Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 advanced 2.7% or 138.7 to 5,268.7.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 1.0% to 940.0.
• DJIA edged up 0.2% or 20.7 points to settle at 11,560.0. NASDAQ added 0.6% or 14.0 points to close at 2,576.1. S&P 500 gained 0.2% or 2.8 points to end at 1,212.9.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading marginally higher at 8,957.9.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.5 % lower at $88.42 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally lower against the USD at $1.6308, marginally higher against the EUR at €1.1296, and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥124.87.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed higher yesterday, led by a rally in banks and miners, following positive comments from US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, last week, and several broker upgrades.
• Banking stocks, RBS, soared 8.0%, after Deutsche Bank raised its recommendation on the stock to “Buy” from “Hold”. Barclays also rallied 6.7%, after the same broker included the stock in its “top pick” and reiterated its “Buy” rating on the stock.
• Miners, Lonmin, Vedanta Resources and Anglo American, surged between 6.3% and 8.5%, in-line with a rise in base metal prices.
• Smith & Nephew gained 3.9%, after Deutsche Bank initiated coverage on the stock with a “Buy” rating.
• Homebuilders, Bovis Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Developments, surged between 4.3% and 8.3%, after Bovis Homes reported a remarkable rise in its first-half earnings.
• Wolseley rose 4.6%, after Jefferies Group upgraded the stock to “Buy” from “Hold”.
• FTSE 100 advanced 2.7% to 5,268.7. FTSE 250 rose 2.5 % to 10,243.2.
• Miners, Lonmin, Vedanta Resources and Antofagasta, soared between 6.1% and 8.5%, tracking higher base metal prices.
• Royal Bank of Scotland surged 8.0%, after Deutsche Bank raised its recommendation on the stock to “Buy” from “Hold”.
• Barclays rallied 6.7%, after Deutsche Bank included the stock in its “top pick” and reiterated “Buy” rating on the stock.
• Fresnillo climbed 6.4%, in-line with a rise in silver prices.
• Tesco fell 0.2%, amid speculation of a takeover of Pick n Pay.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally lower against the USD at $1.6308, marginally higher against the EUR at €1.1296, and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥124.87.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.4431, amid speculation that the European Central Bank would cut borrowing costs to support growth.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% lower against the JPY ¥110.52, amid speculation that Eurozone unemployment rate, last month, remained at its highest level since February, adding to signs that European economic recovery is faltering.
• The JPY is trading higher against most other currencies amid speculation that US employers added fewer jobs this month, raising prospects that US Federal Reserve would intervene to spur growth.
• NZD depreciated against the JPY, after a survey by ANZ National Bank showed that business confidence declined in August.
• Yesterday, The USD ended higher against the GBP, as a drop in US consumer confidence data increased concerns of a slowdown in the global economy, decreasing the demand for high yielding assets.
• The NZD closed higher against the USD, after New Zealand’s home-building permits in July increased 13.0%, the most since April 2008.
• The EUR closed lower against the USD, amid speculation that the European Central Bank would not hike interest rates further this year and as US consumer sentiment index showed a drop in August.
• The JPY ended higher against the USD, after US consumer confidence slid to its lowest level since April 2009, increasing demand for the safe haven currency.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Trading UK Market Review

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.2% higher today, at $1,833.14 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery added 2.1% or $38.20 to $1,829.80 per ounce yesterday. This came as disappointing economic data from the US and the Eurozone increased concerns about the pace of global economy recovery, spurring purchase of the precious metal as an alternative investment.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.5 % lower at $88.42 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for October delivery advanced 1.9% or $1.63 to settle at $88.90 per barrel, amid expectation of increase in energy demand, as minutes of the recent FOMC meeting showed some support for further measures to stimulate the US economy.
• The American Petroleum Institute, late Tuesday, reported that US crude oil inventories had risen by 5.13 million barrels to 352.2 million last week.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.