Wall Street analysts track a phenomenon called the 'Santa Claus Rally', where the stock market reliably sees an uptick in value during the final five trading days of the year and the first two of the new year.

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Wall Street analysts track a phenomenon called the 'Santa Claus Rally', where the stock market reliably sees an uptick in value during the final five trading days of the year and the first two of the new year. Economists attribute this to holiday bonuses being invested, general end-of-year optimism, and institutional pessimists going on vacation. Basically, the stock market only functions properly when all the cynical hedge fund managers leave the trading floor to go ski in Aspen. It is a little disturbing that billions of dollars in global wealth are generated simply because wealthy brokers are hopped up on eggnog and holiday cheer. This proves that high-level finance isn't a strict mathematical science, but rather a collective mood swing governed by the exact same holiday spirit that makes you buy useless garbage for your extended family on Amazon