Upper left chart highlights times when the SPX was down the first 3-days of the year and full year returns. As you can see, year-end results were mixed.

Upper right chart highlights times when the SPX was down the first three days of a near year, looking back 50-years. It only happened once, which was 2008.

Lower right chart highlights the worst 3-day starts to a new year. The two worst took place in 2000 & 2008.

These are all taking place at the same time we just experienced one of the weakest Santa Claus rallies in 25 years! (See here) 

We'll see if this rare lower start to a year in 2015 will have any impact on the markets at year end.