Last week was a short trading week in many parts of the world because of the Easter holiday. It also marked the end of March and the first quarter of 2013. The Eurozone exchanges fell; Japan’s Nikkei was flat and the American markets made modest gains over the course of the week’s trading.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up by 0.3%, it closed at 6411.7 making 0.52% on the month and 5.3% over the quarter; the Dax ended at 7795.3, slipping by 1.5% over the course of the week, it made 1.1% in March and 0.24% in Q1; the CAC was down by 1.0% to end the session at 3731.4, making 0.85% over the month but ending the quarter essentially unchanged (up 0.04%).
The Dow ended the week higher by 0.43% at 14574, gaining 3.4% on the month and 8.5% over the quarter. The Nasdaq composite index ended at 3262.7, making 0.55% over the course of the week and gaining 2.9% in March and 5.2% in Q1.
The Nikkei 225 was essentially unchanged, down by 0.02% on the week, but it made 6.3% in March and an impressive 15.4% on the quarter; it ended the week’s trading session at 12336.
On the currency markets last week, the Yen saw the best of trading. The Dollar was stronger against Sterling last week, closing at 1.5192 to the Pound; a gain of 0.32% over the week, it lost 1.8% during the month, but finished the quarter up by 5.3%. The Greenback strengthened against the Euro last week making 1.4% to close at 1.2820, it made 1.3% in March and 1.8% in Q1. The Dollar was weaker against the Japanese currency, closing at 94.12 to the Yen, recording a loss of 0.43% on the week, it lost 2% during March, but ended Q1 up by 6.8%.
The Euro weakened against the Yen ending at 120.7, a loss of 1.8% over the course of the week, it dipped by 3.3% in March, but still put on 4.9% during Q1. The Euro lost ground against Sterling last week by 1.1%; the close saw one £ buying €1.1750, it lost 3.1% during march but still rallied by 3.6% over the quarter.
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended higher, closing at $109.7 per barrel (for May delivery); a rise of 1.9% over the course of the week’s trading, but it dipped by 0.64% in March and by 1.5% over Q1. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1598.3 per ounce, representing a loss of 0.59% over last week’s value, it strengthened by 1% in March but fell by 3% over the quarter.