Friday marked the final trading session for the month from the perspective of these summaries. At the end of last week’s trading, all of the world’s major markets ended higher.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up by 2.2%, it closed at 6426.4 and made 2.8% over the course of April; the Dax ended at 7814.8, rising by 4.8% over the course of the week and making 2% on the month; the CAC was up by 4.3% to end the session at 3810.1, ending the month up by 4%.
The Dow ended the week higher, climbing by 1.1% to 14712.6; it ended April stronger by 1%. The Nasdaq composite index ended at 3279.3, making 2.3% over the course of the week and 2.4% over the month.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 4.3% to end the session at 13884, it made an impressive 8.2% in April.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, Sterling saw the best of trading, narrowly shading out the Yen. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week, closing at 1.5477 to the Pound; a loss of 1.5% over the week, the Pound gained 0.9% during the month. The Greenback strengthened against the Euro last week rising by 0.31% to close at 1.3024 and was unchanged over the course of the month. The Dollar was weaker against the Japanese currency, closing at 97.90 to the Yen, recording a loss of 1.4% on the week, but a gain of 1.1% in April.
The Euro weakened against the Yen ending at 127.5, a loss of 1.7% over the course of the week, but it strengthened by 1% over the month. The Euro lost ground against Sterling last week slipping 1.8%; the close saw one £ buying €1.1883 and it shed 0.93% over the month.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended higher, at $103.2 per barrel (for June delivery); a rise of 3.5% over the course of the week’s trading, but it dipped by 3% in April. The value of gold was higher last week, closing at $1471.5 per ounce, representing a rise of 4.7% over last week’s value, but it fell by 6.2% over the course of the month.