Santa Claus Rally for 2020?

[Chuckanut]

Santa is smart and is taking a vacation for 2020. After all, he's a pretty old guy.

Santa spends most of his time flying around in the fresh air, which is a real plus for avoiding the virus. Check out the NORAD Santa Tracker, he barely spends any time in anybody's house.

https://www.noradsanta.org/

Besides Santa is either a Time Lord or good buddies with Dr. Who. How else can he get around so fast in time and space?

He will be fine.

 

[audreyh1]

In the Netherlands, Santa Claus (Sinterklaas where US got the name) lives in Spain. In November he takes his boat to the Netherlands full of Xmas packages and a bunch of African helpers. Packages are delivered on Dec 5th. Sinterklaas is dressed like a bishop (which he is St. Nicolas, bishop of Myra in modern Turkey) and rides a big horse across the rooftops.
https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/holland.shtml

 

[Lsbcal]

In the last 3 months value stocks have done better then growth. And small value has done best. I'd guess that trend will continue into December and January. Maybe a pullback for the full market in February.

Just remember you heard it here.

 

[audreyh1]

Just remember you heard it here.

OK, I will!

 

[Lsbcal]

OK, I will!

But, but ... I don't own value stocks yet. Still in growth. That's trend following for you.

 

[audreyh1]

But, but ... I don't own value stocks yet. Still in growth. That's trend following for you.

I was talking about the pullback in February 2021, but I see you said “perhaps”.

 

[Lsbcal]

I was talking about the pullback in February 2021, but I see you said “perhaps”.

Well I need an out. But I seem to recall a few markets where the previous year's exuberance gave way to some profit taking in February.

Seriously, almost all the real big moves have been in a few tech names in the large growth index. Just looking at it today the top 10 stocks in the VG growth index are now 47% of that index (250+ stocks there). The other style box categories are more balanced. It might be that pullbacks will be confined to large growth. Or those large growth equities just won't go anywhere.

 

[audreyh1]

Well my portfolio is rebalancing itself next month as my high flier equity growth funds are paying out large capital gains distributions. Ouch tax-wise but I’d have to trim them anyway. Good to take profits.

 

[Blue531]

I heard someone on one of the financial channels talking about buying in any of the six days before Christmas can get you a nice return if you buy and wait about six weeks. The best day to buy is the day before Christmas. The chances were very high. Not sure I will buy anything, but interesting anyway. I have noticed that just before a big holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas, more often than not that stocks during that week will fall lower. I think it is because of so many traders not wanting to hold over the holiday.

 

[Cortina]

I heard someone on one of the financial channels talking about buying in any of the six days before Christmas can get you a nice return if you buy and wait about six weeks. The best day to buy is the day before Christmas. The chances were very high. Not sure I will buy anything, but interesting anyway. I have noticed that just before a big holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas, more often than not that stocks during that week will fall lower. I think it is because of so many traders not wanting to hold over the holiday.

Hmmmm .......... time to remember "my rule" .......... there are NO rules !!

 

[audreyh1]

Pretty good end of year rally. Markets were selling off most of the day, but managed to turn around late, and then both DOW and S&P 500 closed at new all-time closing highs!

 

[CardsFan]

I will wait until tomorrow to total everything, but in round numbers, we were down 16% in March, and up about 14% to end the year.

What a ride!

 

[foxfirev5]

Works for me. Any year I can end at an all-time high after 5 years of withdrawals is a winner, financially. The rest of it was not so good. Only the arrival of a new grandson provided a positive light.

 

[Souschef]

I am waiting until tomorrow to get my closing balance so I can calculate my RMD

 

[audreyh1]

Oh, right, those pesky wnd if month divs.

 

[W2R]

Pretty good end of year rally. Markets were selling off most of the day, but managed to turn around late, and then both DOW and S&P 500 closed at new all-time closing highs!

Wow!!!! And once again, my portfolio (+ bank accounts) is at an all time high, and today I reached a milestone for the first time. Not gonna say what it is (probably less than some people might think) but it's more than I need or ever thought I'd have.

Santa Clause rally! Dow and S&P at record highs! Not to mention goodbye to 2020 forever! 'Scuse me while I get all happy 'n' stuff...

 

[DrRoy]

Answer to 2020 Santa Clause rally question - Yes. Time to rebalance.

 

[audreyh1]

Still have 2 trading days left in the Santa Claus Rally!

Can W2R jinx 2021?!?

 

[audreyh1]

One nice thing about being at the year highs on Dec 31 - I get to calculate my annual withdrawal on the max value for the year! That's always satisfying, even if somewhat arbitrary.