Last week was a mixed affair for the world’s major markets. The oil price consolidated further, leading some analysts to speculate that the price has bottomed out.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down by 0.96%, it closed at 6139.8; the Dax ended at 9831.3, up, just, by 0.07% on last week’s close; the CAC was up by 0.81% to end the session at 4492.8.
The Dow ended the week up by 1.2% to close at 17213. The Nasdaq composite index ended up by 0.67% over the course of the week at 4748.5.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading down by 0.45% to end the session at 16939.
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 $1.4426 to the Pound, a loss of 1.4% on the week. The Greenback fell against the Euro last week by 1.5% to close at $1.1184 to the €. The Dollar was weaker against the Japanese currency, closing at 113.7 Yen to the Dollar, making a loss of 0.21% during the week.
The Euro was stronger against the Yen ending at 127.1, a gain of 1.3% over the course of the week. It made ground against Sterling last week, rising by 0.13%; the close saw one £ buying €1.2899.
The Euro now buys 1.0979 CHF, a gain of 0.44% on the week.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $40.39 per barrel, a gain of 4.4% over the course of the week’s trading. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1249.4 per ounce, a fall of 0.84% on the week.