Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 spreads surged 3.2% or 157.7 points to close at 5,102.2.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index advanced 3.3% or 28.9 points to 916.6.
• DJIA advanced 1.2% or 131.2 points to close at 10,940.0. NASDAQ surged 2.3% or 55.7 points to settle at 2,460.5. S&P 500 rose 1.8% or 20.1 points to end at 1,144.0.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.7% higher, at 8,523.3.
• In Asia, crude oil for November delivery is trading 0.3% or $0.21 lower at $79.47 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.3% lower against the USD at $1.5426, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1576, and 0.3% lower against the JPY at ¥118.39.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets snapped its losing streak, closing higher yesterday, amid speculation that European policy makers would take coordinated move to protect region’s banks from the contagion risk.
• Among miners, Vedanta Resource, the top gainer on the FTSE 100 index, soared 8.5%, ahead of its production report due on Friday and tracking a rise in base metal prices, while Rio Tinto gained 7.1%, after Credit Suisse reiterated its “Outperform” rating on the stock.
• Homebuilder, Wolseley, surged 8.2%, after it its full-year results surpassed market expectations and as HSBC upgraded its view on the sector.
• Man Group rose 3.5%, after HSBC reiterated its “Overweight” rating on the stock.
• Tesco added 3.5%, after it reported a 17% rise in first-half profit, while Sainsbury advanced 3.6%, following better-than-expected sales growth in second quarter.
• FTSE 100 surged 3.2% to close at 5,102.2, while FTSE 250 jumped 1.5% to 9,567.8.
• Vedanta Resources soared 8.5%, ahead of its production report due on Friday.
• Wolseley surged 8.2%, after reporting its full-year results that surpassed market expectations.
• Barclays rallied 7.7%, tracking gains in its European peers.
• Aviva rose 7.4%, after positive comments from a broker.
• Rio Tinto gained 7.1%, after Credit Suisse reiterated its “Outperform” rating on the stock.
• Retailers, Next, Kingfisher and Marks & Spencer, declined between 1.3% and 2.3%, after a broker issued negative comments on Next and following profit warnings from their sector peers.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.3% lower against the USD at $1.5426, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1576, and 0.3% lower against the JPY at ¥118.39.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% lower against the USD at $1.3326, amid speculation that policy makers would cut borrowing costs at the European Central Bank meeting today.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥102.27.
• The EUR is trading higher against the CHF and GBP, amid speculation that European leaders would step up efforts to aid the region’s banks in a bid to resolve the debt crisis.
• The AUD and NZD appreciated against the USD, as Asian equity markets rose higher, increasing the demand for risky assets. The currencies also gained after German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that she would discuss possible recapitalization of European banks at the European Union summit this month.
• Yesterday, the USD closed lower against its major peers, after European Union officials announced that they support a recapitalization of banks to shield banks from the European sovereign-debt crisis, damping demand for safer haven assets.
• The GBP ended lower against the EUR, following a report that showed that UK economic growth had slowed more-than-forecast in last quarter, increasing speculation that the Bank of England would keep interest rates low to boost economic growth.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.6% higher today, at $1,646.51 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery rose 1.6% or $25.60 to end at $1,641.60 per ounce yesterday. This came as the dollar weakened against the major currencies, increasing the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• Gains for gold were limited on positive US economic data and a rise in equity markets.
• In Asia, crude oil for November delivery is trading 0.3% or $0.21 lower at $79.47 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for November delivery added 5.3% or $4.01 to settle at $79.68 per barrel. This came after the US Energy Information Administration reported that crude oil inventories had declined by 4.7 million barrels for the week ended 30 September.
• Crude oil also paced gains, amid optimism about future energy demand, after US ADP Employer Services reported higher-than- expected increase in private-sector jobs in September.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.