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Halloween Strategy

Summer represents the doldrums on Wall Street. People go on vacation. It's hot in New York, making people listless. No one wants to put much money at play. Not a lot of action.

Meanwhile, October is a scary month. Not just because of kids dressed up as vampires or ghouls or a Kardashian or whatever. But because most of the major stock market crashes have happened in October. 1929. 1987. It's just a spooky time for the market.

The Halloween Strategy is meant to avoid both these traditionally down times. The program involves getting out of the market in May and then returning in November (i.e. after Halloween). It even has a catchy little slogan: "Sell in May and go away."

Find other enlightening terms in Shmoop Finance Genius Bar(f)