Mercury Retrograde & the Stock Market: Fact or Folklore?

Mercury retrograde is often blamed for disruptions in communication, tech glitches, and market volatility. Some financial astrology studies, including the “Long Live Hermes” paper, show average equity returns during retrograde periods are lower by ~3.33%. Yet many academic reviews find results inconsistent or weak. Overall, belief in this effect may partly influence market behavior rather than reflect causal forces.