Last Friday marked the final trading session for the month of June and the second quarter of 2013. All of the major stock markets ended the week higher, ending the recent Bear run.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up by 1.6%, it closed at 6215.5, it lost 3.1% in June and 0.55% over Q2; the Dax ended at 7959.2 gaining 2.2% over the course of the week, but slipping by 3.6% over the month but making 3.9% in the second quarter; the CAC was up by 2.2% to end the session at 3738.9, it lost 3.5% in June yet ended the quarter up by 2.1%.
The Dow ended the week higher making 0.74% to end at 14910, it slipped by 2.2% in June, but made 2.4% over the quarter. The Nasdaq composite index ended at 3357.3, gaining 1.4% over the course of the week, but falling back by 1.9% over the course of the month – however, the quarter saw it gain 6.2%.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 3.4% to end the session at 13667, it rose by 6.2% over the month and by 6.6% during Q2.
On the currency markets last week, the Dollar saw the best of trading. The Dollar was stronger against Sterling last week, closing at 1.5211 to the Pound; a rise of 1% over the week; 2.2% in June and 0.81% over Q2. The Greenback strengthened against the Euro last week climbing by 0.78% to close at 1.3010, it gained 1.7% on the month and 0.12% over the quarter. The Dollar was stronger against the Japanese currency, closing at 99.21 to the Yen, making a gain of 1.7% during the week, 2% in June and 2.4% over Q2.
The Euro strengthened against the Yen ending at 129.1, a gain of 0.97% over the course of the week, it made 0.29% in June and 2.3% over the second quarter. The Euro made ground against Sterling last week rising by 0.26%; the close saw one £ buying €1.1691, it made 0.52% in June and 0.69% in Q2.
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended higher, at $102.2 per barrel (for August delivery); a rise of 1.2% over the course of the week’s trading but the price weakened by 2.3% in June and by 3.9% over Q2. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1192 per ounce, representing a loss of 8% over previous week’s value, it fell by 14% over the month and a whopping 24% over Q2.
The data that supports this article is drawn from Bloomberg, The Financial Times and X-rates.
Forex Week in Review - July 1, 2013
Dr. Mike Campbell is a British scientist and freelance writer. Mike got his doctorate in Ghent, Belgium and has worked in Belgium, France, Monaco and Austria since leaving the UK. As a writer, he specialises in business, science, medicine and environmental subjects.