Last week saw all the major markets making ground.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up by 0.42%, it closed at 6844.5 and made 0.32% in May; the Dax ended at 9943.3, up by 1.8% on last week’s close and putting on 4.1% over the month; the CAC was up by 0.59% to end the session at 4519.6, gaining 1.4% over the course of the month.
The Dow ended the week up by 0.67% to close at 16717, making 1.2% in May. The Nasdaq composite index ended up by 1.4% over the course of the week at 4242.6, making 2.9% over the month/
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 1.2% to end the session at 14632 and ending the month 1.2% higher.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week there was very little change with currencies trading in tight bands. The Dollar saw the best of the trading. The Dollar was stronger against Sterling last week, closing at $1.6764 to the Pound; a gain of 0.61% over the week and 0.58% 0n the month. The Greenback was unchanged against the Euro last week gaining 0.04% to close at $1.3641 to the €, making 1.6% in May. The Dollar was unchanged against the Japanese currency, closing at 101.8 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 0.02% during the week, but slipping by 0.56% during the month.
The Euro was unchanged against the Yen ending at 138.8, a loss of 0.02% over the course of the week and 2.2% over the month. It made ground against Sterling last week rising by 0.57%; the close saw one £ buying €1.2289, but weakened by 1% in May.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended lower at $109.4 per barrel (for July delivery), a fall of 1% over the course of the week’s trading, but it ended the month 0.76% higher. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1250.5 per ounce, representing a loss of 3.2% over the previous week’s value and 2.4% in May.