Will December Go Against the Grain?

By Michael Panzner - December 14th, 2009, 2:30PM

It goes without saying that the stock market has been volatile this year. In fact, the monthly difference in percent between the highest and lowest intraday price for the S&P 500 has been higher than its corresponding 25-year median for each of the first 11 months of 2009.

So far during December, however, the differential is below its long-term average (based on the high of 1119.13 on the 4th and the low of 1085.89 on the 9th). Will December end up being the only month that is below average — and, perhaps, the least volatile month of 2009? Or are we set to see some (more) fireworks during the next two weeks or so?

PERMALINK
Category: Markets.

Comments

Please use the comments to demonstrate your own ignorance, unfamiliarity with empirical data, ability to repeat discredited memes, and lack of respect for scientific knowledge. Also, be sure to create straw men and argue against things I have neither said nor even implied. Any irrelevancies you can mention will also be appreciated. Lastly, kindly forgo all civility in your discourse . . . you are, after all, anonymous.

3 Responses to “Will December Go Against the Grain?”

Maverick1 Says:
December 14th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Barry,

Wouldn’t it be better to compare the mean change in December with the 25-year mean instead of the 25-year median? Or the median with the median? Since the two data sets have around the same population size. But I guess its just a matter of how the chart-maker (statistician) chooses how to show the data….
rob Says:
December 14th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Santa Rally?????
ashpelham2 Says:
December 14th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Seems like it’s only going up. If that’s volatile, I’ll take it! A bigger question is where does oil go in 2010? Trending slightly down, lower energy prices would help pick the US up a bit. But if the spring comes and we shoot to $90-$100, and perhaps beyond, then here we go: double-dip.

I contend that $147 oil is what broke the preverbial camels back.