Looking back at history, there are reasons to be optimistic about next week. Dating back to 1953, the S&P 500 gained about 0.5% at the median in the last week of August, according to data analyzed by Bespoke Investment Group. In the past 10 years alone, the median return has soared to about 1.1%. This was a bright spot before a historically weak period for the market. September was the S&P 500’s worst average performance month since 1950, according to Stock Trader’s Almanac. The broader market index fell an average of 0.7% this month. Just like August, things may be different in the new month. Yearbook data showed the S&P 500 was flat on average for the month. That said, the benchmark is up more than 1% so far this month. .SPX 1M mountain S&P 500 Index, 1 Month There are also a few events in the upcoming week that could affect the market in the final days of the trading month. Investors and analysts alike will be keeping a close eye on artificial intelligence darling Nvidia’s expected earnings on Wednesday. Attention will then turn to Friday’s release of the personal consumption expenditures price index for July, which traders will keep a close eye on for new insights into the path of inflation.
