Since 1985 the FTSE 100 Index has increased on average 0.50% over the first five trading days of the new year.
The following chart shows the market returns for the first five trading days for all years from 1985. For example, over the first five days of 1985 the index rose 0.89%.
The following chart shows the daily returns for the FTSE 100 for each of the five days in the new year. For example, on average since 1985 the index has risen 0.40% on the first trading day of the year.
![First five trading days of the year [1985-2014]](http://stockmarketalmanac.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/First-five-trading-days-of-the-year-1985-2014.png)
A previous post looked at the average FTSE 100 returns on the first five trading years of the year.
The following chart reproduces the chart from that post – showing the average FTSE 100 returns for the first five trading days of the years 1985-2012. The second chart shows the returns for the first five trading days of 2013.
As can be seen, the profile of returns is similar: the first day being the strongest, with returns trailing off after that, and with the 4th and 5th days having negative returns.
Since 1985 the FTSE 100 Index has increased on average 0.45% over the first five trading days of the new year.
The following chart shows the first five days percentage change for all years from 1985. For example, over the first five days of 1985 the index rose 0.89%.
The following chart shows the average percentage FTSE 100 Index move for each of the five days in the new year. For example, on average since 1985 the index has risen 0.37% on the first trading day of the year.
