The Little Book of Stock Market Cycles: How to Take Advantage of Time-Proven Market Patterns

Chapter Thirteen

Don’t Sell on Friday

Human Behavior Still Shapes Market Activity

Throughout the history of the Stock Trader’s Almanac the stock market’s performance has been examined on a yearly, monthly, weekly, daily, and on a half-hourly basis to uncover its trends and tendencies. Over the course of nearly a half-century’s worth of research it has been proven time and time again that the beginning, ending, and middle of months, weeks, and days have significance.

This should not come as a shock to members of the human race. We place a great deal of emphasis on the start and finish of nearly everything in our lives. From our simple daily, everyday routines and throughout our entire time alive we encounter and cope with the beginning and end of events. Sometimes the start is encountered with anxiety, sadness, and fear while on other occasions it is merrily celebrated. Endings are the same.

Such importance does, in fact, carry over into the stock market. After all, it is people that are trading and investing everyday that the market is open. Yes, computers are heavily involved now, but it was humans who programmed them to do what they do.

Most Gains Occur on Monday and Tuesday

Since 1990, Monday and Tuesday have been the most consistently bullish days of the week for the Dow and Thursday and Friday the most bearish, as traders have become reluctant to stay long going into the weekend. Mondays and Tuesdays gained 11,992.54 Dow points, while Thursday and Friday combined for a total ...