Despite stumbling out of the gates, U.S. markets and stock ETFs could still pick up steam in the seasonally strong December month.
Over the past month, the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: QQQ) decreased 8.1%, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSEArca: DIA) fell 6.5% and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEArca: SPY) dropped 6.2%.
The renewed U.S.-China trade tensions, signs of a slowing global economy and tightening central bank monetary policies have tripped markets. Meanwhile, with later-dated bond yields slipping and short-term yields rising, some are concerned that a potential yield-curve inversion could presage an economic recession.
Nevertheless, the December month has traditionally been a seasonally strong period for stock investors. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has strengthened three-fourths of the time in December, or more than any other month on record, the Wall Street Journal reports.
The S&P 500, though, has stumbled coming into December this year, falling 4.6% for the first week this month, its worth performance since March.