Financial Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 dropped 0.1% or 3.3 points to 5,843.7.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index declined 0.2% or 2.5 points to 1,086.9.
• DJIA rose 0.3% or 42.6 points to 12,479.7. NASDAQ climbed 1.0% or 27.1 points to 2,789.8. S&P 500 index closed 0.6% higher, at 1,316.1.
• In Japan, markets are closed on account of public holiday.
• In Asia, crude oil for August delivery is trading 7 cents lower at $97.17 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% lower against the USD at $1.6089, 0.2% higher against the EUR at €1.1431 and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥127.17.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Financial Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed slightly lower on Friday, as investors remained cautious ahead of the results of European bank-stress tests and amid renewed concerns over the debt situation in the US.
• Banks, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland, lost between 1.0% and 2.5%, as risk aversion increased among investors.
• Miners, Vedanta Resources, Antofagasta and Xstrata, dropped between 0.5% and 2.0%, amid worries over future metal demand, while BHP Billiton declined 1.9%, after the company agreed to buy Petrohawk Energy Corp for $12.1 billion in cash.
• Among other stocks, Rolls-Royce Holdings lost 2.5%, after UBS downgraded the company to “Sell” from “Neutral”, while Fresnillo and Burberry Group paced gains, as various brokers took positive stance on these stocks.
• FTSE 100 dropped 0.1% or 3.3 points to 5,843.7. FTSE 250 fell 0.2% or 19.8 points to 11,746.8.
• Inmarsat dipped 3.3%, amid concerns that its maritime business would be affected by the bleak outlook for shipbuilding industry.
• Rolls-Royce Holdings dropped 2.5%, after UBS downgraded the stock to “Sell” from “Neutral”.
• BHP Billiton lost 1.9%, after the company agreed to buy US gas producer, Petrohawk Energy Corp for $12.1 billion in cash.
• ARM Holdings declined 1.8%, after Sony Ericsson reported much weaker-than-expected shipments and stated that demand for all models below smart phones had collapsed.
• Burberry Group climbed 4.2%, after Citigroup lifted its target price and earnings forecast for the company, citing robust quarterly performance and continued rapid growth in Asia.
• Oil producers, Tullow Oil and Petrofac, advanced 2.0% and 1.9% respectively, as crude oil for August delivery added 1.6% to $97.24 per barrel.
• Fresnillo gained 1.9%, as JPMorgan Cazenove upgraded the stock to “Overweight” from “Neutral”.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Financial Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% lower against the USD at $1.6089, 0.2% higher against the EUR at €1.1431 and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥127.17.
• The EUR is trading 0.4% lower against the USD at $1.4075, on concerns that European leaders would fail to agree on measures to restrain the Eurozone debt crisis at a summit this week.
• The EUR is trading 0.4% lower against the JPY at ¥111.25, as most Asian equity markets traded lower, decreasing the demand for high yielding assets.
• The NZD is trading higher against AUD, after a report showed that New Zealand consumer prices rose 1% in the second quarter from the previous three months.
• On Friday, the EUR ended lower against the USD, after the European Banking Authority stated that eight banks failed Europe’s second round of stress tests, with a combined capital shortfall of €2.5 billion.
• The WON ended lower against the USD, after the Bank of Korea lowered its economic growth forecast for this year on an expected slowdown in domestic demand.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Financial Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading marginally higher today, at $1,594.10 per ounce.
• Gold prices for August delivery gained 80 cents to close at $1,590.10 per ounce on Friday
• Persisting worries over the US and Eurozone debt crisis forced investors to purchase the precious metal as a safe haven asset.
• In Asia, crude oil for August delivery is trading 7 cents lower at $97.17 per barrel.
• On Friday, crude oil for August delivery closed 1.6% or $1.55 higher at $97.24 per barrel, as the dollar fell against the major currencies, increasing the demand for the commodities as an alternative investment.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.