Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 added 0.5% or 22.6 points to close at 5,089.4.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index added 1.8% or 15.4 points to settle at 897.6.
• DJIA jumped 2.5% or 272.4 points to close at 11,043.9. NASDAQ gained 1.4% or 33.5 points to settle at 2,516.7. S&P 500 climbed 2.3% or 26.5 points to end at 1,163.0.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 2.0% higher, at 8,542.7.
• In Asia, crude oil for November delivery is trading 2.1% or $1.7 higher at $81.95 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.5587, 0.2% lower against the EUR at €1.1498, and 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥118.93.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed higher, amid hopes of action by European leaders to ease burden of the unfolding contagion risk.
• Barclays, the top gainer on the FTSE 100, surged 6.9%, while Lloyds Banking, Royal Bank of Scotland and Aviva, added between 3.2% and 6.4%. This came amid reports of an expansion of European Financial Stability Facility, and on expectations that the European Central Bank might cut its interest rate.
• Retailer, Tesco gained 1.7%, as US billionaire Warren Buffett, hiked his stake in the company from 3.2% to 3.6%.
• Prudential added 2.7%, as Deutsche Bank reiterated “Buy” rating on the stock.
• Aberdeen Assest Management added 0.9%, after it forecasted that its pre-tax profit for the year would be at the top end of analyst forecasts.
• Gains were limited for the FTSE 100 following losses in commodity sector stocks.
• FTSE 100 added 0.5% to 5,089.4. FTSE 250 edged up 0.2% to 9,839.2.
• Banking stocks, Barclays and RBS, surged 6.9% and 3.2%, as risk appetite increased among investors.
• Insurers, Legal & General Group, Aviva and Admiral Group, soared between 4.9% and 6.4%, benefiting from a recovery in the equity markets. Aviva also paced gains after Investec Securities sidelined fears of a dividend cut.
• Precious metal stocks, Fresnillo and Randgold Resources, plummeted 6.9%% and 2.8% respectively, tracking lower silver and gold prices.
• Miners, Kazakhmys, Vedanta resources and Antofagasta, dropped between 2.2% and 3.9%, after CME Group raised margin requirements for copper-futures contracts.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Trading UK News

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.5587, 0.2% lower against the EUR at €1.1498, and 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥118.93.
• The EUR is trading 0.5% higher against the USD at $1.3557, after European leaders and IMF stated that they would support European nations in their efforts to prevent the escalation of the region’s debt crisis, increasing demand for higher-yielding assets.
• The EUR is trading 0.3% higher against the JPY at ¥103.437, as the demand of the high yielding currencies increased, after most of the Asian markets traded higher.
• The AUD and NZD are trading higher against the USD, as higher commodity prices increased the demand for the commodity linked currencies.
• Yesterday, the GBP ended higher against the EUR, amid uncertainty over whether Greece would receive its next round of emergency bailout package, and after Bank of England’s committee member, Ben Broadbent, stated that the country’s inflation expectations remained under control.
• The CAD and EUR closed lower against the USD, amid concerns that European policy makers would fail to a resolve European sovereign-debt crisis, decreasing demand for riskier assets.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 1.6% higher today, at $1,645.16 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery declined 2.7% or $45 to end at $1,594.80 per ounce yesterday, after CME Group hiked margin requirements for gold future contracts.
• In Asia, crude oil for November delivery is trading 2.1% or $1.7 higher at $81.95 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for November delivery added 0.5% or $0.39 to $80.24 per barrel. This came as worries over demand prospects eased, after the Germany’s business confidence fell less-than-expected, and amid optimism that European policy makers would step up measures to resolve sovereign credit crisis.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.