US Close 18 Dec 15: DOW off 250pts as investors fear higher US rates in 2016.

 US sharemarkets fell on Thursday, dragged down by energy and material stocks. The slide in crude oil prices resulted in Chevron sliding by 2.5% while Exxon lost 1%. Newmont mining lost 7.5% following the sharp slide in gold prices. At the close of trade, the Dow Jones index was down 253 points or 1.4% with the S&P 500 down 1.5% while the Nasdaq lost 69 points or 1.4%.

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