Financial Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 declined 1.0% or 60.6 points to 5,742.6.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 1.1% to close at 1,089.0.
• The Dow Jones edged down 1.5% or 178.8 points to 11,897.3. NASDAQ slid 1.8% or 47.3 points to close at 2,631.5. S&P 500 lost 1.7% or 22.5 points to 1,265.4.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.1% lower, at 9,470.7.
• In Asia, crude oil for July delivery is trading 68 cents higher at $95.49 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally higher against the USD at $1.6205, slightly up against the EUR at €1.1417 and 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥131.159.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Financial Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets slipped yesterday, as bleak UK and US economic data combined with fears of a likely delay in the Greek bailout weighed on the risk appetite among investors.
• Miners, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Xstrata, lost between 0.8% and 2.6%, as base metal prices slid.
• Oil producers, Tullow Oil, Cairn Energy and Petrofac, fell between 1.8% and 3.6%, as oil prices tumbled.
• Banks, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Barclays eased between 1.8% and 2.7%, on reports that the UK banks could be directed to separate their retail and investment banking operations.
• Adding to the negative sentiment, UK jobless claims surged 19,600 to 1.49 million in May which came higher than market expectations.
• FTSE 100 declined 1.0% or 60.6 points to 5,742.6. FTSE 250 dropped 0.8% or 98.0 points to 11,763.4.
• Glencore International plunged 5.4%, after confirming that it is not interested in bidding for ENRC.
• MAN Group eased 3.2%, after the net asset value of its AHL Diversified Futures fund declined 0.3% during the last week.
• Xstrata dropped 2.6%, amid lack of clarity whether Glencore reported lower-than-expected income from the former.
• TUI Travel edged up 1.8%, amid speculation that its parent company make may make a bid for it.
• Whitbread rose 0.6%, amid speculation of private equity interest.
• British Land was up 0.4%, following the government’s decision not to list the Broadgate office development in the City of London.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Financial Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally higher against the USD at $1.6205, slightly up against the EUR at €1.1417 and 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥131.159.
• The EUR is trading marginally higher against the USD at $1.4194. According to US Treasury data, Chinese holdings of US longer-term notes and bonds rose 0.8% to a record $1.149 trillion in April.
• The EUR/JPY is trading 0.1% higher at ¥114.88.
• Yesterday, the GBP fell against the USD, amid speculation that the Bank of England would fail to hike interest rates after UK jobless claims surged 19,600 in May from April.
• The EUR slumped against the USD, amid lack of unity among European officials regarding how to tackle the Greek debt crisis. The currency also came under pressure, as investors feared that Greek Prime Minister’s decision to reshuffle his cabinet would further complicate the Greek bailout.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Financial Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.3% lower today, at $1525.88 per ounce.
• Gold prices for August delivery edged up 0.1% or $1.80 to $1,526.20 per ounce yesterday, as escalating Eurozone debt fears increased demand for the precious metal as a safe haven asset. However, gains were limited, following a strong dollar.
• In Asia, crude oil for July delivery is trading 68 cents higher at $95.49 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for July delivery closed 4.6% or $4.56 lower at $94.81 per barrel, as worsening of Greece’s debt troubles and downbeat US economic data increased concerns about future energy demand. The strengthening of the dollar also weighed on the oil price.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.