NEW YORK, Sept 12 - The U.S. stock market could be set for a rocky second half of September, particularly the week after the September 15 monthly options expiration, a Nomura Securities analysis of data going back more than three decades, shows.
In 26 of the last 33 years, the S&P 500 Index fell in the week following the September options expiration, with a median drop of 1%, the analysis showed. Nomura strategist Charlie McElligott said the weakness may be linked to selling related to the fiscal year-end for mutual funds and tax-related selling by households.
Additionally, stocks can come under pressure in September as individual investors may sell to pay their estimated taxes.