By: DailyForex.com
Last Friday marked the final trading session of the week, the month, the quarter and the year from the perspective of these summaries. With many traders taking advantage of the end of year holidays, trading volumes are always low at this time of year, markets are nervous about the fiscal cliff drama which is set to go to the wire – or over it - and all of the majors ended the week lower except for the Nikkei.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down by 0.25%, it closed at 5925.4, over the month, it made 0.19% and made 0.93% over Q4, putting on 4.9% in 2012. The Dax ended at 7612.4, slipping by 0.31% over the course of the week, but it gained 1.3% in December, 2.9% over the quarter and a whopping 25.7% over the course of the year. The CAC was down by 1.1% to end the session at 3620.3, but it made 0.4% on the month, 4.7% over the quarter and a more than respectable 15.4% on the year.
The Dow ended the week weaker to the tune of 1.9% at 12938.1 it slipped by 1.7% in December and by 4.9% over Q4, but put on 4.7% over 2012. The Nasdaq composite index ended at 2960.3, falling 2% over the course of the week, December saw it shed 0.6% and 5.6% over the quarter, but it put on 10.7% for the year.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading higher, gaining an impressive 4.6% to end the session at 10395.2 – despite gloomy economic data. It made 9.1% in December and ended the quarter up by a very pleasing 17.3% giving it the best annual performance which saw the market put on 23.9% over the course of 2012.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, the Euro saw the best of trading. The Dollar was flat against Sterling last week closing at 1.61566 to the Pound, a rise of 0.07%, it fell by 0.8% on the month, made 0.24% on the quarter, but weakened by 4.5% on the year. The Greenback weakened against the Euro last week, losing 0.41% to close at 1.32196; it lost 2.6% on the month and 1.3% on the quarter with its value depreciating by 3.5% over the year. The Dollar made ground against the Japanese currency, closing at 86.125 to the Yen, a gain of 2.4% on the week, it made 4.3% in December, ended the quarter up by 9.5% and strengthened by 11.6% over 2012.
The Euro strengthened against the Yen ending at 113.849, a gain of 2.8% over the course of the week, 7% for the month; 10.9% for Q4 and 15.5% over the course of the year. The Euro rose against Sterling over the course of the week by 0.48%; the close saw one £ buying €1.22217, rallying by 1.7% in December and by 1.5% in Q4 – over the course of the year, it fell by 1% however.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended higher, closing at $110.6 per barrel (for February delivery); a rise of 1.5% over the course of the week’s trading. It was up by 3.4% in December, but fell by 1.1% in Q4 and by 2.2% over the year. The value of gold was higher last week, closing at $1657.5 per ounce, representing a gain of 0.36% over last week’s value. It weakened by 2.6% in December and shed 7.1% of its value over Q4, but the precious metal still appreciated by 2.5% during the year.