Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 declined 1.4% or 74.8 points to 5,131.1.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index fell 1.3% to 925.1.
• DJIA shed 1.5% or 170.9 points, to close at 11,149.8. NASDAQ slid 2.0% or 48.1 points to settle at 2,419.6. S&P 500 fell 1.6% or 18.3 points to 1,159.3.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.1% up, at 8,778.3.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.2 % lower at $85.11 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally higher against the USD at $1.6368, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1311 and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥125.96.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets ended in the negative territory yesterday, amid speculation that European regulators might extend restrictions on short selling, and after an unexpected rise in US jobless claims raised concerns about the global economic recovery.
• Car insurer, Admiral, slumped 5.5%, after both Redburn Partners LLP and Oriel Securities downgraded the stock.
• Pharmaceutical stock, Shire, shed 2.8%, after the company reported plans to discontinue the development of its Dermagraft drug, after a trial failed to meet the intended results.
• National Grid fell 3.5%, after Shell reported that it had shut down the Nigerian plant that provides gas to National Grid.
• Oil stock, Premier Oil plummeted 9.7%, on concerns about timely delivery of equipments by Sevan Marine, to begin pumping oil Huntington field in 2012.
• BP, BG Group and Cairn Energy dropped between 2.3% and 3.9%, despite a rise in crude oil prices.
• Losses for the UK index were restricted by gains in banking stocks.
• FTSE 100 declined 1.4% or 74.8 points to 5,131.1. FTSE 250 dropped 0.2% or 20.2 points to 10,021.4.
• Admiral tumbled 5.5%, after both Redburn Partners LLP and Oriel Securities, downgraded the stock.
• Energy stocks, BG Group and BP eased 3.3% and 3.9% respectively, despite a rise in crude oil prices.
• National Grid fell 3.5%, after Shell reported that it had shut down the Nigerian plant that provides gas to National Grid.
• Banking stocks, Barclays, RBS and Lloyds Banking Group, added between 5.6 and 2.9%, as investors deemed the shares to be cheaply valued.
• Kazakhmys advanced 5.2%, tracking higher base metal prices, and after its first-half earnings surpassed market expectations.
• Diageo rose 4.7%, after the company reported a rise in its first-half earnings.
• IMI climbed 2.8%, after its earnings surpassed market expectations.
• 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 higher against the USD at $1.6368, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1311 and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥125.96.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.4407. The EUR gained after the Financial Times reported that the Eurozone officials would discuss a new version of Finland’s collateral agreement with Greece
• The EUR is trading marginally lower against the JPY ¥111.35, as persisting concerns about global economy forced investors to invest in safe haven assets.
• The USD is trading lower against major currencies as most Asian equity markets traded higher boosting demand for higher-yielding assets.
• The NZD rebounded against the USD, after TD Securities stated that the nation would continue to benefit from China’s growth through dairy exports.
• The AUD rose against the JPY, after Reserve Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens, stated that inflation “bears careful watching,” easing speculation the central bank would cut interest rates.
• Yesterday, the USD ended higher against major currencies, after higher-than-expected US jobless claim data led equity markets lower, increasing demand for the USD as a safe haven currency. The CHF pared gains against the EUR, amid renewed speculation that the Swiss National Bank would curb the further appreciation of the currency.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.3% higher today, at $1,771.16 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery added 0.3% or $5.90 to finish at $1,763.20 per ounce yesterday, as a decline in equity markets and speculation that Germany’s sovereign-debt rating might be downgraded weighed on market sentiments, forcing investors to purchase the yellow metal as a safe haven asset.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.2 % lower at $85.11 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude for October delivery climbed 0.2% or $0.14 to close at $85.30 per barrel, amid concerns of a slowdown in east coast oil production as refineries might remain closed in advance of Hurricane Irene's arrival this weekend.
• Crude oil rose after the US Energy Information Administration report showed that crude oil inventories fell by 2.2 million barrels to 351.8 million barrels in the last week.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.