The Almanac Investor: Profit from Market History and Seasonal Trends

This book is a must have for its research in patterns. Weekly, daily, monthly, and presidential election patterns are all examined to show you the probabilities in trading in specifies time periods. From the data shown it is essential to stay in the market for November and December this is where 40% of the gains have come in the past 80 years. The stock market tends to decline on Thursday and Friday with traders getting out of their positions for a stress free weekend and then the market generally rises on Monday and Tuesday with the reentries. It is essential to fully invest in the stock market in the year before the presidential election, they have returned over 20% in the S&P over the past 4. Stay out of stocks in August and September, they are historically terrible months. Also the chapter on the cyclical stocks shows you what sector to buy in what month and when to sell. For example :buy consumer stocks in May and sell in September. I can tell you from watching my company's stock over the past 4 years that this is true and one of the best ways to make money in the market. The graph with all industry sectors and showing the buy and sell months is worth the price of the book.I have returned an average of 20% in my investments over the past 4 years and I can tell you if I would have had this book I could have increased my returns by at least 10%. I would have also decreased my losses during the bear market years by 10% by staying out of the markets in the worst 3 months.Buy this book and read it to increase your probability of trading success dramatically. I promise you the book will pay for itself in one trade using its principles.

Wow! Hirsch has the rare ability to single-handedly make you believe that SOMEONE might just know something about what moves the market (without resorting to tea leaves.)The depth and breadth of information contained within these covers is enough to give the most amateur investor an "edge" over most professionals.I actually borrowed this book to a friend, and everytime I ask for it back, he begs for another week!Lesson learned: Never borrow out your best books!!!

It shows trends and such. The book is big with lots of useless stuff. Not sure why the useless stuff is there. But the book is good with lots of useful stuff.

It seems to me that the Almanac Investor works on both superstition and statistics. The only real helpful part I found was on the JB (January Barometer). The author goes on to describe the other 11 months but it almost seems muttled together. I do believe that it is worth taking a look at. Again this seems to work more off of superstition, but has some statistics to back it up.

will not work during black swan event.

Great background for the Stock Trader Almanac 2013 (for this year). This book gives the analysis and details that go into the yearly almanac. Still reading and digesting. As a retired engineer, I like the attention to hard analysis.

A decent seasonal and historical analysis guide. Not as good as the Stock Trader's Almanac. Don't buy this book if you want current material.

Good info...