The new year is at the same time an election year. How does the US presidential election affect the stock market? I want to show you the typical patterns of the US stock market in an election year.
The typical election year under the magnifying glass
The chart below depicts the typical pattern of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) in election years. In a way, it represents a seasonal chart, but with only every fourth year used in the calculation of the pattern. Thus it shows the average move in stock prices in election years since 1900.
DJIA, typical pattern of presidential election years since 1900
The market typically tends to move sideways in the first half of the year.
As the chart illustrates, stocks tend to struggle at the beginning of election years. In the first six months the market on average enters a sideways trend with a moderate downward bias. A rally begins only thereafter and establishes an interim peak in early November when the election actually takes place.
A difficult start threatens in 2020!
What conclusion can be drawn from this with respect to the coming months? An average sideways trend in the first half of the year indicates that prices rose in some years and declined in others.
However, stock prices are in an uptrend over the long-term, driven by economic growth and monetary inflation. The fact that prices on average fail to rise in the first half of election years points to an elevated probability of price declines.
Thus there is a risk of a bumpy ride in stocks in the first six months of 2020! But what is the situation in other markets? Such as e.g. in the gold and currency markets?
Examine the impact of the election cycle on other markets as well!
You may perhaps not be aware of this: the election cycle does in fact impact other markets too. This is something you can take advantage of as a trader, investor or broker-dealer. To do so, visit either our web site app.seasonax.com and evaluate patterns on your own.
