Last week was a downbeat affair for the world’s major markets with only the Nikkei making gains over the previous week’s close.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down on last week’s close by 0.42% at 7343.1; the Dax ended at 11963, down by 0.53% on last week’s close; the CAC was down (just) by 0.04% to end the session at 4993.3.
The Dow ended the week down by 0.49% to close at 20903. The Nasdaq composite index was down by 0.15% over the course of the week at 5861.7.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 0.18% to end the session at 19605.
Currency markets review
On the currency markets last week the Euro enjoyed the best of the trading. The Dollar was stronger against Sterling last week closing at $1.2158 to the Pound, a rise of 0.72% on the week. The Greenback weakened against the Euro last week by 1.1% to close at $1.0669 to the Euro. The Dollar strengthened against the Japanese currency closing at 115 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 0.37% during the week.
The Euro was stronger against the Yen ending at 122.7, a rise of 1.5% over the course of the week. It made ground against Sterling last week, rising by 1.8%; the close saw one £ buying €1.1396.
The Euro now buys 1.0779 CHF, a rise of 0.98% on the week.
Commodities market review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $51.37 per barrel, a fall of 8.1% over the course of the week’s trading. The value of gold fell last week closing at $1199.7 per ounce, a loss of 2.8% on the week.