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Awful August, Get Set for September
Published:
Tuesday, 30 Aug 2011 | 2:39 PM ET
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As the month comes to an end, what will September bring? Historically, September ranks as the worst month for the Dow, S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite.
Indeed, in the past eleven years, the Dow [.DJIA Loading... ()
] and S&P 500 [.SPX
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()
] have averaged a return of -1.77 percent and -1.35 percent, respectively, while the NASDAQ Composite [COMP
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()
] has posted a loss of -2.29 percent. The table below highlights the Dow's performance in September against its returns in other months. Since 2000, it has been the index’s third worst month.
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Among the major S&P 500 sectors, seven out of ten have averaged a loss in September during the past eleven years, with technology, materials and consumer discretionary stocks underperforming the rest of the group.
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Historic Performance in September
Dow since 1896:
- On average, the Dow has declined -1.06 percent during September
- Up 43 percent of the time in September, and Down 57 percent of the time
- The best September was in 1916, when it rose 12.4 percent
- The worst September was in 1931, when it fell -30.7 percent
- September ranks as the worst month out of the year for the Dow
- On average, the Dow has declined -0.63 percent during September when August has been a negative month, up only half of the time
S&P since 1928:
- On average, the S&P has declined -1.09 percent during September
- Up 45 percent of the time in September, and Down 55 percent of the time
- The best September was in 1939, when it rose 14.4 percent
- The worst September was in 1931, when it fell -30.5 percent
- September ranks as the worst month out of the year for the S&P
- On average, the S&P has declined -0.44 percent during September when August has been a negative month, up only half of the time
NASDAQ Composite since 1971:
- On average, the NASDAQ Composite has declined -0.53 percent during September
- Up 55 percent of the time in September, and Down 45 percent of the time
- The best September was in 1998, when it rose 12.98 percent
- The worst September was in 2001, when it fell -16.98 percent
- September ranks as the worst month out of the year for the NASDAQ
- On average, the NASDAQ has declined -0.95 percent during September when August has been a negative month, up 56 percent of the time
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