Should you sell in May and go away?

In an average year, stock markets fare better in the winter than in the summer months. So are you better off waiting to put your money into equities?

Here's some "food for thought" for those mulling over the old adage "sell in May", says John Mauldin on Investorsinsight.com. Between 1950 and April 2009, the November-April period has certainly been a better bet than the other six months of the year.

In an average year, the winter has produced a total return of 7.9%, compared with 2.5% for the summer months. But since 1950, US stocks have been through two long-term bull runs (around 1950-1966 and 1982-1999) and two bear markets (1966-1982 and an ongoing one that started in 2000).

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