Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 slid 1.6% or 85.0 points, to close at 5,129.6.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index slid 2.7% or 24.5 points to 891.0.
• DJIA rose 0.6% or 69.0 points to close at 11,061.1. NASDAQ climbed 1.1% or 27.1 points to settle at 2,495.1. S&P 500 gained 0.7% or 8.0 points to end at 1,162.3.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.6% higher, at 8,586.0.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.7 % higher at $88.80 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1 % higher against the USD at $1.586, 0.2% lower against the EUR at €1.1596, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥122.15.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed lower yesterday, led by a sharp decline in commodity sector stocks, on increased European sovereign-debt concerns, as investors speculated over Germany’s willingness to help Greece avert a debt default.
• Fresnillo, the biggest laggard on the FTSE 100 index, declined 7.5%, tracking a drop in silver prices.
• Among other mining stocks, Rio Tinto, Antofagasta and Eurasian Natural Resources slumped between 1.5% and 3.5%, tracking the decline in base metal prices, amid concerns over demand prospects.
• Among banking stocks, HSBC slipped 2.4%, amid rumours of disposing its non-life insurance business.
• Lloyds Banking and Royal Bank of Scotland dropped 1.6% and 3.4%, respectively, amid reports that Britain’s government would force lenders to insulate their consumer and investment banking units by 2019.
• FTSE 100 slid 1.6% to 5,129.6, while FTSE 250 lost 1.7% to 9,983.8.
• Fresnillo slumped 7.5%, in line with a fall in silver prices.
• Aviva dropped 4.5%, tracking losses in its European peers.
• Oil stocks, Essar Energy and Petrofac, declined 3.8% and 3.4%, respectively, tracking lower crude oil prices.
• ENRC shed 3.5%, as base metal prices declined.
• Man Group rallied 5.0%, after positive comments from a JPMorgan Cazenove.
• Arm Holdings rose 1.6%, after its peer, Broadcom, agreed to buy NetLogic Microsystems.
• Inmarsat climbed 1.5%, amid speculation that the company might be a takeover target.
• Kingfisher added 0.3%, after Deutsche Bank reiterated its “Buy” advice on the stock.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Futures Trading UK Market Review

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1 % higher against the USD at $1.586, 0.2% lower against the EUR at €1.1596, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥122.15.
• The EUR is trading 0.3% higher against the USD at $1.3677.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the JPY ¥105.35.
• The AUD / JPY traded lower following report that showed the Australian business confidence slid to the lowest in more than two years.
• The AUD and NZD traded lower against the USD, amid fears that Europe’s debt crisis would worsen, dampening demand for higher-yielding assets.
• Yesterday, the EUR traded lower against the USD and JPY, after Moody’s Investor Services placed several French banks under review for a potential credit downgrade, and amid speculation that Germany was preparing for a default by Greece.
• The CAD closed lower against the USD, after an Italian government official announced that Italy and China have had talks about buying Italian government bonds.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.3% higher today, at $1,829.1 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery declined 2.5% or $46.20 to end at $1,813.30 per ounce yesterday. This came as investors sold the metal in order to raise cash to cover losses in equity markets, amid increasing worries about Europe’s debt crisis.
• Gold paced losses 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 0.7 % higher at $88.80 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for October delivery added 1.1% or $0.95 to settle at $88.19 per barrel. This came amid bargain hunting by investors and as US equity markets rose higher, as concerns over European debt crisis eased following reports that China was considering a possible investment in Italian sovereign bonds.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.