Spread Trading Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 gained 0.1% or 6.5 points to close at 6,024.0.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.1% to 1,122.2.
• DJIA edged down 0.1% or 12.9 points to close at 12,569.9. NASDAQ advanced 0.3% or 9.7 points to settle at 2,825.8. S&P 500 Index shed 0.1% or 1.8 points to 1,337.9.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.3% higher, at 10,005.3.
• In Asia, crude oil for August delivery is trading 48 cents higher at $97.37 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.6081, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1120 and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥ 129.99.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread trading on indices.

UK Spread Trading Markets

• UK markets closed slightly higher yesterday, with the FTSE 100 index rising for the eighth consecutive session and registering its longest streak of gains in almost two years, as various broker upgrades and bid speculations lifted investor sentiments.
• Among oil producers, Tullow Oil, BG group and Cairn Energy gained between 0.1% and 3.8%, in line with a rise in crude oil prices. Tullow Oil also rose, after the company raised its full-year production target.
• Marks & Spencer, up 2.5%, led retailers higher, as Matrix upgraded the stock to “Buy”.
• Reckitt Benckiser, IMI and Yule Catto climbed between 2.6% and 4.8%, amid recent speculation of takeover interest in the companies.
• Gains were restricted for the FTSE 100 by losses in the banks and mining sectors.
• FTSE 100 gained 0.1% or 6.5 points to close at 6,024.0. FTSE 250 added 0.4% or 43.2 points to 12,145.4.
• Tullow Oil climbed 3.8%, after the company raised its full-year production target and revealed it plans to expand in Sierra Leone and Kenya.
• IMI advanced 3.8%, helped by recent bid speculation.
• Reckitt Benckiser gained 2.6%, on news that Unilever and Procter & Gamble might be interested in making a bid for the company.
• Marks & Spencer rose 2.5%, after Matrix upgraded the stock to “Buy”.
• Man Group gained 1.8%, ahead of its trading update, scheduled to be released on Thursday.
• Intertek Group lost 2.7%, as Societe Generale downgraded the stock to “Hold” from “Buy”, citing the effects of high wage inflation in China.
• Miners, Rio Tinto, Vedanta Resources and Kazakhmys, dropped between 0.8% and 1.3%, amid speculation that China could hike interest rates as soon as this weekend.
• Lonmin fell 1.0%, despite a rise in platinum prices.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread trading on UK shares.

Forex Spread Trading Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.6081, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1120 and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥129.99.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.4462.
• The USD is trading lower against the EUR and JPY, ahead of release of the US employment data. According to Bloomberg survey, US employers would add 100,000 jobs in June after an increase of 54,000 in the previous month, while the jobless rate would be unchanged.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥116.89.
• The AUD is trading higher against the USD, amid expectations of upbeat job data. According to Bloomberg survey, the number of people employed in Australia rose by 15,000 in June.
• Yesterday, the EUR / USD rate ended lower after Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Portugal’s long-term government bond ratings to “Ba2” from “Baa1”. The EUR also fell, following dismal composite PMI and retail sales data.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread trading.

Commodities Spread Trading Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.2% lower today, at $1,513.75 per ounce.
• Gold prices for August delivery jumped 2% or $30.10 to $1,512.70 per ounce yesterday, as lingering worries over European debt crisis spurred investment in the precious metal as a safe haven.
• In Asia, crude oil for August delivery is trading 48 cents higher at $97.37 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for August delivery closed 2.1% or $1.95 higher at $96.89 per barrel, after Barclays Capital raised its 2012 forecast for Brent crude by $10 to $115 per barrel, and its Nymex forecast by $4 to $110 per barrel.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread trading.