Every year, investors look forward to the “Santa Claus rally,” a period that encompasses the final five trading days of December and the first two trading days of the new year. Since 1950, the S&P 500 has gained, on average, 1.3% during this stretch, while finishing higher nearly 80% of the time, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

The S&P 500 may be heading for its first gain since Christmas on Friday. The main gauge of Wall Street’s health rose 0.6% in early trading and was on track to break a five-day losing streak, its longest since April.

Wall Street rallied out of its holiday-season funk. The S&P 500 climbed 1.3% Friday, its best day in nearly two months and its first gain since Christmas. The Dow Jones