Trading Calendar - October

The following chart shows the average month-to-date percentage change in the S&P 500 index by trading day during October from 1990 through 2007. Day 0 represents the September close. The chart shows that the index during October overall tends to be positive, with gains in the second half of the month overcoming weakness in the first half. This month is inclined to be choppy. We have not used data for trading day 23, because most Octobers do not have 23 trading days. Also, sample size is only 13-18 for specific trading days, so these results are only mildly suggestive rather than predictive. For 1990-2007, 13 Octobers have been winners and five losers.

Return to the Trading Calendar to find other monthly profiles.