New Delhi, Dec. 16 -- December has always carried a certain mystique in markets. You hear phrases like "Santa Rally," "year-end cheer," and "the best week of the year." And to be fair, history does show a pattern where U.S. markets often rise during the final stretch of the year. But that reputation sits alongside a less discussed truth: December has also delivered sharp drops, muted stretches, and years where nothing behaved the way textbooks suggest.

For investors who now invest directly in U.S. stocks, ETFs, bonds, and even FDs through platforms like Appreciate, this matters. December feels like a natural moment to rebalance, restart, or try to "catch the rally." But the wiser move is to use seasonality as a guide, not a prediction to...