Friday marked the final trading session in May and saw all of the major markets fall with the one exception of the Nikkei.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down by 0.67%, it closed at 6984.4, slipping by 0.89% over the month; the Dax ended at 11414, down by 3.4% on last week’s close and losing 2.5% of its value in May; the CAC was down by 2.6% to end the session at 5007.9, weakening by 1.6% over the month 5142.9.
The Dow ended the week down by 1.22% to close at 18011, down by 0.99% over the course of May. The Nasdaq composite index ended down by 0.38% over the course of the week at 5070, gaining1.3% over the month.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 1.5% to end the session at 20563, rising by 6.1% in May.
Currency markets review
On the currency markets last week the Dollar again enjoyed the best of the trading. The Dollar was stronger against Sterling last week closing at $1.5278 to the Pound, a gain of 2.6%, it rose by 1.1% over the month. The Greenback rose against the Euro last week by 1.4% to close at $1.0989 to the €, rising 2.2% in May. The Dollar was stronger against the Japanese currency, closing at 124 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 2.6% during the week and 3.5% over the month.
The Euro was stronger against the Yen ending at 136.2, a gain of 1.2% over the course of the week and month. It made ground against Sterling last week, rising by 1.2%; the close saw one £ buying €1.3903, but it slipped by 1.1% in May.
The Euro now buys 1.0339 CHF, a fall of 0.8% on the week and month.
Commodities market review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $65.6 per barrel, a rise of 0.29% over the course of the week’s trading and 0.26% over the month. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1190.3 per ounce, a fall of 1.3% on the week, but a gain of 0.29% in May.