(Updates to close)
SYDNEY, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended the year more than 2 percent down, disappointing investors for the second year in a row as slumping iron ore and metal prices hit bluechip mining stocks while onerous capital rules hurt the heavyweight banking sector. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N14K03X
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO slipped 0.5 percent on the last trading day of the year on Thursday to 5,295.9 points, staying near a 2-month high hit in the previous session. The benchmark rose 1 percent in the previous session.
The index has delivered its first annual fall since 2011, having only added a meagre 1 percent in 2014, resulting in almost no net change in the benchmark over the past two years.
In contrast to its Australian cousin, New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 has made successive record highs and ended the year up a whopping 13.6 percent, its fourth annual gain.
The New Zealand index rose 0.08 percent or 4.87 points to finish the session at a record close of 6,324.26.
Analysts maintain a bullish long-term view of the Australian index on the back of the weak Aussie dollar. The benchmark is expected to rebound in 2016 to 5,625 points, a Reuters poll found. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL3N13Y01B
Trading resumes on Monday in Australia. New Zealand stock markets re-open on Tuesday.
Here are the top 20 winners and losers for ASX200 in 2015 -
WINNERS-
Name
RIC
YTD (%) S&P/ASX 200 Index
-2.13 Blackmores Ltd
519.44 APN Outdoor Group Ltd
140.90 Evolution Mining Ltd
130.49 Mayne Pharma Group Ltd
123.38 Domino's Pizza
129.17 Enterprises Ltd
Australian Pharmaceutical API.AX
124.42 Industries Ltd
BT Investment Management
91.65 Ltd
Northern Star Resources
86.58 Ltd
Burson Group Ltd
77.12 Nufarm Ltd
76.37 Isentia Group Ltd
74.36 Mantra Group Ltd
74.14 Treasury Wine Estates Ltd TWE.AX
77.09 Qantas Airways Ltd
70.05 Magellan Financial Group
65.09 Ltd
Super Retail Group Ltd
59.58 Henderson Group PLC
55.67 Aristocrat Leisure Ltd
55.64 TechnologyOne Ltd
55.00 Estia Health Ltd
53.59 LOSERS
Name
RIC
YTD (%)
Slater & Gordon Ltd
-86.25 Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd LNG.AX
-66.94 AWE Ltd
-61.09 Mesoblast Ltd
-57.86 Origin Energy Ltd
-53.96 WorleyParsons Ltd
-54.07 Beach Energy Ltd
-53.11 Whitehaven Coal Ltd
-50.00 Primary Health Care Ltd
-50.32 Santos Ltd
-48.78 South32 Ltd
-47.07 Mineral Resources Ltd
-47.09 Spotless Group Holdings
-43.46 Ltd
Independence Group NL
-42.66 Seven West Media Ltd
-40.53 Sims Metal Management Ltd SGM.AX
-39.82 Western Areas Ltd
-40.27 Cabcharge Australia Ltd
-34.79 Alumina Ltd
-35.65 APN News & Media Ltd
-37.13
(Editing by Sam Holmes)