Friday, December 11, 2015

Not Really Standing Still

Investors know by now that it’s been a flat year for stocks. Year to date, the S&P 500 has declined by less than 1 percent. But flat doesn't mean that the numbers have flat-lined - we've actually seen, in one sense, a record amount of movement.

The S&P has flipped between positive and negative territory for the year 24 times, according to data compiled by Bespoke Investment Group. That's a record number for that category. And of course we still have 14 trading days left.

If history is any guide, that sort of flip-flopping could bode well for 2016. Since 1928, the 12 years with the most number of crosses above and below the baseline for the year were followed by years where the S&P was up an average of 9.6 percent, compared to an average annual gain of 7.5 percent in that time frame.

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