January’s first trading days predict the stock market’s year — or so they say

• Getty Images First impressions aren’t always correct — especially in the stock market. Keep that in mind as 2026 makes its first impressions on Wall Street. If the coming days are anything like those of past years, analysts will try to make the case that the stock market’s performance at the beginning of January foretells its full-year direction. Most Read from MarketWatch Don’t believe them: The stock market’s odds of rising in 2026 are the same — regardless of how it performs at the beginning. I ...