2015: Tollbooth Strategy Leads With 7.6% Rise, Crude Oil Falls 36%

Nichole Harper
31 Dec, 2015
New York City

After a volatile year, U.S. indexes failed to make advance in the second-half. S&P 500 index declined 0.6% in 2015 but the Tollbooth Strategy led the U.S. indexes with a surge of 7.6%. Germany led the European markets with 15.6% rise and Japan closed up 9.1%.

[R]11:35 AM New York City, New York – After a volatile year, U.S. indexes failed to make advance in the second-half. S&P 500 index declined 0.6% in 2015 but the Tollbooth Strategy led the U.S. indexes with a surge of 7.6%. Germany led the European markets with 15.6% rise and Japan closed up 9.1%.[/R]

Market indexes on Wall Street advanced and the oil jumped 2% after a week of decline.

Seasonally adjusted weekly jobless claims jumped 20,000 to 287,000 from the previous week’s unrevised claims of 267,000.

The preliminary insured unemployment rate in the week ending December 19 was 1.6% an unchanged from the prior week''s unrevised rate, the Department of Labor said.

On the final day of trading, stocks in New York eased and the widely followed indexes declined in the year.

Tollbooth Index dropped 54.44 or 0.5% to 10,823.70 and closed up 7.6% in 2015. Tollbooth Strategy index has gained in the 14 of the last 16 years since inception in 2000 and exceeded the S&P 500’s annual returns in 14 years during that period.

S&P 500 index fell 0.4% in 2015 and the tech heavy Nasdaq added 6.1%.

Dow Jones Industrial Average, the index that tracks large companies fell 1.9% in the year 2015.

Crude oil traded slightly higher on the final day of trading, but declined 31% in 2015 after falling 46% in 2014.

WTI crude oil variety closed up 12 cents to $36.73 a barrel in New York trading and the Brent crude edged up 30 cents to close at $36.76 and fell 36% in 2015 after falling 48% in 2014.

U.S. Movers

Chimerix Inc ((CMRX)) surged 15.9% or $1.30 to $9.66 after the hedge fund manager Steven Cohen agreed to acquire 5.3% stake in the antiviral drugs maker.

On Monday, Chimerix stock tumbled by 80% after reporting an unsuccessful late-stage drug trial but its plans to continue for testing on other usage.

General Electric Company ((GE)) fell 19 cents to $30.85 after the industrial conglomerate said it plans to separate its renewable energy business from power unit after of acquisition energy business from Alstom.

Lockheed Martin Corporation slipped 1.8% or $3.91 to $215.83 after the security and aerospace company secured contract for about $1 billion from the U.S. Defense Department to make 32 C-130J aircrafts to be delivered by 2020.

European Markets

European markers in light trading eased on the final day of the year and resource heavy FTSE 100 index closed down but indexes in Germany and France gained.

In London trading, FTSE 100 index slipped 31.73 or 0.5% to 6,242.32 and in Paris, CAC 40 index dropped 40.08 or 0.9% to 4,637.06.

For the month, FTSE 100 index slumped 2.3% and the CAC 40 index declined 5.6%.

For the quarter, FTSE 100 index jumped 2.9% and the CAC 40 index soared 4.8%.

For the year, FTSE 100 index plunged 4.8% while the CAC 40 index surged 8.5%.

Germany and France advanced in the year but resource heavy U.K. index closed down in 2015. Interbulk sells 6.6% stake to Den Hartogh.

Serco Group Plc fell 0.7% to 94.50 pence after the U.K.-based public services provider confirmed that it had today completed the sale of its majority of offshore private sector business process outsourcing operations.

The sale will reduce the net debt by about £200 million and the remaining net cash consideration of £10 million is due to be received upon the completion of the Middle East transactions.

Julius Baer Gruppe AG soared 4% to 48.66 Swiss francs after the Switzerland-based private banking group lifted the provision linked to the U.S. tax inquiry settlement to $547 million from $350 million.

The bank said it expects to reach a final settlement with the tax authorities in the first-quarter of 2016.

Asian Markets

Markets in Japan were closed today.

Stocks in Mumbai gained and rupee traded near its recent low in thin trading as investors stayed away from the markets in the last week of trading.

Asian markets also closed mixed in quiet trading and mainland China companies in Hong Kong showed some spark.

Rupee strengthened 24 paisa to ₹66.15 against one U.S. dollar.

The Sensex Index rose 157.51 or 0.6% to close at 26,117.54. The CNX Nifty edged up 50.10 or 0.6% to 7,946.35.

GIC Housing Finance plans to buy 16% stake in LIC Nomura mutual fund unit.

National Highways Authority of India awarded first phase development contract for Delhi-Meerut to Welspun Enterprises.