Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 edged up 0.2% or 12.1 points to close at 5,303.4.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index added 0.7% or 7.0 points to 947.6.
• DJIA edged down 0.2% to close at 11,103.1. NASDAQ dropped 1.1% to settle at 2,479.4. S&P 500 lost 0.8% to end at 1,155.5.
• Markets in Japan are closed on account of public holiday.
• In Asia, crude oil for November delivery is trading 0.6% or 47 cents higher at $83.45 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.5592, 0.4% lower against the EUR at €1.1591, and 0.2% higher against the JPY at ¥119.66.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets ended marginally higher on Friday, as an upbeat US employment data for September offset a downgrade of UK banks by Moody’s Investors Service.
• Vedanta Resources, the top gainer on the FTSE 100 index, rose 4.2%, after reporting a broad-based production growth.
• Rio Tinto, Antofagasta and Xstrata gained between 1.2% and 2.7%, amid easing worries over a double-dip recession in the US and tracking a rise in base metal prices.
• Wolseley climbed 4.1%, as Bank of America reiterated its “Buy” recommendation on the stock.
• ITV gained 3.4%, after Macquarie initiated coverage on the stock with “Outperform” rating.
• Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group slipped 3.0% and 3.4%, respectively, as Moody’s slashed their senior-debt ratings.
• FTSE 100 edged up 0.2% to 5,303.4, while FTSE 250 gained 0.7% to 9,958.0.
• Vedanta Resources rallied 4.2%, after the company reported a broad-based production growth.
• Wolseley climbed 4.1%, after Merrill Lynch advised a “Buy” rating on the stock.
• ITV added 3.4%, after Macquarie initiated its coverage on the stock with an “Outperform” rating.
• InterContinental Hotels rose 3.2%, on the back of robust industry data, peer results and an upbeat investor meeting.
• Miners, ENRC and Xstrata advanced 2.9% and 2.7%, respectively, tracking higher base metal prices.
• Banks, Lloyds Banking Group and RBS declined 3.4% and 3.0% respectively, after Moody’s Investors Service cut the ratings on their debt.
• British Sky Broadcasting Group dropped 2.1%, ahead of its first-quarter results next week.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Currencies Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.5592, 0.4% lower against the EUR at €1.1591, and 0.2% higher against the JPY at ¥119.66.
• The EUR is trading 0.6% higher against the USD at $1.3453.
• The EUR is trading 0.6% higher against the JPY at ¥103.24.
• The EUR/USD and EUR/JPY are trading higher. This came amid speculation that Europe would prevent the sovereign debt crisis from spreading after French and German leaders pledged to deliver a plan in three weeks to recapitalize banks, and following a rise in US NFP data.
• The AUD and NZD are trading higher against the JPY, after US jobs report showed that payrolls rose in September by more-than-forecast, boosting demand for higher-yielding assets.
• The AUD also rose against the USD amid speculation that a report this week would show an increase in employment for September in Australia.
• On Friday, the USD closed higher against the EUR, as global economic uncertainties resurfaced, after Fitch Ratings downgraded Italy and Spain’s debt rating, prompting investors to invest in the USD as a safe haven asset.
• The GBP closed higher against the USD amid optimism that the Bank of England’s decision to initiate its bond-purchase program would help to boost the UK’s slowing economy.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.9% higher today, at $1,635.26 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery lost 1.1% or $17.40 to end at $1,635.80 per ounce on Friday. This came as demand for the safe haven asset waned amid hopes that the global economy would recover, after US Labour Department reported better-than-expected rise in non farm jobs for September.
• In Asia, crude oil for November delivery is trading 0.6% or 47 cents higher at $83.45 per barrel.
• On Friday, crude oil for November delivery advanced 0.5% or 39 cents to $82.98 per barrel, amid expectation of increase in energy demand, following better-than-expected non-farm payrolls data.
• Gains for crude oil were limited as Fitch Ratings downgraded sovereign ratings of Spain and Italy, and Moody’s Investors services downgraded various UK and Portuguese banks.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.