September 1, 2011 First Down Day in a Week
After four straight advances, prices fell, with the NASDAQ losing -1.30 percent, the S&P500 off -1.19 percent, and minus -1.03 percent for the DJIA. While logic might say that prices were bound to fall after four days of gains, the record contradicts this common sense belief.
Overall, since 1950, prices moved higher on 35 days, scoring a fifth successive gain, against only 29 declines after four straight increases. Further, considering only the past 12 years in this century, the count is almost even, with 10 advances and 11 declines.
A note of caution for tomorrow – note the wide range of changes on the day following todays pattern. These extended from -2.91 percent to plus 4.14 percent.
Also for tomorrow in the past, gains outnumbered losses by a factor of almost three.
DJIA -1.03 percent
NASDAQ -1.30 percent
S&P500 -1.19 percent