Last week was a negative affair for the world’s major markets with all but the Nikkei losing ground.

In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was down on last week’s close by 1.7% at 7433; the DAX ended at 13127, 2.6% down on last week’s close; the CAC was down by 2.5% to end the session at 5380.7.

The Dow ended the week down by 0.5% to close at 23422. The Nasdaq Composite Index was down by 0.2% over the course of the week at 6750.9.

The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading up by 0.63% to end the session at 22681.

Currency markets review

On the currency markets last week, the Pound enjoyed the best of the trading. The Dollar was weaker against Sterling last week closing at $1.321 to the Pound, a fall of 1.1% on the week. The Greenback weakened against the Euro last week by 0.34% to close at $1.1657 to the Euro. The Dollar weakened against the Japanese currency closing at 113.5 Yen to the Dollar, making a loss of 0.67% during the week.

The Euro was weaker against the Yen ending at 132.3, a loss of 0.33% over the course of the week. It lost ground against Sterling last week, falling by 0.74%, the close saw one £ buying €1.1332.

The Euro now buys 1.1613 CHF, a loss of 0.07% on the week.

Commodities market review

On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $63.52 per barrel, a rise of 2.3% over the course of the week’s trading. The value of gold rose last week closing at $1274.5 per ounce, an increase of 0.53%.