Last week was a largely positive affair for the world’s major markets with most of them gaining ground over the prior week’s close. It marked the final trading session of the month from the perspective of these summaries.

In Europe over the course of the week, the FTSE was up by 0.64%, it closed at 6375.2, making 0.34% in November; the Dax ended at 11294, up by 1.6% on last week’s close and by 2.8% over the month; the CAC was up by 0.39% to end the session at 4930.1 but ended the month down by 1.1%.

The Dow ended the week down by 0.14% to close at 17798, slipping by 0.62% over the month. The Nasdaq composite index ended up by 0.44% over the course of the week at 5127.5, but shed 0.38% of its value during November.

The Nikkei 225 ended the week’s trading flat, up by 0.02% to end the session at 19884 and climbed by 3.2% on the month.

Currency Markets Review 

On the currency markets last week, the Dollar enjoyed the best of the trading, marginally, over the Yen. The Dollar was stronger against Sterling last week closing at $1.5039 to the Pound, a gain of 1.1% on the week and 0.19% in November. The Greenback rose against the Euro last week by 0.62% to close at $1.0594 to the €, gaining 1.4% over the month. The Dollar was stronger against the Japanese currency, closing at 122.9 Yen to the Dollar, making a gain of 0.06% during the week, but weakening by 0.28% over the course of November.

The Euro was weaker against the Yen ending at 130.2, a loss of 0.56% over the course of the week and 1.7% over the month. It made ground against Sterling last week, rising by 0.45%; the close saw one £ buying €1.4196, but it lost 1.2% over the course of the month.

The Euro now buys 1.0919 CHF, a gain of 0.58% on the week and 1.1% on the month.

Commodities Market Review

On the commodities market, the price for Brent crude ended at $44.86 per barrel, a gain of 0.45% over the course of the week’s trading, but it fell by 5.4% over November. The value of gold was lower last week, closing at $1055.9 per ounce, a loss of 2.5% on the week and 2.9% over the month.