By RyanVlastelica, MarketWatch [1]
When the U.S. stock market closes at 4 p.m. on Friday, it won't just bring the week to a close, but also the month of December, the fourth quarter of 2017, and the whole year along with it. And it's a testament to how strong markets have been over the past 12 months that the major stock market indexes are poised for notable records across nearly all those time periods.
Here are the milestones that are set to be hit with the ringing of the closing bell.
Weekly stats:
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is up 0.4% for the week. This will mark the Dow's sixth straight weekly gain, its longest such streak since November of this year. It has risen in 14 of the past 16 weeks. The nearly unceasing gains over the past four months have helped the Dow close at a record 71 times thus far this year, which is itself a record.
- The S&P 500 (SPX) is up 0.2% and is also on track for its sixth straight weekly rise. Like the Dow, that represents the benchmark index's longest streak since November; it is also up in 14 of the past 16 weeks.
- The Nasdaq Composite Index (COMP) is down 0.2%.
- The Russell 2000 (RUT) is on track for a gain of 0.6%, its third straight weekly advance.
Monthly stats:
- The Dow is up 2.4% in December. This will mark its ninth straight monthly rise, its longest such streak since 1959.
- The S&P is up 1.5% thus far this month. This will also be the S&P's ninth positive month in a row, representing its best streak since 1983. On a total-return basis, however, the S&P is set for its 14th straight monthly gain, which will lengthen a record.
- The Nasdaq is up 1% in December, which will represent its sixth straight monthly increase. The tech-heavy index has risen in 13 of the past 14 months.
- The Russell is up 0.3% in December. If the index of small-capitalization stocks ends up on the month, that will mark its fourth straight monthly increase, its longest streak since one ending in February of this year.
December is historically a strong month for the major indexes. The Dow, S&P, and Russell have all "ended higher in December more than any other month," according to the WSJ Market Data Group. The Dow has enjoyed a positive December in 71% of years going back 120 years, while the S&P has ended up 73% of the time.
The Dow is on track to top its average December gain of 1.41%, which is the highest average for any month of the year for the Dow. The S&P is slightly above its own historical gain of 1.41%, which is secondly only to July. The Russell's gain is a far cry from its average December return of 3.19%, which is its highest average return for any month.
Quarterly stats:
- The Dow is up 10.8% in the fourth quarter, its best quarterly performance since the first quarter of 2013. The blue-chip average is poised for its ninth straight quarterly advance, its longest streak since 1997.
- The S&P is up 6.7% in the fourth quarter, its biggest quarterly rise since the fourth quarter of 2013. The fourth quarter will also mark the ninth straight positive quarter for the S&P, its longest streak since one ending in the first quarter of 2013.
- The Nasdaq is up 6.9% for the quarter, its best since the first quarter of this year. It is on track for its sixth straight quarterly rise, its best since a 10-quarter streak ending in the second quarter of 2015.
- The Russell has gained 3.9% this quarter, putting it on track for its seventh straight quarterly gain, its longest since the second quarter of 2014.
Annual stats:
- The Dow is up 25.7% over 2017, putting it on track for its second straight annual increase, as well as its best year since 2013.
- The S&P is up 20.1% year-to-date. Like the Dow, it is set for its second straight annual increase and its best year since 2013.
- The Nasdaq is up 29% in 2017, its best year since 2013. 2017 is set to be the Nasdaq's sixth straight annual gain. According to the WSJ Market Data Group, this is the longest streak for the Nasdaq since a six-year streak lasting from 1975 to 1980.
- The Russell has gained 14.1% in 2017. The index is set for its second straight annual gain.
From MarketWatch [1]