Last week was a negative affair for the world’s major stock markets with all losing ground. It marked the end of the week, month and quarter.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down on last week’s close by 0.59% at 7636, it lost 0.84% in June; the Dax ended at 12306, 2.2% down on last week’s close and by 3.3% over the month; the CAC was down by 1.2% to end the session at 5323.5, falling by 2.6% over June.
The Dow ended the week down by 1.3% to close at 24271, ending the month down by 1.5%. The Nasdaq composite index was down by 2.4% over the course of the week at 7510.3, ending June down by 0.58%.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading down by 0.94% to end the session at 22305 and the month up by 0.6%
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 $1.3196 to the Pound, a rise of 0.45% on the week, rising by 1.2% over the month. The Greenback was weaker against the Euro last week falling by 0.39% to close at $1.1676 to the Euro, ending the month essentially unchanged (+0.02%). The Dollar strengthened against the Japanese currency closing at 110.7 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 0.67% during the week and 1.1% in June.
The Euro was stronger against the Yen ending at 129.3, a gain of 1.1% over the course of the week and 1.1% in June. It made ground against Sterling last week rising by 0.84%, the close saw one £ buying €1.1302, rising by 1.2% over the month.
The Euro now buys 1.1586 CHF, up by 0.62% on the week and by 0.54% over the month.
Commodities market review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $79.23 per barrel, a rise of 4.7% over the course of the week’s trading and by 3.2% over the month. The value of gold fell last week closing at $1251.4 per ounce, a fall of 1.5% on the week and by 3.2% over June.