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The following chart shows the average month-to-date percentage change in the S&P 500 index by trading day during August from 1990 through 2007. Day 0 represents the July close. It shows that the index during August tends to be a little negative, with a weak first half not quite offset by some strength in the second half. We have not used data for trading day 23, because most Augusts do not have 23 trading days. Also, sample size is only 14-18 for specific trading days, so these results are only mildly suggestive rather than predictive. For 1990-2007, ten Augusts have been winners and eight losers.

Return to the Trading Calendar to find other monthly profiles.