Does the old investment adage to “sell in May” still hold true?

There has long been a saying that you should sell stocks before the summer lull and buy them back more cheaply in the autumn. Dominic Frisby looks at whether that’s still a wise thing to do.

A 1930s couple packing to go on holiday
Summer holidays were a much more involved affair
(Image credit: © Underwood Archives/Getty Images)

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The first week of May is notable in financial journalism circles for the sudden oversupply of articles pointing out what week it is and then posing the question: “should we sell in May and go away?”

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Dominic Frisby

Dominic Frisby (“mercurially witty” – the Spectator) is as far as we know the world’s only financial writer and comedian. He is the author of the popular newsletter the Flying Frisby and is MoneyWeek’s main commentator on gold, commodities, currencies and cryptocurrencies. He has also taken several of his shows to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

His books are Daylight Robbery - How Tax Changed our Past and Will Shape our Future; Bitcoin: the Future of Money? and Life After the State - Why We Don't Need Government

Dominic was educated at St Paul's School, Manchester University and the Webber-Douglas Academy Of Dramatic Art. You can follow him on X @dominicfrisby