Listen to the audio version of this article (generated by AI).

Tom Yeung here with your Sunday Digest.

Summer months are usually a boring stretch for active stock traders. Trading volumes dry up, options get more expensive, and everyone is waiting for a second-quarter earnings season that often disappoints. Q2 lacks a major shopping season, which might explain why August and September (when financials are reported) are historically weak for many U.S. stocks – especially consumer-facing ones.

Nevertheless, there’s always a bull market somewhere. And that’s because not every country follows the same calendar that we Americans do.

Much of East Asia treats its Lunar New Year like Christmas. People splash out on fancy vacations and gifts. For them, February is their month to spend big. The Middle East celebrates Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr on an every-changing date.