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Halloween or January? Yet another puzzle

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  • Lucey, Brian M
  • Zhao, Shelly

Abstract

Recent works suggest a potentially exploitable effect in US markets, the 'Halloween Indicator'. This suggests that the greater part of changes in equity markets arises over the November-April period, with little change over the summer months, simultaneous with no evident changes in the risk profiles of the two six-month periods. We re-examine this and find contradictory evidence. Over the 1926-2002 period we find rather that the effect demonstrated may well be a reflection of the well-known January anomaly. Our conclusion therefore is that the jury remains out on the existence of a semi-annual seasonality.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucey, Brian M & Zhao, Shelly, 2008. "Halloween or January? Yet another puzzle," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 1055-1069, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:17:y:2008:i:5:p:1055-1069
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