Last week saw all of the world’s major markets regaining all of the ground that they lost last week, but they are still well below where they were before the “China Crisis” kicked off.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up by 1.2%, it closed at 6117.8; the Dax ended at 10124, up by 0.85% on last week’s close; the CAC was up by 0.57% to end the session at 4548.7.
The Dow ended the week up by 2.1% to close at 16433. The Nasdaq composite index ended up by 3% over the course of the week at 4822.3.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 2.7% to end the session at 18264.
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 $1.5429 to the Pound, a fall of 1.5%. The Greenback fell against the Euro last week by 2% to close at $1.1339 to the €. The Dollar was stronger against the Japanese currency, closing at 120.7 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 1.3% during the week.
The Euro was stronger against the Yen ending at 136.8, a gain of 3.4% over the course of the week. It made ground against Sterling last week, rising by 0.45%; the close saw one £ buying €1.3607.
The Euro now buys 1.1036 CHF, a gain of 1.8% on the week.
Commodities market review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $48.1 per barrel, a fall of 3% over the course of the week’s trading. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1103 per ounce, a fall of 1.6% on the week.