Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 gained 0.3% or 16.1 points to 5,714.9.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index climbed 0.2% to close at 1,086.7.
• DJIA added 0.4% or 42.8 points to 12,004.4. NASDAQ lost 0.3% or 7.2 points to close at 2,616.5. S&P 500 advanced 0.3% or 3.9 points, to settle at 1,271.5.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.4% higher, at 9,388.6.
• In Asia, crude oil for July delivery is trading $1.07 lower at $91.94 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally lower against the USD at $1.6148, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1323 and 0.1% down against the JPY at ¥129.419.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Shares Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets rose on Friday, amid speculation that the deadlock over Greece’s bailout package would be resolved soon by the European officials.
• Precious metal miners, Fresnillo and Randgold Resources, paced gains, as gold and silver prices closed in the positive territory.
• Banks, Standard Chartered, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays, gained between 0.1% and 1.3%, on receding fears about new international capital requirements.
• Among other miners, Rio Tinto was up 0.1%, as Tata Steel agreed to sell its stake in Riversdale Mining to the company.
• A conviction buy recommendation from Goldman Sachs lifted the shares of Aggreko and Intertek, while commodity trading firm, Glencore International was in demand, as Charles Stanley cited the recent decline in shares as overdone.
• FTSE 100 gained 0.3% or 16.1 points to 5,714.9. FTSE 250 advanced 0.3% or 29.9 points to 11,661.8.
• Aggreko climbed 2.4%, as Goldman Sachs repeated its “Conviction Buy” advice and increased its 12-month price estimate of the stock to 2,506p, citing the company’s unrivalled leadership position due to its unique global presence and much larger fleet size.
• Randgold Resources added 2.2%, as gold for August delivery edged up 0.6% to $1,539.10 per ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
• Intertek Group added 1.7%, after Goldman Sachs reiterated its “Conviction Buy” recommendation on the company’s stock.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally lower against the USD at $1.6148, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1323 and 0.1% down against the JPY at ¥129.419. BBC reported that opposition Labour Party Treasury affairs spokesman, Ed Balls, is of the view that UK government budget deficit would be higher-than-expected.
• The EUR / USD is trading slightly higher at $1.4261. Investors awaited results of a motion of confidence in Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou’s government.
• The EUR is trading marginally up against the JPY at ¥114.30, as most Asian markets traded higher, increasing the demand for the high yielding assets.
• On Friday, the EUR ended higher against major currencies, after agreement between European political leaders buoyed Greek deal hopes.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading marginally higher today, at $1539.9 per ounce.
• Gold prices for August delivery gained 0.6% or $9.20 to $1,539.10 per ounce on Friday, as the dollar fell against most of the major currencies, increasing the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• In Asia, crude oil for July delivery is trading $1.07 lower at $91.94 per barrel.
• On Friday, crude oil for July delivery closed 2.0% or $1.94 lower at $93.01 per barrel, amid constant uncertainties about weakening global growth and diminished demand.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.