As we head into Good Friday, a holiday that is observed by the U.S. stock markets, we may have little to be happy about on the day we come back from the long Easter weekend. Historically, the U.S. Markets have been slightly negative on the Mondays following Good Friday with the Dow & S&P down 55% of the time, and the NASDAQ Composite moving south 64% of the time. The markets have been closed now for more than 100 years since the last time they opened on Good Friday in 1907, here is a look at how the markets have performed the day before, the day after, and a week later after the observance of this religious holiday.
Dow since 1900:
• On average, the Dow has gained 0.28% the day before Good Friday, up 64% of the time.
• On average, the Dow has lost -0.23% the day after Good Friday, down 55% of the time.
• On average, the Dow has gained 0.21% one week after Good Friday, up 55% of the time.
S&P 500 since 1928:
• On average, the S&P has gained 0.35% the day before Good Friday, up 65% of the time.
• On average, the S&P has lost -0.17 % the day after Good Friday, down 55% of the time.
• On average, the S&P has gained 0.09% one week after Good Friday, up 56% of the time.
NASDAQ Composite since 1971:
• On average, the Nasdaq has gained 0.48% the day before Good Friday, up 77% of the time.
• On average, the Nasdaq has lost -0.35% the day after Good Friday, down 64% of the time.
• On average, the Nasdaq has gained 0.55% one week after Good Friday, up 67% of the time.
Leading the Dow higher today are Alcoa , Dupont , Caterpillar , McDonalds , and Chevron .
Comments? Send them to bythenumbers@cnbc.com