Good Morning,
Attached is this week’s “By the Numbers” piece from MFS. The two statistics below reiterate (again) why it makes sense for clients to remain invested.
“The total return of the S&P 500 stock index over the last 10 calendar years (2008-2017) is +126.0% (total return). The 10 best trading days during the 10 years (i.e., 10 days out of 2,518 trading days) produced an +97.9% gain. Thus, 10 trading days over the last 10 years were responsible for 78% of the index’s total return, i.e., less than ½ of 1% of the trading days drove 78% of the index’s return”
“The 3 best gain days (by percentage) for the S&P 500 in the last 68 years (i.e., dating back to January 1950) all occurred during the month of October”
As always, the idea is not to use technicals to time when or how to be invested but, rather, to maintain a diversified portfolio over the long term that does not miss market upswings at the cost of preventing any temporary selloffs.
Peter Malone, CFA
Research Analyst
Direct: 617.226.0030
Fax: 617.523.8118
Crestwood Advisors
One Liberty Square
Suite 500
Boston, MA 02109
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