When examined with a wide lens, the directional movement of the ageless Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI), benchmark S 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), and widely followed Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) is a pretty clear "up." However, over shorter timelines, those lenses can get quite foggy.

Over just the trailing-two-year period, we've witnessed the Dow, S 500, and Nasdaq Composite rocket to record-closing highs, as well as plunge into respective bear markets. It's been a reminder for tenured investors, as well as a learning experience for those new to Wall Street, that short-term stock movements are unpredictable.

Nevertheless, history has shown that some periods are kinder than others to investors. While virtually nothing is guaranteed on Wall Street, 95 years of statistical data aggregated by sell-side consultancy company Yardeni Research finds that certain months are more likely to produce upside in the broader market, while others are commonly associated with weaker performance. 

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Source Fool.com