Energy companies, banks led rally in ’16

Health care businesses slumped as drug prices saw intense scrutiny.

new york» In 2016, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index jumped 11 percent and bounced back from a flat result the year before, and energy companies and banks made some of the largest gains as investors bet on a stronger economy that will lead to more lending and spending. Health care companies slumped as drug prices came under intense scrutiny.

Here’s a look at how the 11 industry sectors in the S&P 500 fared for the year:

ENERGY: up 25.5 %

At the beginning of the year it looked like 2016 would be another painful one for energy companies. In February, oil traded at $26 a barrel, down from more than $100 in mid-2014. But over the next few months oil prices gradually rose above $50, which reduced the scope of their losses. Late in the year, OPEC and other oil producers agreed to cut their production in 2017. Oil and gas company Oneok more than doubled in value for the year while Chevron had its best year since 1989.

FINANCIALS: up 22%

Banks and other financial companies sank early in 2016 as investors worried about slowing global economic growth. After that, they struggled as the Federal Reserve continually held off on raising interest rates. But the sector caught fire leading up to the election and afterward, as investors felt banks will be major beneficiaries of a Donald Trump administration. Banks stand to benefit from increased government spending and borrowing connected to greater spending on infrastructure, as well as faster eco-

nomic growth, looser regulations and rising interest rates. Huge gains in the weeks after the election took bank stocks to their highest levels since 2008. TELECOMMUNICATIONS: up 18.3%

Phone company stocks surged early in 2016 as the market got off to a historically bad start. Investors bought those stocks, which are often compared to bonds because of their large dividend yields and relative stability. Low bond yields have helped make the small sector attractive as well, drawing in investors who sought income. Later the stocks gradually lost steam as investors saw signs the economy was picking up and hoped for faster growth. Ultimately the stocks bounced back from two years of declines. INDUSTRIALS: up 17.8% Companies that make construction equipment, engines and aircraft also made large gains as the U.S. economy picked up steam. Investors bet that the election of Trump, and a Republican Congress that could approve his spending proposals, will lead to more spending on construction, manufacturing, and transportation. The sector, which includes companies like Boeing and General Electric, reached all-time highs at the end of the year. Caterpillar was one of the best-performing Dow Jones industrial average components in 2016 while farm equipment maker Deere rose to an all-time high. MATERIALS; up 16.1% Companies that make materials like packaging, specialty chemicals and mine for metals also rebounded, partly because precious metals prices bounced back in 2016 after several years of losses. Copper, which is linked to expectations for economic growth because of its uses in construction, climbed 18 percent. That led to big gains for gold and copper producer Freeport-McMoran and gold miner Newmont Mining. Building materials companies like Martin Marietta and steel maker Nucor also climbed. TECHNOLOGY: up 14.1% Technology companies rose for the eighth year in a row. The stocks surged this summer as the U.S. economy appeared to gain strength, while critical overseas markets also looked healthier. The technology sector didn’t do as well following the election, however, as investors wondered if Trump’s trade and immigration policies and his inflammatory rhetoric would hurt their sales overseas. Graphics processor company Nvidia more than tripled in value and performed better than any other S&P 500 stock, while Hewlett-Packard’s breakup left two stocks that both did well.

UTILITIES: up 12.4% With government bond yields at their lowest levels in many years and investors nervous about the state of the economy, utility companies were in the unusual position of leading the market in early 2016. Electric and gas utilities were a safe harbor for worried investors. But as confidence in the economy picked up, they lost that leadership position. Overall they recovered the previous year’s losses and rose a bit more than the S&P 500. CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY: up 6.1%

Consumer discretionary stocks, including retailers, media companies and other companies that rely on consumer spending, rose for the eighth year in a row as shoppers remained a critical part of the still-growing U.S. economy. But the gains were a bit smaller than last year. Athletic apparel makers Nike and Under Armour both slumped as their competition appeared to grow more costly, while fallout from food safety scares hurt Chipotle Mexican Grill. CONSUMER STAPLES: up 3.3%

Companies that make and sell common household goods are generally considered a safe investment. But in 2016, investors preferred stocks that will benefit more from faster economic growth. The stocks did rise for the eighth consecutive year, however. Food distributor Sysco climbed 36 percent after it acquired European competitor Brakes, and Walmart made a partial recovery after a 27-percent drop last year. REAL ESTATE: down 0.9% Real estate has been one of the strongest-performing asset classes in recent years. That’s been good news for real estate investment trusts, which were split off as a separate sector this year. Investors poured money into REITs starting in February, when the market reached its recent lows. But starting in the summer, faster growth in the U.S. economy made other types of investments more appealing. HEALTH CARE: down 3.4% Drug makers were pummeled in 2016 as their pricing strategies came under repeated criticism and Congressional scrutiny. Investors wondered if the government will intervene to reduce those hikes. Biotechnology companies like Vertex and Alexion were hit especially hard. Mylan fell during a controversy over the rising price of its EpiPen allergy shot, and Endo slumped thanks to legal costs and weak earnings. Some insurance companies, including United-Health and Aetna, traded higher. One reason is that Wall Street thinks the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act will strengthen their profits. Overall, health care stocks fell for the first time since 2008.