FOREX Dec 13th: The Last Week’s Trading Activities In Perspective

It was another good week for the world’s major stock exchanges last week with all of them closing higher. In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE made 1.2%, closing at 5813.0; the Dax made 0.84%, ending the week at 7006.2; the CAC gained 2.9% to end the session at 3857.4.

The Dow ended the week higher to the tune of 0.25%, finishing the trading session at 11410. The Nasdaq ended the week higher, gaining 1.8% to close at 2637.5. Japanese trade figures were revised upwards for Q3 to 4.5% (on an annualised basis).

The Nikkei closed up by 0.33% over the course of the week ending trading at 10212.

On the currency markets last week, Sterling had the best of the trading. The Dollar was lower against Sterling by 1.3% closing at 1.58203 to the Pound. The Greenback was flat against the Euro making 0.02%, to close at 1.3244. The Dollar was also flat against the Japanese currency at 83.6605 to the Yen, a fall of 0.04% on the week.

The Euro closed down against the Yen, just, ending at 110.8, dropping by just 0.05%. The Euro strengthened slipped Sterling over the course of the week by 1.3%. The close saw one £ buying 1.19453€.

On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude was lower, closing at $90.5 per barrel (for January delivery); a drop of 1% over the course of the week’s trading, coming off the highest price since the onset of the financial crisis. The value of gold also dipped, closing at 1379.5 per ounce; representing a fall of 0.41% over last week’s value.