Domestic markets jumped skyward at the end of November, a rare feature for this time of year. Speaking about the S&P 500, “If it’s up more than 10%, it will only be the third time since World War II that November has been up that much,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA, the Center for Financial Research and Analysis, one of the world's largest independent investment research firms. “Such a strong November has a tendency to steal from Santa.”

Equity markets had a fall-off during October during the pandemic’s eighth month. A high degree of uncertainty pervades the country as COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to climb. The United States has 4% of the world’s population but approximately 20% of all fatalities. With nearly a quarter million American deaths and no national policy for curbing the virus, there is no end in sight.