The final trading session for December and 2019 from the perspective of these reports has come and gone. It marks the end of the month, the quarter and the decade
The major markets all made ground last week but owing to the festive period, trading will have been light.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up on last week’s close by 0.82% at 7644.9, it gained 5.6% in December; the Dax ended at 13337, up by 0.14% on last week’s close and by 1.3% on the month; the CAC was up by 0.26% to end the session at 6037.4, making 2.8% on the month.
The Dow ended the week up by 0.67% to close at 28645, making 2.3% over December. The Nasdaq composite index was up by 0.91% over the course of the week at 9006.6, it gained 4% over the month.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up, just, by 0.09% to end the session at 23838, it gained 2.1% during December.
Currency markets review
On the currency markets last week, the Euro enjoyed the best of the trading. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week closing at $1.3090 to the Pound, a loss of 0.41% on the week, but December saw it strengthen by 0.26%. The Greenback was weaker against the Euro last week falling by 0.88% to close at $1.1174 to the Euro, it fell by 1.1% over the month.
The Dollar was marginally stronger against the Japanese currency closing at 109.5 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 0.05% on the week, but ending December 0.77% stronger.
The Euro was stronger against the Yen ending at 122.4 a rise of 0.92% over the course of the week and 1.9% over the month. It was stronger against Sterling last week, the close saw one £ buying €1.1714, a rise of 0.47 and 1.4% on the week in December.
The Euro now buys 1.0886 CHF, a marginal gain of 0.05% on the week, but it slipped by 0.59% over the month.
Commodities market review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $68.16 per barrel, a rise of 3.1% over the course of the week’s trading and 5.9% in December. The value of gold was higher last week closing at $1509.3 per ounce, a rise of 2.4% over the week and 3.4% over the month.