The Kiplinger 25: How We Did in a Very Contrary Year

In most gardens, some plants are in full bloom, while others wither. Same with investing: Stocks may zig, for example, as bonds zag. Last year, U.S. stocks zigged up ... then down, then up again. Over the 12-month stretch ending March 15, Standard & Poor's 500-stock index returned 4.8%.

But foreign markets couldn't hold up under the weight of a stronger dollar, trade tensions and slowing global growth. The