Global stock markets have performed abysmally during the year to date, with many of the worlds stock markets having triggered technical bear markets on falls of more than 20% from their 2007 peaks. The FTSE 100 index is no exception, which triggered a bear market just over a week ago. However a bounce ensued from the oversold state which was anticipated in the analysis for the Dow Jones on 14th of July which called for an imminent bottom for the stock markets and a volatile trend higher into September 2008 for an advance of approx. 10%.

This analysis looks at the various seasonal tendencies that may influence the FTSE 100 stock market index's trend into year end. The following graphs show the seasonal month to month changes as well as this years performance to date (red bars).

FTSE 100 Seasonal Trend During All Years

click to enlarge

The year to date shows a 42% correlation to the seasonal trend. The forward pattern suggests a rally during August, dip in September and a strong run into the end of the year.

FTSE 100 Seasonal Trend During US Election Years

The year to date shows a 85% correlation to the seasonal trend. The forward pattern suggests a strong rally into year end to be punctuated by a weak November to coincide with a post election correction followed by a santa rally.

FTSE 100 Seasonal Trend During UK Economy Slowdown Years

The year to date shows a 42% correction to the seasonal trend. The forward pattern suggests weakness for August and Sept with a strong year end rally.

FTSE 100 Seasonal Trend for Bearish Years

The year to date shows a 42% correlation to the seasonal trend. The forward pattern suggests weakness into end of November followed by a strong December,

Seasonal Trend Conclusion and the Obama Factor

The strongest observed seasonal tendencies thus far this year are inline with the US Presidential year cycle pattern, this is therefore the dominant pattern for the rest of the year. Key contributions from other seasonal patterns are to confirm the likelihood for a strong December, and a contra seasonal trend for a weak September. Therefore the seasonal trend conclusion is for the FTSE to rally at least into end August and then experience a down month for September, followed by a resumption of the uptrend into year end which includes a weak November. This suggest a FTSE trend which appears to be against the prevailing consensus view of a stocks bear market and against the deteriorating fundamental picture both economic and on the earnings front, therefore implying we could be in for either some good fundamental / earnings news or economic pessimism to be replaced by Obama election victory optimism, the potential for which was clearly evident during Obama's tour of old Europe last week.

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Nadeem Walayat

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