - into late August should follow before a 5 to 10 percent correction into early October and potentially into the US election around November 5th or 6th.

Note: So far Professor Reminick's projections in 2024 were all wrong.

After the election I expect the market going up again at least to the end of 2024 and potentially into May or August of 2025. If the high came in now in July-August, it would be about 5,700; if it comes in next year, it could be way higher than 6,000.

Quoted from:
Allen Reminick (June 25, 2024) - The Extra Special Sauce for S&P Bullishness Now; Swing Traders Take Note. (video)

June’s Quad Witching Options Expiration – A Volatility Haven │ Jeff Hirsch

The second Quadruple Witching Week of the year brings on some volatile trading with losses frequently exceeding gains. NASDAQ has the weakest record on the first trading day of the week, down 23 times in 42 years. Quad-Witching Friday is usually better, S&P 500 has been up 12 of the last 21 years, but down 6 of the last 8.

 

Full-week performance is choppy as well, littered with greater than 1% moves in both directions. The week after June’s Quad-Witching Day is horrendous. 

 

This week has experienced DJIA losses in 28 of the last 34 years with an average performance of –0.83%. S&P 500 and NASDAQ have fared better during the week after over the same 34-year span. S&P 500 averaged –0.49%. NASDAQ has averaged +0.03%. Sizable gains in 2021 and 2022 during the week after improved historical average performance notably.

Quoted from:
Jeffrey A. Hirsch (June 14, 2024) - June’s Quad Witching Options Expiration – A Volatility Haven.

 

NASDAQ 100 (30 m candles)

Friday, June  14 = Buy Day

Monday, June 17 = Sell Day (= sell short positions)

Week # 3/1 in the 3 Week Cycle
XAMD Week (X = Monday Continuation of Friday's direction - A = Tuesday Accumulation 

- M = Wednesday Manipulation Low, Reset for Continuation into Friday High

- D = Thursday Distribution = June 20 Full Moon/Summer Solstice High?)

Weekly Profile: Wednesday High/Low of the Week, Consolidation Thursday (D) Bearish Reversal

or Consolidation Midweek (M) Rally?

See also:

Jeffrey A. Hirsch (June 1, 2024) - June Better in Election Years: Average Gains Range from 0.9% DJIA to 1.9% NASDAQ. 

TPR (June 11, 2024) - 2024 Declinations of the Sun, the Moon & the Planets | Parallels & Extremes.