Friday marked the final trading session for August and all of the world’s major stock markets ended the week lower.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down by 1.1%, it closed at 5511.5 and ended the month down by 1.3; the Dax ended the week at 6970.8, which was as it stood the previous week, but it made 1.5% over the month; the CAC was down by 0.59% to end the session at 3413.1, rising by 1.2% in August.
The Dow ended the week lower to the tune of 0.51 % at 13091; it ended the month essentially unchanged. The Nasdaq composite index ended the week at 3067falling back by 0.1% over the course of the week, but it put on 3.3% over the month.
The Nikkei closed down over the course of the week’s trading, shedding 2.6% to end the trading session at 8839.3, but it gained 3.3% during the month.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, Sterling saw the best of trading. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling, shedding 0.50% and closing at 1.55919 to the Pound. The Greenback was stronger against the Euro last week, climbing by 0.45% to close at 1.2539. The Dollar also made ground against the Japanese currency, closing at 80.2935 to the Yen, a gain of 1.9% on the week.
The Euro strengthened against the Yen ending at 100.68, a gain of 1.5% over the course of the week. The Euro was weaker against Sterling over the course of the week, falling by 0.96%; the close saw one £ buying 1.24347.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended lower, closing at $90.68 per barrel (for August delivery); a fall of 7.1% over the course of the week’s trading. Oil has not been cheaper since December 2010. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1565.5 per ounce, representing a loss of 3.8% over last week’s value.