European equities ended the London session broadly higher. The CAC 40 led the region at +1.28% to 7,941.36, with the FTSE 100 up 1.20% to 10,816.47 and the DAX 40 adding 1.10% to 25,463.54. The Euro Stoxx 50 rose 0.43% to 6,190.18 and the IBEX 35 gained 0.36% to 19,211.25.

Equities

The FTSE 100 carried the strongest weekly run among the European majors, up 2.27% on the week and 15.45% over the year. The IBEX 35 sits 23.34% higher year-on-year despite a soft -2.10% month. In Asia the picture was weaker: the Nikkei 225 slipped 0.60% to 65,401.52 and is down 5.08% on the week, while the Hang Seng added 0.91% to 24,270.26.

Across the Atlantic, the Dow rose 1.05% to 52,179.84 and the S&P 500 added 0.52% to 7,737.68, though the Nasdaq 100’s 0.56% gain to 29,855.38 still leaves it 3.38% lower on the week.

Metals and Energy

Silver was the day’s standout in metals, up 2.96% to 57.37, yet it remains 5.66% lower on the week and 9.26% down on the month. Palladium climbed 2.32% to 1,127.88 and platinum 1.71% to 1,630.83, while gold added 1.42% to 4,170.34 and holds a 4.48% year-on-year decline.

US crude extended its run, up 2.74% to 96.17 and 5.71% higher on the week, now 68.69% above a year ago. Brent eased 0.47% to 103.76 but keeps a 1.03% weekly gain.

Currencies

The Australian dollar was the clear laggard, filling all five of the session’s biggest losers. AUDCHF fell 1.55% to 0.57117, AUDNZD 1.13% to 1.22997, AUDSGD 1.03% to 0.88641 and AUDCAD 1.01% to 0.98138. Against the majors, AUDUSD slipped 0.81% to 0.69196 and AUDJPY 0.85% to 109.28. The euro and pound firmed on the Aussie, EURAUD up 0.94% to 1.6194 and GBPAUD up 1.03% to 1.91526.

Elsewhere the dollar softened at the margins. EURUSD edged up 0.19% to 1.12149 and GBPUSD 0.25% to 1.32619, while USDCHF fell 0.62% to 0.82647 and USDNOK 0.64% to 9.43252.

Crypto

Bitcoin Cash topped the day’s gainers at +3.83% to 278.25, now 26.0% higher on the month. Uniswap rose 3.30% to 7.429 and litecoin 2.38% to 60.57. Ether added 1.59% to 2,456.47 and bitcoin 0.81% to 82,223.94, though bitcoin sits 24.03% below a year ago.

The Aussie bloc remains the session’s soft spot, lower across every major cross as London hands over.