Last Friday marked the end of trading for the month of May. With the exception of the Dax, all of the major markets lost ground over the course of the week, but all gained during May.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down by 1.1%, it closed at 6583.1, making 0.95% over the month; the Dax ended at 8348.8, making 0.52% over the course of the week and 2.8% in May; the CAC was down by 0.21% to end the session at 3948.6, but it rose by 0.91% over the month.
The Dow ended the week lower, slipping 1.2% to 15115.6, but gained 0.95% on the month. The Nasdaq composite index ended at 3455.9, falling 0.1% over the course of the week, but making 2.3% during May.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading down by 5.7% to end the session at 13774.5, but still managed a gain of 0.59% on the month.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week, the Euro saw the best of trading. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week, closing at 1.5193 to the Pound; a fall of 0.44% over the week, but it rose by 2.4% in May. The Greenback weakened against the Euro last week slipping by 0.57% to close at 1.2994, but it made 0.89% on the month. The Dollar was weaker against the Japanese currency, closing at 100.48 to the Yen, making a loss of 0.46% during the week, but the currency appreciated by 1.4% over the course of May.
The Euro strengthened against the Yen ending at 130.56, a gain of 0.11% over the course of the week, it ended the month up by 0.47%. The Euro made ground against Sterling last week rising by 0.13%; the close saw one £ buying €1.1692, representing a gain of 1.5% in May.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended lower, at $100.4 per barrel (for July delivery); a fall of 2.2% over the course of the week’s trading and 3.6% on th3 month. The value of gold was higher last week, closing at $1394.5 per ounce, representing a gain of 0.31% over previous week’s value, but it depreciated by 5.1% over the month.