Time for a Springtime Swoon?

Are we heading for a slowdown in the stock market? The past few years have seen a pretty regular pattern in which the markets get off to a roaring start in the early part of the year, only to slow down come April. Consider this recent history:

• In 2012, the S&P 500 was up 11 percent on April 2, before declining nearly 10 percent from there till the beginning of June.   
• In 2011, the S&P 500 was up 10 percent on April 29, before declining more than 8 percent from there till the beginning of June.
• In 2010, the S&P 500 was up 9 percent on April 23, before declining 12 percent from there till the beginning of June. 

So far in 2013, the S&P 500 is up 6 percent as we head into April. Will history repeat itself?