Friday marked the final trading session for the month of November. With the exception of London’s FTSE, the major markets closed higher.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down by 1.9%, it closed at 6550.6, losing 2.7% during the month; the Dax ended at 9405.3 rising by 2% over the course of the week and 4.4% in November; the CAC was up by 0.39% to end the session at 4278.5, making 0.52% on the month.
The Dow ended the week higher, gaining 0.15% to end at 16086, it made 3% in November. The Nasdaq composite index ended at 4059.9, rising by 1.7% over the course of the week and making 3.5% during the month.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 1.8% to end the session at 15662, putting on 10.3% over the course of November.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, Sterling again saw the best of the trading. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week, closing at $1.6372 to the Pound; a loss of 0.98% over the week and 2.9% over the month. The Greenback weakened against the Euro last week by 0.39% to close at $1.3603 to the €, falling by 0.89% in November. The Dollar was stronger against the Japanese currency, closing at 102.5 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 1.2% during the week and strengthening by 3.7% over the month.
The Euro rose against the Yen ending at 139.4, a gain of 1.5% over the course of the week and 4.7% over the month. It lost ground against Sterling last week falling by 0.58%; the close saw one £ buying €1.2035, a loss of 1.9% during November.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended lower, at $110.7 per barrel (for January delivery); a fall of 0.33% over the course of the week’s trading, but it rose by 4.5% over the month. The value of gold was higher last week, closing at $1253 per ounce, representing a gain of 0.54% over the previous week’s value, however, it weakened by 4.1% during November.