S&P 500 and Dow Jones End 2015 in the Red

Stocks are closing out 2015 on a downbeat note. Major US indexes declined on Thursday, the last day of the year, putting a main market benchmark slightly in the red for 2015. The Standard & Poor's 500 index ended the year down about three-quarters of a percent. With dividends included, the index was up slightly for the year. It was the worst return for the index since 2011. According to CNN, the Dow is down 2.2% for the year, making 2015 its worst year since 2008.

At the closing bell on Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 178 points—or 1%—at 17,425. The S&P 500 gave up 19 points—also 1%—to close at 2,043. The Nasdaq composite declined 58 points—or 1.2%—to 5,007. (More stock market stories.)