March 26, 2008
While losing less than one percent, all three indices declined on Wednesday. It was the second loss in a row for the DJIA, whereas both the NASDAQ and the S&P500 fell for the first time after three straight positive closes.
Reviewing these patterns, the NASDAQ had a median loss of -.74 percent in the 81 trading days since January 2000 on the first down day after three successive gains. Todays decline was -.77 percent.
The median S&P500 loss was -.42 percent, less than half of todays -.88 percent. As for the following day, these were down 25 times, while they moved higher on 39 trading days.
The NASDAQ history reveals an almost equal number of increases on 42 daysas decreases, on 39 days.
DJIA -.88 percent
NASDAQ -.71 percent
S&P500 -.88 percent