Last week was the final trading session for March and Q1 (which I’ll review next week). It was a mixed affair for the world’s major markets.
In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down on last week’s close by 0.19% at 7322.9, it fell 0.7% in March; the Dax ended at 12313, up by 2.1% on last week’s close and by 2.4% on the month; the CAC was up by 2% to end the session at 5122.5 and by 2.6% in March.
The Dow ended the week up by 1.5% to close at 20663, however it slipped by 1.6% over the course of the month. The Nasdaq composite index was up by 1.4% over the course of the week at 5911.7, it made o.7% in March.
The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading down by 1.8% to end the session at 19263, it fell by 3.4% over the month.
Currency Markets Review
On the currency markets last week Sterling enjoyed the best of the trading. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week closing at $1.2534 to the Pound, a fall of 0.36% on the week and 2.4% in March. The Greenback strengthened against the Euro last week by 0.98% to close at $1.0698 to the Euro, but slipped by 1.4% on the month. The Dollar strengthened against the Japanese currency closing at 111.4 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 0.34% during the week, but slipping by 2.8% in March.
The Euro was weaker against the Yen ending at 119.2, a fall of 0.63% over the course of the week and 1.4% in March. It lost ground against Sterling last week, falling by 1.4%; the close saw one £ buying €1.1717 and fell by 0.97 on the month.
The Euro now buys 1.0698 CHF, a fall of 0.1% on the week, but it made 0.22% in March.
Commodities Market Review
On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $53.53 per barrel, a rise of 5.4% over the course of the week’s trading, but it eased by 4.2% on the month. The value of gold slipped (just) last week closing at $1247.4 per ounce, a fall of 0.07% on the week, but it made 1.1% in March.