Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 lost 2.0% or 108.9 points to 5,259.6.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index declined 2.3% or 21.8 points to 916.1.
• DJIA slipped 0.9% to close at 11,401.0. NASDAQ lost 0.4% to settle at 2,612.8. S&P 500 shed 1.0% to end at 1,204.1.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.3% lower, at 8749.9.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading marginally higher at $85.72 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally lower against the USD at $1.5668, slightly higher against the EUR at €1.1508, and 0.3% down against the JPY at ¥119.846.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed sharply lower yesterday, led by losses in banks and miners, amid fears that Europe would not be able to avoid a sovereign debt-crisis.
• Among banking stocks, RBS, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays, slumped between 5.7% and 6.7%, as risk aversion increased among investors.
• Lloyds also paced declines on news that group Finance Director and a Board Member, Tim Tookey, would leave the bank at the end of February 2012.
• Miners, Rio Tinto, Antofagasta and Anglo American, tumbled between 3.3% and 8.2%, tracking a fall in base metal prices.
• Energy stocks, BP, BG Group and Cairn Energy, dropped between 1.5% and 3.8%, as crude oil prices retreated.
• Ocado Group plummeted 11.0%, after the company trimmed its profit estimates.
• Inmarsat, fell 5.8%, after S&P Equity Research downgraded the stock to “Buy” from “Strong Buy”, citing valuation concerns.
• FTSE 100 lost 2.0% to 5,259.6. FTSE 250 eased 1.9% to 10,229.0.
• Miners, Antofagasta, Xstrata and Anglo American, tumbled between 4.6% and 8.2%, as base metal prices declined.
• Banks, RBS, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays plummeted between 5.7% and 6.7%, as risk appetite decreased among investors, amid worries over European sovereign debt.
• Inmarsat slumped 5.8%, after S&P Equity Research downgraded the stock to “Buy” from “Strong Buy”.
• Randgold Resources rose 1.6%, despite a fall in gold prices.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Foreign Exchange Trading UK Market Review

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally lower against the USD at $1.5668, slightly higher against the EUR at €1.1508, and 0.3% down against the JPY at ¥119.846.
• In forex spread betting the EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.36132, amid worries over additional aid for Greece, and on speculation that borrowing costs for countries in the region would rise, after Standard & Poor’s downgraded Italy’s credit rating.
• The EUR is trading 0.3% lower against the JPY at ¥104.1, as persisting concerns about European economic recovery forced investors to invest in safe haven assets.
• The AUD is trading higher against the USD, after minutes from the latest Reserve Bank of Australia board meeting lowered the chances of interest rate cuts.
• Yesterday, the USD closed higher against the EUR, after a conference between officials from Greece, the European Union, IMF and European Central Bank failed to decide additional aid for Greece, mounting concern about region’s debt crisis.
• The CAD ended lower against the USD, on concerns that Greece might not receive an aid instalment, dampening demand for higher-yielding assets.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading marginally higher today, at $1,781.85 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery fell 2.0% or $35.80, to settle at $1,778.90 per ounce yesterday, as the dollar rose against the major currencies, decreasing the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading marginally higher at $85.72 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for October delivery closed 2.6% or $2.26 lower, to end at $85.70 per barrel, amid worries over demand prospects, as concerns about Greek default resurfaced strongly, after European policy-makers failed to announce a plan to provide additional bailout package for Greece to avoid default.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.