Stock prices for 12 of 17 publicly traded tire manufacturers rose in 2006. Two of the three United States-based tire manufacturers, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Titan International Inc., were among the dozen "winners."
Goodyear's stock price rose 21.2%, from $17.32 on Dec. 30, 2005, to $20.99 on Dec. 29, 2006. Titan's stock price increased 16.8%, from $17.25 to $20.15.
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.'s stock price dropped over the course of the year -- 6.6%, from $15.32 to $14.30.
Ten of 14 overseas stocks increased in value after taking currency exchange rates into consideration. Here are the gains and losses (companies are listed alphabetically):
* Alliance Tire Co., down 17.3% (from $190.26 to $157.35);
* Bridgestone Corp., up 6.4% (from $20.81 to $22.14);
* Continental AG, up 30% (from $89.32 to $116.09);
* Federal Tire Corp., up 61.7% (from $.47 to $.76);
* Groupe Michelin, up 70.2% (from $56.21 to $95.70);
* Hankook Tire Co. Ltd., up 20.1% (from $14.14 to $16.99);
* Kenda Rubber Industrial Corp. Ltd., up 29.2% (from $.48 to $.62);
* Kumho Tire Co., down 13.9% (from $15.73 to $13.54);
* Nankang Rubber Tire Corp. Ltd., up 26.4% (from $1.25 to $1.58);
* Nexen Tire, down 9.9% (from $20.99 to $18.92);
* Nokian Tyres plc, up 60.2% (from $12.69 to $20.33);
* Pirelli & Cie SpA, up 8.7% (from $.92 to $1.00);
* Toyo Tire & Rubber, down 7.9% (from $5.29 to $4.87);
* Yokohama Rubber Co., up 1.5% (from $5.89 to 5.98).
Exchange rates vs. the United States dollar from Dec. 30, 2005, and Dec. 29, 2006, are as follows:
1. Euro: .8446 to .7575.
2. Shekel (Israel): 4.6062 to 4.2159.
3. Taiwanese dollar: 32.83 to 32.584.
4. Won: 1007.46 to 929.97.
5. Yen: 117.94 to $119.01.
Both Continental and Hankook Tire posted significant share increases in 2005, as well. From Dec. 31, 2004, to Dec. 30, 2005, they increased their stock prices 40.8% and 44.3%, respectively.
