Last week was the first trading session of 2018, but many investors will have enjoyed an extended holiday. This summary looks at what happened last week and over the last year.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up on last week’s close by 0.47% at 7724.2, it made 7.1% over 2017; the Dax ended at 13320, 3.1% up on last week’s close, it rose by 14.8% over the year; the CAC was up by 3% to end the session at 5470.8 and it gained 11.4% over 2017.
The Dow ended the week up by 2.3% to close at 25296, it made 27% over the course of the year. The Nasdaq composite index was up by 3.4% over the course of the week at 7136.6, it made 29% in 2017.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 4.2% to end the session at 23714, it made 22% over the course of last year.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, the Pound enjoyed the best of the trading, but the Euro fared best over the full year. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week closing at $1.3562 to the Pound, a fall of 0.29% on the week, it slipped by 10.2% over the full year. The Greenback weakened against the Euro last week by 0.16% to close at $1.1240 to the Euro, slipping by 14% in 2017. The Dollar strengthened against the Japanese currency closing at 113.2 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 0.42% during the week, but it lost 3.2% over the year. The Dollar weakened by 6.2% over 2017 against the Yuan.
The Euro was stronger against the Yen ending at 136.3, a gain of 0.56% over the course of the week and 10% in 2017. It lost ground against Sterling last week falling by 0.14%, the close saw one £ buying €1.1265, however the Euro strengthened by 3.4% against Sterling over the year.
The Euro now buys 1.1739 CHF, a gain of 0.22% on the week, a gain of 9.5% over the year.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $67.62 per barrel, a rise of 1.5% over the course of the week’s trading and 18% over the year. The value of gold rose last week closing at $1319.4 per ounce, a gain of 1.3% on the week and 12.6% in 2017.