Last Friday marked the final trading session for October from the perspective of these summaries.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up by 1.5%, it closed at 6721.3 and strengthened by 4.1% over the month; the Dax ended at 8985.7 rising by 1.4% over the course of the week and by 4.2% in October; the CAC was down by 0.32% to end the session at 4272.3, but it still strengthened by 2.6% over the month.
The Dow ended the week higher, gaining 1.1% to end at 15570 and made 3.3% in October. The Nasdaq composite index ended at 3943.5, rising by 0.75% over the course of the week and by 3.6% during the month.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading down by 3.3% to end the session at 14088, but still gaining 0.46% during October.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, the Euro saw the best of the trading. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week, closing at $1.6215 to the Pound; a fall of 0.19% over the week and by0.93 over the course of the month. The Greenback weakened against the Euro last week by 0.82% to close at $1.3807 to the € and shed 1.7% of its value over the month. The Dollar was weaker against the Japanese currency, closing at 97.3 Yen to the Dollar, making a slip of 0.51% during the week, but it ended the month essentially flat, gaining 0.06%.
The Euro rose against the Yen ending at 134.3, a gain of 0.3% over the course of the week and it strengthened by 1.7% during October. It made ground against Sterling last week rising by 0.63%; the close saw one £ buying €1.1744 and it gained 0.72% over the month.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended lower, at $106.9 per barrel (for December delivery); a fall of 2.7% over the course of the week’s trading and 2.3% over the month. The value of gold was higher last week, closing at $1347.8 per ounce, representing a rise of 2.4% over the previous week’s value and it rose by 2.9% during October.