The stock market is on track for one of the best months of the year. Historically, April is the best month to buy stocks, as the S&P 500 has gained 2.4% in that month. October and November are also good months to buy, with the S&P 500 gaining 1.17% and 1.08%, respectively. On the other hand, September is the worst month to buy stocks, with the S&P 500 losing -0.83% on average.
While the first half of 2022 was a rough ride for investors, the market has sprung back in July. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq have posted impressive gains for the month. As of July 26, the Dow is up 3.9%, the S&P 500 is up nearly 7%, and the Nasdaq is up almost 7%. If that trend continues through the remainder of the year, the markets are set for their best month since November 2020.
While it’s still early to call a bottom, recent events suggest the market could fall even further. The Fed is expected to raise interest rates again on Wednesday, and Walmart has lowered its profit forecasts as a result of inflation. The Federal Reserve is expected to raise rates on Wednesday, and mega-cap tech names have packed their earnings schedules this week. The markets are also likely to be affected by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the Covid lockdown in China.