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Positive sentiment from the eurozone, with Greece receiving the promise of its hoped for bail-out funds, saw the London FTSE100 gain 1.45% to close the month on 5,866.8 and the wider FTSE250 finishing on 12,034.2 for a more modest rise of 0.83%. In mainland Europe, the Eurostoxx 50 likewise gained 2.86% to finish at 2,575.25.

With the American Presidential elections successfully put to bed, with Mr Obama being returned for a second term, he now has to turn his attention to the possible fiscal cliff threatening the USA’s government finances, the Dow Jones therefore marked time, finishing November on 13,025.58, down a modest 0.54%. The Nasdaq faired a little better, closing on 3,010.24 up 1.11%.

The Japanese Nikkei 225 had a strong month, recording a 5.8% gain to close on 9,446.01. As always, the foreign exchanges tracked the global political and fiscal situation carefully with UK sterling closing at US$1.60, little change on the month, whilst against the Euro it finished the month at €1.23, down 1.6%,  reflecting the better sentiment seen regarding the southern European sovereign debt issues. The Euro itself finished the month at US$1.30.

Oil saw little change in November with the Brent Crude benchmark ending at $109.51 up a marginal 0.75%. Gold had a volatile trading month with the precious metal dipping to $1,705.63 at one point, only to bounce back to finish November on $1,742.05, for an eventual monthly gain of 1.9%.

Marekets: (Data compiled by The Outsourced Marketing Department)