Will your investments be boosted by the Santa Rally?
As December begins, you may be planning presents to give or receive over the festive season, but could your investments also get a boost from the Santa Rally.
The Stockmarket Almanac reference website shows the FTSE 100 – the main UK stockmarket – has risen in the final two weeks of December each year between 2000 and 2017 other than in 2000 and 2012.
No-one knows the true reason for this – and like Santa it could just be a bit of fun – but some suggest that markets could be boosted by the season of goodwill so more people are spending money which helps companies’ profits and then feeds into investment performance.
People could also be investing their Christmas bonuses and fund managers may be rebalancing their portfolios before the end of the year.
This doesn’t mean you need to rush to invest as it is hard to time the market and often investing over the long term is more effective than entering at a particular point.
You don’t just have to wait for Santa to get your rally for 2018 though. There are plenty of ways to give your investment portfolio and finances a boost at any time of year.
It is worth making the best use of tax-free savings, such as through your ISA and pensions allowances, and even seeing if you can move to a cheaper mortgage deal.
You could even review your life insurance cover as well as other protection such as critical illness.
Whether have been naughty or nice this year, speak to your financial adviser about your investments and household finances.
- The value of an investment and any income from it can fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount invested.
- Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance and should not be relied upon.
- HM Revenue and Customs practice and the law relating to taxation are complex and subject to individual circumstances and changes which cannot be
foreseen
