This chart suggests Santa rallies typically pick up late in December

Core Insights - The U.S. stock market typically experiences gains in December, driven by strength later in the month rather than early trading [1][2] - December has historically been one of the best months for the stock market, with the S&P 500 averaging a 1.4% return over the past 75 years and finishing higher 73.3% of the time [1][2] Performance Patterns - December has the highest historical win rate for the stock market, but the performance within the month is uneven [2] - Nearly 100% of December's average return since 1950 has come from the latter half of the month, with early December often being choppy [2][3] Current Trends - As of the first half of December this year, the S&P 500 is down 0.48%, aligning with the typical choppiness observed during this period [3] - Seasonal factors such as lighter trading volumes, fund manager "window dressing," year-end bonuses, and anticipation of the January effect contribute to the strength observed in late December [4] Santa Claus Rally - The last five trading days of December and the first two of January, known as the Santa Claus rally, have historically delivered strong returns [4] - However, the Santa rally is described as a historical pattern rather than a guaranteed outcome [5]