Financial Spread Betting Trading Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 gained 0.1% or 4.5 points to 5,929.7.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index declined 0.3% to 1,101.0.
• DJIA edged down 0.7% or 91.5 points to 12,501.3. NASDAQ declined 0.1% or 2.8 points to close at 2,840.0. S&P 500 dropped 0.4% or 5.5 points to 1,331.9.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.6% lower, at 10,040.7.
• In Asia, crude oil for September delivery is trading 49 cents lower at $99.10 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.6427, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1322 and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥127.87.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

Financial Spread Betting Trading UK Markets

• UK shares markets closed slightly higher yesterday, as upbeat corporate results temporarily shifted investors’ focus from worries over the possibility of US debt default and ongoing Eurozone debt crisis.
• Among oil producers, BG Group climbed 4.3%, after the company posted a 27% rise in its profits for the second quarter. However, BP lost 2.6%, after the company reported its second-quarter profit that missed market expectations.
• Miners, ENRC, Antofagasta and Xstrata, gained between 0.1% and 1.3%, as base metal prices rose, while Anglo American added 1.2%, after its largely owned De Beers posted a 55% rise in core first-half earnings.
• GlaxoSmithKline rose 0.7%, after reporting second-quarter results in line with market expectations, while Pennon Group advanced 2.0%, as various brokers took positive stance on the stock.
• FTSE 100 gained 0.1% or 4.5 points to 5,929.7. FTSE 250 ended marginally higher at 11,788.9.
• BG Group climbed 4.3%, after the company reported that its second-quarter net income doubled to $1.24 billion, helped by higher crude prices.
• Vodafone advanced 1.8%, following reports that RadioShack selected Verizon Wireless, its US joint venture with Verizon Communications, as its partner.
• ENRC rose 1.3%, as copper for September delivery added 1.6% to $4.48 per pound.
• Anglo American added 1.2%, as diamond producer De Beers, which is 45% owned by the company, reported record sales in its first half.
• Royal Dutch Shell-B gained 1.0%, as crude oil for September delivery added 0.4% to $99.59 per barrel.
• Burberry Group dropped 3.2%, after Royal Bank of Scotland Group downgraded the stock to “Hold” from “Buy”.
• BP lost 2.6%, after the company reported its second-quarter profit that missed market expectations.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Financial Spread Betting Trading Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.6427, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1322 and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥127.87.
• The EUR is trading marginally lower against the USD at $1.4507.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥112.92, as most Asian equity markets traded lower, decreasing the demand for high yielding assets.
• The USD is trading lower against the major currencies, ahead of the US House votes on a plan to cut government spending in exchange for raising the debt ceiling.
• The AUD is trading higher against the USD, after a report showed that the Australia’s consumer price index rose 0.9% in the second quarter from the previous three months.
• Yesterday, the GBP ended higher against the USD, as a report showed that UK economic growth matched economists’ forecasts and after US lawmakers failed to agree on a debt plan.
• The USD ended lower against the major currencies, as US President Barack Obama stated that the US might have a “deep economic crisis” if leaders fail to reach a compromise and avoid a debt default.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Financial Spread Betting Trading Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.1% higher today, at $1,621.00 per ounce.
• Gold prices for August delivery added 0.3% or $4.60 to $1,616.80 per ounce yesterday, as persisting worries over the US debt ceiling and Eurozone debt crisis forced investors to purchase the precious metal as a safe haven asset.
• In Asia, crude oil for September delivery is trading 49 cents lower at $99.10 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for September delivery closed 0.4% or 39 cents higher at $99.59 per barrel, after the Conference Board reported that US consumer confidence rose to 59.5 in July from a revised reading of 57.6 recorded in June.
• Oil prices rose as the lower US dollar increased the demand for the commodities as an alternative investment.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.