Last week marked the final session for July for these summaries. It a largely positive affair for the world’s major stock markets with only the Nasdaq losing ground.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up on last week’s close by 0.29% at 7701.3, making 1.1% in July; the Dax ended at 12561860, 2,4% up on last week’s close and ending the month 2.9% stronger; the CAC was up by 2.1% to end the session at 5511.8, ending July 2.5% higher.
The Dow ended the week up by 1.6% to close at 25451, gaining 4.1% over the month. The Nasdaq composite index was down by 1.1% over the course of the week at 7737.4, but gained 0.63% in July.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up, just, by 0.07% to end the session at 22713, making 4.3% over the month.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, the Yen again enjoyed the best of the trading. The Dollar was marginally weaker against Sterling last week closing at $1.312 to the Pound, a fall of 0.07% on the week, but it made 1.1% in July. The Greenback was stronger against the Euro last week gaining 0.43% to close at $1.1660 to the Euro, it made 0.68% in July. The Dollar weakened against the Japanese currency closing at 110.9 Yen to the Dollar, making a loss of 0.72% during the week, but it strengthened by 0.38% over the month,
The Euro was weaker against the Yen ending at 129.4, a loss of 1.1% over the course of the week and 0.23% on the month. It lost ground against Sterling last week falling by 0.5%, the close saw one £ buying €1.1252, but it made 0.41% over July.
The Euro now buys 1.1589 CHF, down by 0.46% on the week and by 0.29% on the month.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $74.29 per barrel, a rise of 1.7% over the course of the week’s trading, but it lost 3.7% in July. The value of gold was unchanged last week closing at $1222.2 per ounce, a loss of 0.02% on the week, it dipped by 2.6% on the month.
The data that supports this article is drawn from Bloomberg, The Financial Times and X-rates.