Rainy Days & Mondays (& Fridays) Gets Stocks Down

The price action in this year’s stock market has me humming the 1970s tune by The Carpenters called “Rainy Days and Mondays.”

As the chart shows, Mondays and Fridays have been awful for investors, while the mid-week days have performed better. (The final Friday of February was the exception.)

So far this year, Mondays have had an unsettling tariff update in early January, followed by the AI news about a Chinese competitor with a low-cost model. By Friday, the chart shows that some are opting to move to a “risk off” position as the weekend draws closer. Given Monday's 2025 history, you can’t blame traders for flinching on Friday.

It's an important reminder that past performance does not guarantee future results. Stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. So, in three months, this chart could look completely different. However, the illustration shows how whimsical the stock market can be when you view a small sample size of trading.

"I would tell [investors], don’t watch the market closely,” was the time-test guidance offered by Warren Buffett, who knows a thing or two about investing. 

So, if you find yourself getting a bit overwhelmed by the financial markets' price action this year, please give me a call. We can revisit your portfolio strategy and see if an adjustment might help you feel more comfortable.

^{1. Carson Investment Research, through February 9, 2025}