S&P 500 Starts 2024 With Gains, But January Rise Doesn't Guarantee Year's Course
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The S&P 500 rose 1.6% in January 2024, continuing solid gains from 2023.
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Historically the S&P 500 has had a good start in January over 50% of the time, with an average annual return of 16.8% in those years.
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However, some years have still seen negative returns despite a strong January, so a good start isn't a guarantee.
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Key factors like interest rates, recession risk, and consumer spending will likely play bigger roles in 2024 performance than January gains.
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Rather than predicting trends, investors should focus on quality long-term investments like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF.