After 3 years of double digit gains, the S&P 500 (U.S. large company stocks) returned only 1.4% in 2015 (-.73% without dividends).  As can be seen in the chart below, the S&P 500 appreciated through the first half of 2015, then suffered a significant sell-off in late summer.  By the end of the year, those losses were recovered and the index finished at 2043.94.  The technology heavy NASDAQ increased by 5.7%, as Amazon and Netflix both rose over 120%, while Facebook increased 36%.  Long-time tech star Apple fell by just over 4%.  The S&P 400 (mid-sized companies) was down 2.2% and the Russell 2000 (small company stocks) fell by 4.4%.    Please click the link below to read the entire Avista 2015 Global Market Review.

Avista – 2015 Year End Review