The DJIA and the S&P500 closed higher for their third straight close, but the NASDAQ turned down after yesterdays gain. There are just 12 other such days in this century, and on the following day both the NASDAQ and the DJIA moved higher eight times. The S&P500s record, not as good, has an even number six each- of declines and advances.
When it comes to uneven performances of these three averages, we have a wealth of data. For example, since 1950, the NASDAQ has declined 842 times while both the DJIA and the S&P500 moved higher. Some 200 of these days occurred in this century.
The markets direction very much influences the performance on the following day. During this centurys two bear markets, all three indices fell two days out of three. The results are far better for the 2003/2007 growth period; then gains outpaced losing days 53:47 percent. The record for the current, since March 2009 advance, is best of all, having losses only a third of the time, while advancing near twice as often.
DJIA .62 percent
NASDAQ -.38 percent
S&P500 .29 percent