Last week saw the final trading session for July; a month when Greece went to the very edge of leaving the Euro before turning back.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up by 1.8%, it closed at 6696.3 and made 1.7% over the month; the Dax ended at 11309, down by 0.34% on last week’s close, but strengthened by 2.3% in July; the CAC was up by 0.14% to end the session at 5082.6, making 5.7% this month.
The Dow ended the week up by 0.69% to close at 17690, it slipped by 0.23% in July. The Nasdaq composite index ended up by 0.78% over the course of the week at 5128.3, it rose by 2.4% over the month.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 0.20% to end the session at 20585, it rose by 0.22% in July.
Currency markets review
On the currency markets last week, Sterling enjoyed the best of the trading. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week closing at $1.5623 to the Pound, a rise of 0.76%, but it still fell by 0.4% on the month. The Greenback fell against the Euro last week –just- by 0.05% to close at $1.10983 to the €, but it made 1.1% on the month. The Dollar was stronger against the Japanese currency, closing at 123.9 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 0.13% during the week and 0.88% over the course of July.
The Euro was stronger against the Yen ending at 136.91, a gain of 0.1% over the course of the week, but it slipped by 0.12% in July. It lost ground against Sterling last week, falling by 0.68%; the close saw one £ buying €1.4225, it lost 0.7% in July.
The Euro now buys 1.0602 CHF, a gain of 0.38% on the week and 1.1% on the month.
Commodities market review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $52.2 per barrel, a loss of 4.3% over the course of the week’s trading and 13.4% over the month – cheaper petrol just around the corner?. The value of gold was higher last week, closing at $1173.5 per ounce, a rise of 6.9% on the week and 0.55% in July.