Last week was another mixed affair for the world’s major stock markets.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down on last week’s close by 0.64% at 7380.6; the Dax ended at 123413, 0.8% up on last week’s close; the CAC was down by 0.37% to end the session at 5548.8l.
The Dow ended the week down by 0.14% to close at 26505. The Nasdaq composite index was up by 0.22% over the course of the week at 8164.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading unchanged to end the session at 22259.
Currency markets review
On the currency markets last week, the Yen again enjoyed the best of the trading. The Dollar was stronger against Sterling last week closing at $1.2931 to the Pound, a gain of 0.53% on the week and 0.61% on the month. The Greenback was stronger against the Euro last week, rising by 0.8% to close at $1.1156 to the Euro, making 0.55% in April.
The Dollar weakened against the Japanese currency closing at 111.6 Yen to the Dollar, making a loss of 0.26% during the week, but ending the month virtually unchanged, down by just 0.06%.
The Euro was weaker against the Yen ending at 124.5, a loss of 1.1% over the course of the week and 0.63% on the month. It was weaker against Sterling last week, the close saw one £ buying €1.1592, a loss of 0.27% on the week, but up, just, by 0.06% over the month.
The Euro now buys 1.1367 CHF, a loss of 0.37% on the week, but a strengthening by 1.3% over April.
Commodities market review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $71.5 per barrel, a fall of 0.65% over the course of the week’s trading, but it ended the month up by 1.7%. The value of gold was higher last week closing at $1284.9 per ounce, a rise of 0.93% on the week, but a fall of 0.43% in April.