Document Type

Article

Seasonality in Stock and Bond ETFs (2001—2014): The Months Are Getting Mixed Up but Santa Delivers on Time

Publication Title

Journal of Investing

Publication Date

Fall 2015

Issue Number

3

Abstract/ Summary

This article examines the current state of seasonality in returns using a set of ten highly liquid exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Our analysis extends beyond the traditional stock market framework to also include bond, real estate, and gold assets, in the same study. Additionally, this use of ETFs is a new approach compared with existing seasonality literature. Four well-known effects are researched – the January effect, the Halloween effect (“Sell in May and Go Away”), the Mark Twain effect, and the Santa Claus rally. The results are mixed. Some seasonality effects seem to have weakened while others have remained intact or even strengthened. This might be the result of improved market efficiency, arbitrage activity, or high frequency trading (HFT). The persistence of some of the effects is somewhat puzzling against the backdrop of the efficient market hypothesis (Fama [1970]) but could be rationalized via differential investor sentiment responses (Waggle and Agrrawal [2015]). The article also provides reference tables that include probabilities and averages for each month and for each effect. The Altman-Wald and Friedman tests are utilized for statistical significance, given the relatively short return histories for ETFs. These could be utilized by a trader as a tactical overlay on top of a longer term strategic allocation. Finally, we introduce the reader to the bond based “Safety in Summer” effect, as an additional calendar effect, to be further researched in the years to come.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3905/joi.2015.24.3.129

Version

pre-print (i.e. pre-refereeing)

Link to Full Text

Share