Historically, Friday the 13th tends to be a relatively calm day for the stock market, with average gains of only 0.2% or less.

In three of the last five instances, all three major averages finished down on Friday the 13th. Should investors take this as a bad omen? Below is a look at how stocks traded on this superstitious day.

Dow since 1900:

Average gain of 0.04% on Friday the 13th, and up 59% of the time

The Dow ended down three out of the last five Friday the 13ths and down for the last two on 5/13/11 and 8/13/10

Biggest Gain: 2.66% was on 12/13/1929

Biggest Drop: -6.9% was on 10/13/1989

SandP since 1928:

Average gain of 0.02% on Friday the 13th, and up 57% of the time

The SandP ended down three out of the last five Friday the 13ths and down for the last two on 5/13/11 and 8/13/10

Biggest gain: 3.34% was on 10/13/2000

Biggest drop: -6.11% was on 10/13/1989

Nasdaq Composite since 1971:

Average gain of 0.20% on Friday the 13th, and up 60 percent of the time

The Nasdaq ended down three out of the last five Friday the 13ths and down for the last two on 5/13/11 and 8/13/10

Biggest gain: 7.87% in 10/13/2000

Biggest drop: -3.09% in 10/13/1989

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First Published:Jan 13, 2012 10:30 AM IST