Last week saw all the world’s major stock markets losing ground. It marked the final session of the month and the quarter.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down by 2.8%, it closed at 6649 and fell by 3% on the month and 3.2% on Q3; the Dax ended at 9490.6, down by 3.2% on last week’s close and by 5.2% in the first quarter – it did put on 0.14% in September; the CAC was down by 1.5% to end the session at 4394.8 and fell by 2% over the month and 1.7% in the third quarter.
The Dow ended the week down by 0.96% to close at 17113, it slipped by 0.14% in September, but made 0.26% in Q3. The Nasdaq composite index ended down by 1.5% over the course of the week to stand at 4512.2, losing 1.5% over the month and gaining 0.59% in the third quarter.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading down by 0.56% to end the session at 16230, in contrast with the other majors, it put on 3.6% in September and 5.1% over the third quarter.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, the Dollar saw the best of the trading. The Dollar was stronger against Sterling last week closing at $1.6256 to the Pound; a gain of 0.37% over the week and 0.33% over the month, it appreciated by5.3% over Q3. The Greenback strengthened against the Euro last week by 1.2% to close at $1.2685 to the €, making 2.1% in September and 6.7% over Q3. The Dollar was stronger against the Japanese currency, closing at 109.3 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 0.33% during the week, it gained 4.2% in September and 7.1% in Q3.
The Euro weakened against the Yen ending at 138.7, a loss of 0.85% over the course of the week and 0.12% in Q3, but it made 2% in September. It lost ground against Sterling last week slipping by 0.82%; the close saw one £ buying €1.2815, it fell by 1.8% on the month and by 1.5% over the quarter.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended lower at $97 per barrel (for November delivery), a fall of 1.4% over the course of the week’s trading and by 3.8% over the month. Crude oil prices fell by 12.3% over Q3. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1213.8 per ounce, a loss of 0.49%, it fell by 4.1% in September and shed 8% of its value over Q3.