Full S&P 500 Recovery This Year Still Far-Fetched Despite Rally

As stocks stage a recovery, Wall Street remains skeptical of any sustainable rally.

Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
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Even after Wednesday’s furious rebound in US stocks, the chances that the S&P 500 Index will end the year with a gain remain slim, if history is any guide.

In the 16 times the US stock benchmark has dropped 15% or more at any point in a year, like it had before the rally, the S&P 500 has only recovered to end the 12-month period positive on three occasions, according to data compiled by Ryan Detrick at Carson Group LLC.