The political impasse was taken to the wire over the anticipated American ‘Fiscal Cliff’ with no resolution offered at the close of the markets in December.
Therefore, most global markets remained muted awaiting news from across the pond.
The Dow Jones finished the year on 13,104.14, up a marginal 0.6% on the month, and 1.2% on the year. The Nasdaq closed on 3,019.51 to record a monthly rise of 0.31% but an impressive gain of 15.9% for the year.
Here in the UK the FTSE100 ended 2012 on 5,897.8 to show a monthly gain of 0.53% and a 5.8% improvement for the year.
The wider FTSE250 closed out at 12,375.0, a 2.83% rise since November and recording a splendid 22.4% gain for the year. The junior AIM market finished the year on 707.21 improving a modest 2.91% for the month which mirrored its annual gain of 2.0%.
Elsewhere, the Eurostoxx50 closed out a turbulent 2012 at 2,635.93, a 2.36% gain for the month and a 13.7% improvement for the year. The Nikkei finished at 10,395.18, up a healthy 10.05% for the month and very respectable 22.9% for
the year.
On the currency markets, sterling finished 2012 at $1.63 against the greenback and €1.23 against the Euro to record respective annual gains of 4.4% and 3.3%.
The Euro also had an annual gain of 2.3% against the US Dollar ending the month at $1.32. The Brent Crude benchmark for oil saw the black gold finish 2012 at a symbolically symmetrical $111.11, a monthly gain of 1.46% and a modest rise of 3.4% for the year. Gold recorded yet another year of gains, this year rising by 9.4% to close out the year at $1,675.90.
This is part of our monthly economic review
is intended to provide background to recent developments in investment
markets as well as to give an indication of how some key issues could
impact in the future. It is not intended that individual investment
decisions should be taken based on this information; we are always ready
to discuss your individual requirements.
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