Sussex police reckon people get more violent around the time of full moons.
Don't laugh. There's some evidence that the phase of the moon can affect stock market investors as well as drinkers, with returns being lower around the time of full moons.
There's a common theme here. Full moons - at the margin - make people anxious and jumpy - loony. That makes them prone to both violence and to selling stocks.
There is, however, contrary evidence. This paper find no evidence in the UK market for an effect of lunar phases upon stock returns. And the Skeptic's Dictionary lives up to its name.
However, today's fall in the stock market comes just a few days after a full moon - consistent with the Dichev and Janes paper.
Anyone who has frequented pubs in villages without lighting can answer this one - there's more trouble at weekends because there's more light from the moon, so it's more attractive to go out and stagger back home and you see more traffic cones to pick up.
Posted by: Dave Cole | June 06, 2007 at 09:26 PM
Any excuse for a picture of Scully, eh?
Full moons make no difference anyway. High tide, that's what you need to look out for.
Posted by: Thom | June 07, 2007 at 09:09 AM
I think this should be considered with the gravity it deserves.
Posted by: Roger Thornhill | June 07, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Full moons make no difference anyway. High tide, that's what you need to look out for
Posted by: ManBearPig | November 24, 2007 at 04:46 PM
Interessante Informationen.
Posted by: lieben | March 03, 2009 at 11:20 AM