Last week was another mixed affair for the world’s major stock markets with some closing up, some down and some essentially unchanged.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up by 0.32%, it closed at 6567.2; the Dax ended at 9291.8, down by 0.38% on last week’s close; the CAC was down by 1% to end the session at 4189.9.
The Dow ended the week up by 1.3% to close at 17580. The Nasdaq composite index ended up – just - by 0.04% over the course of the week at 4632.5.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 2.8% to end the session at 16880.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, the Dollar again saw the best of the trading. The Dollar was stronger against Sterling last week closing at $1.584 to the Pound; a gain of 0.92% over the week. The Greenback strengthened against the Euro last week by 0.78% to close at $1.242 to the €. The Dollar was stronger against the Japanese currency, closing at 114.7 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 2.3% during the week.
The Euro strengthened against the Yen ending at 142.5, a gain of 1.5% over the course of the week. It made ground against Sterling last week, rising by 0.14%; the close saw one £ buying €1.275.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended lower at $83.1 per barrel (for December delivery), a fall of 3.2% over the course of the week’s trading. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1154.5 per ounce, a loss of 0.84%.