It looks like the stock market won’t be treating us to a Santa Rally this year. That’s a shame, but it isn’t the end of the world. The notion that share prices fly in the final month of the year is a little fanciful, but the statistics back it up.
The has climbed 72% of the time in December over the last 40 years, according to Nutmeg. Its average monthly return is an impressive 2.5%.
Typically, the excitement grows in the final week before Christmas but this year we’re seeing a Santa slump instead. The blue-chip index is down 2.89% in the last five trading days.
The FTSE 100’s down but I don’t mind Sadly, this leaves it up just 4.39% year-to-date. Throw in the average yield of 3.
58%, and the total return is just shy of 8%. That’s better than cash, but in the short term it’s a disappointment. As ever when investing, .
I don’t buy FTSE trackers, so index performance doesn’t directly reflect how well I’ve done. I buy individual shares, and some have gone great guns. Insurer ‘s up 90% year-to-date.
Engineer ‘s up 68%. Private equity specialist chipped in with 50%. Inevitably, I’ve got my share of losers too.
My punt on grocery logistics specialist backfired. It’s down 60% this year. Miner ‘s down 25%, pharmaceutical stock ‘s ( ) dipped 10%.
Yet I’m not too worried. While the Ocado share price could go anywhere, I’d expect Glencore and GSK . I’m backing GSK to bounce back The FTSE 100 pharmaceutical giant’s struggles took me by surprise.
I.
