Ugly omen?

• Position: Off the News - Stock markets - Brief article

1. A MARKET BUMMER

   The Dow lost 5.2 percent between its opening on January 4 and January 8, the worst first four trading days since the 30-stock index was created in 1928. The S&P 500 for the same period was down 4.9 percent, its worst four-day opening in its history.

   --Reuters

2. A BIGGER BUMMER

   The Stock Trader's Almanac's "First Five Days" indicator suggests that in presidential election years, the market's performance during the first five days of trading is a predictor of the...