In 2023, the US stock market has experienced significant gains, driven mainly by a few technology companies. However, these gains do not accurately represent the overall performance of the market. The median return for stocks in the S&P 500 index has only risen by 1.1% this year, a stark contrast to the 16.2% median gain seen in 2014. Similarly, the Russell 3000 index had a median return of negative 2.2% this year, despite its 11.3% year-to-date gain. Furthermore, the median year-to-date return for stocks in the S&P 1500 only rose by 0.1%, compared to the index’s 11.2% advance. The stock market has also experienced a recent slump, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite recording their worst month of the year in October.
Investors are hoping that October and the last quarter of 2023 will bring relief from the summer selloff and subsequent slump in the market. Historically, the fourth quarter has been the best quarter for the US stock market, with the S&P 500 index showing significant gains. However, while October tends to be a strong month on average, it has also been a month of losses in many years. Therefore, the market’s performance in the upcoming months is uncertain. Currently, US stocks are mostly lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.6%, the S&P 500 losing 0.4%, and the Nasdaq edging slightly higher by 0.2%.
