Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 advanced 1.1%, to close at 5,156.8.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index declined 0.7% or 6.2 points to 903.9.
• DJIA fell 0.9% or 101.0 points to close at 11,139.3. NASDAQ dropped 0.3% or 6.5 points to settle at 2,473.8. S&P 500 slid 0.7% or 8.7 points to end at 1,165.2.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.5% higher, at 8,720.7.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.5 % higher at $86.44 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.5976, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1382, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥123.58.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets ended mixed yesterday. The FTSE 100 advanced, recouping its earlier losses, led by a gain in commodities sector stocks, buoyed by bargain hunting from investors. Further, a solid reading on US service sector for the month of August boosted market sentiment.
• Hospitality stock, Whitbread advanced 7.3% and emerged as top gainer in the FTSE 100 index, after its like-for-like sales for the second quarter rose 4.8%.
• Vodafone added 1.7%, after UBS added the stock to its key-call list.
• Mining stocks, Rio Tinto and Xstrata added 1.7% and 2.2%, respectively.
• Precious metal stocks, Randgold Resources and Fresnillo climbed 3.0% and 3.9%, respectively, as Numis Securities upgraded the former to “Hold” from “Reduce” and lifted the latter to “Add” from “Hold”.
• Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays dropped 2.8% and 2.2% respectively, amid lingering worries over Eurozone debt crisis.
• FTSE 100 advanced 1.1%, to close at 5,156.8, while FTSE 250 dipped 0.1% to settle at 10,071.2.
• Banking stocks, Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Barclays, eased 2.8% and 2.2%, respectively, as Italy’s willingness to push through austerity measures and increasing concerns about Greece debt situation sapped confidence in the sector.
• Whitbread rallied 7.3%, after its second quarter earnings surpassed market expectations.
• Resources and Fresnillo climbed 3.0% and 3.9%, respectively, as Numis Securities upgraded the former to “Hold” from “Reduce” and lifted the latter to “Add” from “Hold”.
• Oil stocks, Essar Energy and BP, gained 2.5% and 2.3%, after oil prices recovered.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

FX Trading UK Market Review

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.5976, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1382, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥123.58.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.4033, as most Asian equity markets traded higher, reducing the demand for the safe haven currency. The EUR is trading marginally higher against the JPY ¥108.62.
• The USD is trading lower against most major currencies ahead of a speech by Chicago Federal Reserve President Charles Evans and the release of the central bank’s Beige Book assessment of economic conditions today.
• The JPY traded higher against the USD, after the Bank of Japan kept its key interest rate unchanged, shrugging off speculation that it would intervene the markets to halt currency gains.
• The AUD is trading higher against the USD, after Australia’s second quarter gross domestic product expanded 1.2%.
• The NZD traded higher against the USD, as Asian equities rose increasing the demand for higher-yielding assets.
• The EUR / CHF traded higher after the Swiss central bank imposed a floor on the currency’s exchange rate yesterday.
• Yesterday, the USD closed higher against major currencies, after the US services sector index rose better-than-expected in August.
• The EUR closed lower against the USD, as slowing economic growth and concern that Europe’s sovereign-debt crisis is worsening, sapped demand for the currency.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.1% lower today, at $1,874.55 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery declined 0.2% or $3.60, to settle at $1,873.30 per ounce yesterday, as the dollar rose against major currencies, decreasing the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• Gold prices declined after US equities recovered following better-than-expected rise in US services index.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.5 % higher at $86.44 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude for October delivery declined 0.5% or $ 0.43 to end at $86.02 per barrel. This came amid speculation that the European debt crisis is spreading to other economies and as the dollar appreciated against major currencies, decreasing the demand for commodities as an alternative investment.
• Crude oil ended lower, after the US Energy Department reported that crude inventories held in floating-roof tanks at Cushing rose 850,000 barrels to 35.6 million.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.