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January 29, 2022

Stock market to pick up in 2009

By Gordon Powers, Sympatico / MSN Finance

Although I wouldn’t bet the farm on it, the Super Bowl has been a relatively successful predictor of how the stock market will perform going back to the big game’s inception in 1967.

According to this theory, a win by a team from the old National Football League means stocks will end higher for that year, while a win by an old American Football League team means the bears reign on Wall Street.

This prediction method was invented years ago by Leonard Koppett, a sportswriter for the New York Times, and has proved correct 31 out of 42 times for a 73.8% success rate, says Standard & Poor’s Frank W. Slusse.

If there’s anything to it, it’s all good news since both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals have National Football League roots. The Cardinals joined the newly formed league in 1920 and the Steelers, first known as the Pirates, came on board in 1933.

Of course, anyone who bases their investing decisions on the outcome of Sunday's game is clutching at straws — but every little bit helps.

If you’re looking for a more credible source for feeling upbeat about the market in 2009, have a look at Toronto-based consultant Dan Richards’ optimistic take on the future or that of Jeremy Siegel, who thinks that last year's meltdown actually boosts the case for stocks.

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Gordon PowersGordon Powers

A long-time fund company executive, Gordon Powers now heads up the Affinity Group, a financial services consulting firm. Gordon was a personal finance columnist for the Globe & Mail for many years, has taught retirement planning...

Jason BucklandJason Buckland

The modern-day MC Hammer of money, Jason can often be seen spending cash that isn’t his with the efficiency of a Wilt Chamberlain first date. After cutting his teeth as a reporter for the Toronto Sun, he joined the MSN Money team with...