CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sun is out, stocks are up. What could go wrong? The Go-Goes may have said it best back in the '80s, it's time for bathing suits, beaches, boating, and selling stocks. Yes, we're heading into traditionally the worst six months of the stock market, May through October. Thus, that old Wall Street adage, sell in May and go away.</s>SAM STOVALL, S&P; CAPITAL IQ: The market has actually outperformed itself November through April compared with May through October almost 75 percent of the time. So, it's averages plus batting averages that cause people to say, you know what, in the summer, investors focus more on their tans.</s>ROMANS: And this batting average is pretty high. Since about 1950 from November to April, the S&P; 500 has gained 1400 points. In May through October, it has lost 97 points.</s>STOVALL: History says but does not guarantee we probably will advance another 3 percent before stumbling from exhaustion like the messenger from marathon.</s>ROMANS: This most recent marathon has taken the S&P; 500 to record highs. Close your eyes and buy the highs.</s>STOVALL: Well, actually, I was thinking of a song called "Close Your Eyes."</s>ROMANS: So if you decide to sell this May, thanks twice before going too far away. Christine Romans, CNN, New York.</s>WHITFIELD: Margaret Thatcher's daughter is speaking out and police are worried there may be protests in London.
Sell In May And Go Away