Last week was again largely positive for the major markets with only the UK’s FTSE losing ground. It marked the final trading session of November.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down by 0.42%, it closed at 6722.6, but made 2.7% over the course of the month; the Dax ended at 9980.9, up by 2.6% on last week’s close and by 7% in November; the CAC was up by 0.99% to end the session at 4390.2, rising by 3.7 over the month.
The Dow ended the week up by 0.1% to close at 17828, rising by 2.8% in November. The Nasdaq composite index ended up by 1.7% over the course of the week at 4791.6, making 3.5% over the month.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 0.59% to end the session at 17460 making 6.4% in November.
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 $1.5708 to the Pound, a fall of 0.33%, but it made 1.8% over the month. The Greenback weakened against the Euro last week by 0.42% to close at $1.2447 to the €, but rose by 0.58% in November. The Dollar was stronger against the Japanese currency, closing at 118.3 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 0.38% during the week and rising by 5.4% on the month.
The Euro strengthened against the Yen ending at 147.2, a gain of 0.89% over the course of the week, rising by 4.8% over the month. It made ground against Sterling last week, rising by 0.2%; the close saw one £ buying €1.2620, it rose by1.2% in November.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at a fresh 4 year low at $70.2 per barrel (for January delivery), a fall of 12.7% over the course of the week’s trading on the news that OPEC would not cut output, it slumped by 18.3% over the month. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1182.8 per ounce, a loss of 1.7%, but it ended the month up by 1.6%.