This Easter in Markets
Happy Easter to all, and enjoy your well-earned break. Major stock markets are closed this Good Friday and will mostly reopen on Easter Monday, so this is a chance for investors to catch a breath, reflect on the first quarter, and make sense of these crazy times.
The stock market tells a different story of the world to the abandoned cars, barricaded shops, and ghostly city centers out your window. There’s a rally on, stocks flying as politicians and central bankers rush in to be heroes of the hour with tremendous stimulus. Easter celebrated in the markets is way more fun than in the real world, and if history is anything to go by, more gains are in-store through this seasonal shift.
Before and after holy week, markets typically deliver a positive average return. The trend has been up-down-up, stocks with a habit of rising in days leading up to Good Friday, dipping on Easter Monday, and then in true Christian spirit, rising again for the rest of the week! It’s an encouraging projection, but this is anything but a typical Easter.
There’ll be no outdoor egg hunts until the quarantine is lifted, so some investors are shorting chocolate stocks like Hershey, and Cadbury’s owner, Mondalez. The Invstr community isn’t so pessimistic, 95% bullish as people love to stress eat when fear is spreading. This is an important time for families to treat themselves, and maybe swap the egg hunts for indoor arts and crafts?
Hasbro and Mattel, famed toy-makers, have been leading the upward market charge this week as Amazon restarts shipments of consumer goods, like indoor playsets. These products had taken a backseat logistically for groceries and essentials.
It’s very hard to predict consumer behavior at times like these, but earnings season kicks off next week, and stock buyers on Monday won’t be too late to bet on companies that could exceed incredibly low expectations. Just don’t forget, you’re playing with fire.
Markets are incredibly volatile at the moment, so hedge your bets wisely and don’t put all your Easter eggs in one basket! Again, happy holidays!