Today marks another month end, the U.S. Major Indexes are on track to their third successive month of gains with the Nasdaq Composite outperforming the Dow and the S&P up ~4.8% versus a gain of ~2.9% & ~3.2% respectively as of Thursday’s closing prices. Certainly April proves to be a strong month for stocks as it ranks as the 4th best month out of the year for all three indexes where the S&P and Nasdaq Composite has yielded positive returns 62% of the time or more with average gains of 1.3% and 1.5%. Even more impressive, the Dow & S&P are poised to close in positive territory for the fifth consecutive April while the Nasdaq Composite is up for the fourth April in a row. Here is a preview on how the three US major indexes stand month to date versus previous months.
As of 4/29/2010 Closing Levels:• The Dow is up 310.69 points or 2.86% for the month, and up for the 3rd consecutive month.
• The S&P is up 37.34 points or 3.2% for the month, and up for the 3rd consecutive month.
• The NASDAQ Composite is up 113.96 points or 4.75% for the month, and up for the 3rd consecutive month.
Best/Worst April:
• Dow’s Best April was in 1933 when it increased 31.95% and its Worst April in 1932 when it declined -23.68%.
• S&P’s Best April was in 1933 when it increased 33.85%, and its Worst April in 1932 when it declined -20.25%.
• Nasdaq’s Best April was in 2002 when it increased 14.99%, and its Worst April in 2001 when it declined -15.57%.
Monthly Streaks:
• The Dow is on track to its longest monthly winning streak since 12/31/2009 when the Dow posted 6-consecutive months of gains.
• The S&P is on track to its longest monthly winning streak since 9/30/2009 when the S&P posted 7-consecutive months of gains.
• The Nasdaq Composite is on track to its longest monthly winning streak since 9/30/2009 when the Nasdaq posted 7-consecutive months of gains.
While the three benchmark indexes have seen healthy gains so far this month, the S&P Consumer Discretionary sector is the best performer amongst its peers with stellar gains of 8.2% and on pace to its best monthly % gain July 2009 when it rose 9.4%. Also, only three sectors are down for the month which include: the Healthcare, Consumer Staples, and the Telecom Sectors, each down -2.7%, -1.04%, and -0.68%. See the tables below for the Dow’s and S&P’s Gainers & Losers in April.
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