History is Telling Us that 2023 Will Be Good For the US Stock Market

Chart showing the strength of the stock market this past week

By John Rothe, CMT

John Rothe CMT is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Riverbend Investment Management

January 27, 2023

This past week we saw the S&P 500 breakout from its downward trendline, a positive sign for the US stock market. As well as some supporting evidence that 2023 will be a very good year for investors.

 

Reversal of Trends

The major indices are starting the trade above their respective downward trends. If this pattern continues, we may start to see money quickly moving off the sidelines as investors begin to fear missing out.

 

S&P 500 Index:

chart showing the change in trend of the US stock market

NASDAQ

chart showing reversal of trend in NASDAQ

Russell 2000:

chart of the Russell 2000

Where the Strength Is

Looking at the strength of the underlying market as the S&P 500 broke above its downward trendline, we can see further expansion in the US stock market.

During this time consumer discretionary stocks have been outperforming consumer staples. We typically will see outperformance from names in the consumer staples sector, as consumers pause on purchasing large ticket items and instead focus on “recession-proof” purchases such as toilet paper and toothpaste.

chart showing performance of sectors over the past 10 days

International Stock Markets

It is not just in the US that we are seeing strength. International markets have been doing very well since their 2022 lows.

MSCI EAFE

stock chart of MSCI EAFE

 

This is all being driven by the continued weakness in the US dollar:

US Dollar (DXY)

Chart of the US dollar

History and 2023

 

As the US stock market started to reverse its downward trend, investors are wondering if this is the start of a big upward move in stocks.

History says yes.

Since 1950, US stocks have performed very well if the following conditions are met:

1) Stocks are down from the previous year

2) Santa Claus rally occurs

3) Positive return during the first 5 days of the New Year

4) Positive return in January (“As January goes, so goes the rest of the year”)

1 through 3 have occurred, and unless something dramatic happens in the stock market, January will end on a positive note.

When all 4 occur, the S&P 500’s average return was 27%.

the performance of the S&P 500 when all 4 criteria are met

What about the widely forecasted recession of 2023? The S&P 500 provide a positive return during the recessionary periods of 1954, 1958, and 1961.

While past returns is no guarantee of future results, the data is going to be hard for many investors to ignore – especially if the current trend reversal in the US stock market continues.

 

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John Rothe CMT

Riverbend Investment Management is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), established in 2006 with the primary goal to provide actively managed investment strategies to both individual and institutional clients.

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