Last week was a mixed affair for the world’s major markets on a trading week foreshortened by the Easter holidays.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down by 0.31%, it closed at 6833.5; the Dax ended at 11967, up by 0.83% on last week’s close; the CAC was up by 0.8% to end the session at 5074.1.
The Dow ended the week up by 0.29% to close at 17763. The Nasdaq composite index ended virtually flat, down by 0.09% over the course of the week at 4886.9
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 0.77% to end the session at 19435.
Currency markets review
On the currency markets last week the Euro enjoyed the best of the trading. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week closing at $1.4915 to the Pound, a loss of 0.41%. The Greenback slipped against the Euro last week by 0.95% to close at $1.099 to the €. The Dollar was weaker against the Japanese currency, closing at 119 Yen to the Dollar, making a loss of 0.3% during the week.
The Euro strengthened against the Yen ending at 130.7, a gain of 0.78% over the course of the week. It made ground against Sterling last week, rising by 0.7%; the close saw one £ buying €1.3572.
The Euro now buys 1.0450 CHF, a marginal loss of 0.04% on the week.
Commodities market review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $55 per barrel, a fall of 2.6% over the course of the week’s trading. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1198.5 per ounce, a loss of 0.39% on the week.