BOURSE AFRICA

EURO/DOLLAR futures and contracts for difference (CFDs) settled Friday’s trading session above $1.24 as traders digested data showing the euro zone gross domestic product (GDP) marginally beat expectations, edging up 0.2 percent quarter on quarter between July and September. The French economy grew faster than economists forecast in the third quarter, lifted by a bounce back in domestic demand. German GDP rose 0.1 percent in the three months to September. The dollar initially rose against major peers amid upbeat retail sales and consumer sentiment data. However, it eased as investors booked some profits. Gold prices benefitted from a slide in the dollar. Pound/dollar futures and CFDs remained weak.