Friday marked the final trading session for February and again, the week saw mixed fortunes for the world’s major exchanges.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was lower by 0.41%, it closed at 6809.7, but made 3.6% over the month; the Dax ended at 9692.1, up by 0.36% on last week’s close, but making 4.2% for the month; the CAC was up by 0.62% to end the session at 4408.1, ending February up by 4.3%.
The Dow ended the week up by 1.4% to end at 16322 having risen by 3.3% over the course of the month. The Nasdaq composite index ended up by 1.1% over the course of the week at 4308.1, making 4.4% during February.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading down by a 0.17% to end the session at 14841, but making 2.6% in the month.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, Sterling saw the best of the trading. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week, closing at $1.6747 to the Pound; a loss of 0.73% over the week and 2.2% over the month. The Greenback weakened against the Euro last week by 0.6% to close at $1.3807 to the €, having slipped by 1.4% during February. The Dollar was dipped against the Japanese currency, closing at 102.1 Yen to the Dollar, making a loss of 0.62% during the week and falling back by 0.19% over the month.
The Euro was essentially unchanged against the Yen ending at 141, a fall of 0.02% over the course of the week, but it strengthened by 1.2% over the month. It lost ground against Sterling last week falling by 0.13%; the close saw one £ buying €1.2130, falling by 0.73% over the course of Febuary.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended lower, at $109.1 per barrel (for April delivery); a fall of 0.71% over the course of the week’s trading and 0.46% on the month. The value of gold was higher last week, closing at $1326.5 per ounce, representing a rise of 0.25% over the previous week’s value and 5.3% on the month.