Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 rose 3.1% to close at 5,318.6.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index advanced 3.1% or 27.7 points to 931.5.
• DJIA surged 2.5% or 275.6 points to close at 11,414.9. Nasdaq soared 3.0% or 75.1 points to settle at 2,548.9. S&P 500 gained 2.9% or 33.4 points to end at 1,198.6.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.1% higher, at 8,769.6.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.1 % higher at $89.43 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1 % lower against the USD at $1.5957, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1345, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥123.43.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets advanced yesterday, led by gains in banking and energy sector stocks, amid bargain hunting from investors and tracking a rally in global equity markets. This came after Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court upheld the nation’s participation in the Eurozone bailouts.
• Energy stocks, BP, Essar Energy and Tullow Oil rallied between 4.0% and 7.8%, tracking a rise in oil prices. BP was additionally buoyed by news of a second major oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group climbed 6.1% and 6.4%, respectively, while Royal Bank of Scotland soared 6.1%, as banking sector stocks rallied. Kingfisher rose 4.7%, after Nomura upgraded its ratings on the stock to “Buy” from “Neutral”.
• Marks & Spencer gained 4.0%, amid speculation of buy-out interest by private equity funds.
• FTSE 100 rose 3.1% to close at 5,318.6. FTSE 250 added 2.5% to settle at 10,321.3.
• Precious metal stocks, Randgold resources and Fresnillo, declined 2.3% and 0.3%, respectively, tracking lower gold and silver prices.
• Imperial Tobacco fell 1.9%, after Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock to “Neutral” from “Buy”.
• Energy stocks, Tullow oil and Petrofac, soared 7.8% and 7.3% respectively, tracking a rise in crude oil prices.
• Antofagasta surged 6.8%, in line with a rise in base metal prices.
• Banking stocks, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays and RBS, surged between 6.1% and 6.4%, as risk aversion decreased among investors.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1 % lower against the USD at $1.5957, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1345, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥123.43. Bank of England (BoE), at today’s meeting, might discuss need for additional stimulus as global market turmoil threatens economy recovery in the UK.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.4061, amid speculation that European Central Bank President, Jean- Claude Trichet, would lower inflation and growth forecasts and leave interest rates unchanged at today’s meeting.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the JPY ¥108.78.
• The USD traded higher against the most other currencies, on optimism that US President Barack Obama would unveil proposals to boost jobs and support the US economy.
• The AUD traded lower against all other currencies, after a report showed that Australia’s jobless rate climbed to 5.3% in August, the highest since October last year and amid speculation that Australia would lower its benchmark interest rate.
• Yesterday, the EUR ended higher against the USD, ahead of a meeting of the European Central Bank, which would probably signal an end to increase in interest rates. The EUR also closed higher, as Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi won a confidence vote on austerity measures, decreasing concerns of a slowdown in the global economy, and raising demand for risky assets.
• The AUD / USD closed higher following report that Australia’s second quarter economy expanded at a faster pace than market expectations.
• The JPY ended higher against most other currencies, after the Bank of Japan kept its monetary policy unchanged.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.9% higher today, at $1,829.5 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery dropped 3% or $55.70 to settle at $1,817.60 per ounce yesterday, as demand for the safe haven asset waned. This came as global equity markets rebounded on optimism that US President Barack Obama would propose a $300.0 billion package in economic stimulus to boost growth.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.1 % higher at $89.43 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude for October delivery advanced 3.9% or $3.32 to settle at $89.34 per barrel. This came amid expectation of increase in energy demand, following reports that US President Barack Obama would propose a $300.0 billion package to increase jobs in the country. There was also speculation that a storm building in the Gulf of Mexico could poses a threat to supplies in the US.
• The crude oil prices paced gains amid speculation that the weekly Energy Department report would show a decline in inventories.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.