Last week marked the final trading session for March and for Q1. It was a positive affair for the world’s major stock markets.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up on last week’s close by 2% at 7056.6, slipping by 0.19% in March; the Dax ended at 12987, 1.7% up on last week’s close and by 1.5% on the month; the CAC was up by 1.4% to end the session at 5167.3, making 0.6% in March.
The Dow ended the week up by 2.4% to close at 24103, falling by 1.8% over the month. The Nasdaq composite index was up by 1% over the course of the week at 7063.5, slipping by 2.7% in March.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 4.1% to end the session at 21454, making 1.3% in March.
Currency markets review
On the currency markets last week, the Dollar enjoyed the best of the trading. The Dollar was stronger against Sterling last week closing at $1.4025 to the Pound, a gain of 0.88% on the week, but a fall of 1.9% in March. The Greenback strengthened against the Euro last week by 0.35% to close at $1.2317 to the Euro, ending the month unchanged. The Dollar strengthened against the Japanese currency closing at 106.2 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 1.3% during the week and 0.57% in March.
The Euro was stronger against the Yen ending at 130.8, a gain of 0.9% over the course of the week and 0.55% over the month. It made ground against Sterling last week rising by 0.53%, the close saw one £ buying €1.1386, but Sterling gained 1.8% in March.
The Euro now buys 1.1747 CHF, a rise of 0.4% on the week and 1.7% over the month.
Commodities market review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $69.34 per barrel, a fall of 1.6% over the course of the week’s trading, but a gain of 7.7% over the month. The value of gold fell last week closing at $1325 per ounce, a loss of 1.8% on the week but a gain of 0.46% over the month.