European shares have started August 2026 in almost the opposite way to what their seasonal reputation would suggest.
The EURO STOXX 50 and DAX are hovering near record highs, while the CAC 40 remains close to its peak. Yet August has historically been one of Europe's weakest months.
That contradiction raises a more interesting question than whether investors should simply "sell in August".
The data suggests August is not consistently a bad month. Instead, its poor reputation has been shaped by a small number of extraordinary market shocks.
European markets are defy 'August curse'
