Spread Trading Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 dropped 4.5% or 239.4 points to 5,092.2.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index dropped 4.8% to 925.2.
• DJIA slumped 3.7% or 419.6 points, to close at 10,990.6. NASDAQ plunged 5.2% or 131.1 points to settle at 2,380.4. S&P 500 plummeted 4.5% or 53.2 points to 1,140.7.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 2.1% lower, at 8,754.3.
• In Asia, crude oil for September delivery is trading $1.17 lower at $81.21 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.6487, 0.2% lower against the EUR at €1.1503 and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥126.10.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread trading on indices.

Spread Trading UK Markets

• UK markets dipped sharply yesterday, with the FTSE 100 index registering its worst one-day fall since March 2009, on concerns that the Eurozone debt crisis and slowing US economic growth might derail the global recovery.
• Disappointing US economic data and a dismal forecast on global economic growth from Morgan Stanley also dampened market sentiments.
• Banks, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and Standard Chartered, lost between 5.2% and 11.5%, after The Wall Street Journal reported that US regulators were closely examining the US units of Europe’s largest banks.
• Miners, Xstrata, Vedanta Resources and ENRC, slipped between 3.9% and 10.2%, in line with a fall in base metal prices.
• Retailers, Kingfisher, Marks & Spencer and WM Morrison, declined between 2.0% and 5.2%, after a report showed that UK retail sales rose less than expected in July.
• FTSE 100 dropped 4.5% to 5,092.2. FTSE 250 sank 4.9% to 9,860.2.
• Banks, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group, slipped between 9.3% and 11.5%, amid reports that US regulators were intensifying their scrutiny of European banks in America amid fears that they could face funding difficulties in the US.
• Miners, Xstrata and Kazakhmys tumbled 8.2% and 10.2% respectively, as copper for September delivery declined 7 cents to $3.97 per pound.
• Cairn Energy lost 8.7%, as crude oil for September delivery retreated 5.9% to $82.38 per barrel.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread trading on UK shares.

FX Futures Spread Trading Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.6487, 0.2% lower against the EUR at €1.1503 and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥126.10.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.4328.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥109.61.
• The AUD is trading lower against the USD, after Citigroup cut its forecasts for US growth amid concerns over a global economic slowdown, decreasing the demand for high yielding assets.
• The WON is trading lower against the USD, after the financial regulator urged insurance companies to boost capital in preparation for a potential crisis.
• Yesterday, the USD ended higher against major currencies, as intensifying worries over the pace of the economic recovery prompted investment in the dollar as a safe haven asset.
• The CAD ended lower against the USD, as lower commodity prices decreased the demand for the commodity linked currency.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread trading.

Commodities Spread Trading Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.8% higher today, at $1,840.60 per ounce.
• Gold prices for December delivery added 1.6% or $28.20 to $1,822.00 per ounce yesterday, as ongoing worries over Eurozone debt crisis and slowing US economic growth spurred investment in the precious metal as a safe haven asset.
• In Asia, crude oil for September delivery is trading $1.17 lower at $81.21 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for September delivery declined 5.9% or $5.20 to $82.38 per barrel, as growing fears of a global recession and disappointing economic data in the US reignited concerns over future oil demand.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread trading.