Stock market's continued climb

Stock market's continued climb

Plenty of bears predicted doom for stocks as 2014 began. And yet the market hit new highs all year, surprising even the most optimistic investor. Experts said bonds were in for a terrible year as well, and yet bonds rose by nearly 6 percent.

Even though the Standard & Poor's 500 index has turned down in December, it's still up nearly 8 percent for the year. Investors celebrated low interest rates, a steadily improving economy, decent job growth and stronger corporate earnings.

December's downturn is worrying investors, however. Some fear that we could be ending the year on a sour note that could cast a long shadow on 2015.