Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 advanced 0.5% or 24.1 to 5,418.7.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.7% to 973.4.
• DJIA shed 1.0% or 120.0 points to settle at 11,493.6. NASDAQ slid 1.3% or 33.4 points to close at 2,546.0. S&P 500 slipped 1.2% or 14.5 points to end at 1,204.4.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.5% lower, at 8,922.8.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.3 % lower at $88.65 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.6182, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1345, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥124.39.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed higher yesterday, led by a rally in banks, as US manufacturing unexpectedly increased in August and initial jobless claims fell last week, easing concerns about the global economy recovery.
• Banking stocks, Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays, soared between 5.6% and 8.2%, after the Financial Times reported that the UK government would avoid any reform of the banking sector until after the next election.
• Wealth manager, Hargreaves Lansdown, surged 18.0%, after the company reported a rise in its full-year earnings.
• Charter International climbed 4.7%, amid takeover speculation by Melrose.
• Oil stocks, Tullow oil and Royal Dutch Shell gained 3.2% and 0.5% respectively, in line with a rise in crude oil prices.
• Gains for the FTSE 100 were restricted by losses in miners.
• FTSE 100 advanced 0.5% to 5,418.7. FTSE 250 rose 0.5 % to 10,576.8.
• Hargreaves Lansdown surged 17.7%, after the company reported a rise in its full-year earnings.
• Banking stocks, Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays, soared between 5.6% and 8.2%, after the Financial Times reported that the UK government would defer major overhaul of the banking sector until after the next election.
• Tullow oil rose 3.2%, in-line with a rise in crude oil prices.
• Precious metal stocks, Fresnillo and Randgold resources, declined 3.7% and 1.4% respectively, tracking lower silver and gold prices.
• BP lost 3.5%, amid concerns about its future operations in Russia, after a raid on the firm's Moscow office on Wednesday and worries over a tropical storm developing in the Gulf of Mexico.
• 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 $1.6182, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1345, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥124.39.
• The EUR is trading marginally lower against the USD at $1.4262, amid speculation that a German report due next week would show a fall in factory orders for the first time since March. The EUR is also trading lower against most of its major currencies ahead of the European Central Bank policy meeting, scheduled next week.
• The EUR is trading marginally lower against the JPY ¥119.64, as Asian equity markets declined and amid reports that the US would sue banks over their mortgage and foreclosure practices, boosting demand for safe haven assets.
• The AUD is trading higher against the USD, amid speculation that Australia’s Reserve Bank would not cut interest rates.
• Yesterday, the USD closed higher against major currencies, as higher-than-expected data on US manufacturing and an unexpected fall in initial jobless claims, increased investors confidence in the economy.
• The USD ended higher against the EUR, after data showed that German manufacturing activity increased less-than-expected in August and French manufacturing activity contracted for the first time since July 2009.
• The SEK ended lower against the USD, after a report showed that manufacturing activity shrank for the first time in two years, reducing demand for the country’s currency.
• The CAD closed higher against the USD, amid optimism that future trade with US would increase, US manufacturing activity rose unexpectedly in the August.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.1% higher today, at $1,828.35 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery declined 0.1% or $2.60 to end at $1,829.10 per ounce yesterday, as the dollar rose against the major currencies, decreasing the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.3 % lower at $88.65 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for October delivery rose 0.1% or $0.12 to settle at $88.93 per barrel, amid expectation of increase in energy demand, after US manufacturing activity and Chinese official Purchasing managers’ index rose in August compared to July.
• Crude oil closed higher yesterday amid worries over a tropical storm developing in the Gulf of Mexico.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.