Stocks close out worst year since 2008 with final day gains

Dec. 31, 2018 4:04 PM ETBy: Clark Schultz, SA News Editor37 Comments

Stocks poked out a small gain to end the year, with the Dow up 1.2% and the S&P 500 Index and Nasdaq recording gains of 0.9%. and 0.8%, respectively. The major indexes officially recorded their worst performance since 2008 as trade squabbles and economic growth concerns stole the show in the back half of the year. The Dow 30 and S&P 500 Index both peeled off about 6% in 2018 - which is actually better than the 13% drop for the Stoxx Europe 600 for the year, 12% decline for Japan's Nikkei index and 25% drubbing for the Shanghai Composite.
Treasury yields dropped across the board today, including the 10-year dipping below 2.70% for the first time since February. Crude oil bubbled slightly higher on the day, but the closing WTI mark of $45.41 per barrel left it down 19% for the year.