Canada’s main stock index closed higher along with U.S. markets on the final day of trading of what has been a difficult year for stocks. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 100.86 points at 14,322.86 as part of a late-December rally but it wasn’t enough to stave off significant losses for the year. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 100.86 points at 14,322.86, making for a 12 per cent decline for the year. The S&P 500 index ended up 21.11 points higher at 2,506.85, while the Nasdaq composite was up 50.76 points at 6,635.28. The February crude contract closed up eight cents at $45.41 (U.S.) per barrel and the February natural gas contract was down 36 cents at $2.94 per mmBTU.

Source: thestar December 31, 2018 16:18 UTC