The end of the European heat wave this week marked a downturn for most of the world’s major stock markets with only France’s CAC40 bucking the trend.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down by 0.97%, it closed at 6583.4; the Dax ended at 8338.3 slipping by 0.82% over the course of the week; the CAC was up by 0.76% to end the session at 4076.6.
The Dow ended the week lower shedding 1.5% to end at 15425.5. The Nasdaq composite index ended at 3660.1, falling by 0.8% over the course of the week.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading down by 5.9% to end the session at 13615.2.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, the Yen saw the best of trading. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week, closing at $1.5505 to the Pound; a loss of 1.5% over the week. The Greenback weakened against the Euro last week falling by 0.51% to close at $1.3337 to the €. The Dollar was also weaker against the Japanese currency, closing at 96.29 Yen to the Dollar, making a loss of 2.8% during the week.
The Euro weakened against the Yen ending at 128.4, a loss of 2.3% over the course of the week. It also lost ground against Sterling last week falling 1%; the close saw one £ buying €1.1626.Commodities Markets in Review
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended lower, at $108.2 per barrel (for September delivery); a fall of 0.67% over the course of the week’s trading. The value of gold was marginally lower last week, closing at $1309 per ounce, representing a loss of 0.02% over the previous week’s value.
The data that supports this article is drawn from Bloomberg, The Financial Times and X-rates.