The last month of the year is typically one of the strongest periods for stocks with the S&P 500 Index gaining an average of 1.2%, based on data from the past five decades.

*** Stocks highlighted are for information purposes only and should not be considered as advice to purchase or to sell mentioned securities. As always, the use of technical and fundamental analysis is encouraged in order to fine tune entry and exit points to average seasonal trends.

Stocks Entering Period of Seasonal Strength Today:

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Hershey Foods Corp. (NYSE:HSY) Seasonal Chart

Micron Technology, Inc. (NASD:MU) Seasonal Chart

Philip Morris Intl Inc. (NYSE:PM) Seasonal Chart

Capstone Copper Corp (TSE:CS.TO) Seasonal Chart

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSE:NDM.TO) Seasonal Chart

CONMED Corp. (NYSE:CNMD) Seasonal Chart

Amdocs Ltd. (NASD:DOX) Seasonal Chart

Prudential PLC (NYSE:PUK) Seasonal Chart

Sprott Physical Gold Silver Trust (TSE:CEF.TO) Seasonal Chart

iShares Global Infrastructure Index ETF (TSE:CIF.TO) Seasonal Chart

Vanguard Canadian Aggregate Bond Index ETF (TSE:VAB.TO) Seasonal Chart

iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF (NYSE:AOA) Seasonal Chart

iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF (NASD:EUFN) Seasonal Chart

iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (NASD:IXUS) Seasonal Chart

SPDR MSCI World Quality Mix ETF (AMEX:QWLD) Seasonal Chart

Sprott Physical Gold Trust (TSE:PHYS.TO) Seasonal Chart

Sprott Physical Silver Trust (TSE:PSLV.TO) Seasonal Chart

iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF (AMEX:IAGG) Seasonal Chart

Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLRE) Seasonal Chart

Embraer Aircraft (NYSE:ERJ) Seasonal Chart

Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (NASD:CCOI) Seasonal Chart

Douglas Emmett Inc. (NYSE:DEI) Seasonal Chart

Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:ZBH) Seasonal Chart

Ventas, Inc. (NYSE:VTR) Seasonal Chart

iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASD:ICLN) Seasonal Chart

Valero Energy Corp (NYSE:VLO) Seasonal Chart

iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF (TSE:XEC.TO) Seasonal Chart

Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSE:VOT) Seasonal Chart

Rayonier, Inc. (NYSE:RYN) Seasonal Chart

 

Super Simple Seasonal Portfolio

 

The Markets

Stocks moved higher in the last trading session of November as a reprieve of the recent weakness in the semiconductor industry helped to give lift to the Technology sector and benchmarks heavily weight to this market segment.  The S&P 500 Index gained almost six-tenths of one percent, charting a fresh record closing high and continuing to hold above support at the 20-day moving average (5929).  Price continues to hold above previous short-term declining trendline resistance that was formed by connecting the peaks since November 11th and a short-term path of higher-highs and higher-lows stemming from the November 19th double-bottom support at 5850 is in play.  On a intermediate-term scale, there remains greater evidence of support than resistance, presenting the desired backdrop for strength that is normally realized in the market at year-end.  Major moving averages are all pointed higher and momentum indicators continue to gyrate above their middle lines, providing characteristics of a bullish trend.  Our list of candidates in the market to Accumulate and to Avoid remains well positioned to benefit from the strength that is filtering into the market at this seasonally strong time of year, but we will scrutinize whether any changes are required as the price action evolves.

Seasonal charts of companies reporting earnings today:

 

S&P 500 Index

 

TSE Composite