Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 advanced 1.1% or 54.5 points to 5095.3.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.8% to 916.8.
• Dow Jones edged up 0.3% or 37.0 points, to close at 10,854.7. NASDAQ added 0.2% or 3.5 points to settle at 2,345.4. S&P 500 advanced marginally to 1,123.8.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading marginally higher, at 8630.5.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.6 % higher at $84.85 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.6478, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1454 and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥126.49.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed higher yesterday, led by gains in precious metal and oil stocks, offsetting concerns that the global economy recovery is stalling.
• Precious metal stocks, Randgold resources and Fresnillo, added 3.9% and 3.5% respectively, tracking higher gold and silver prices.
• Oil stock, Petrofac, advanced 3.7%, after the company reported a rise in earnings for the six months and raised its dividend payout.
• Royal Dutch Shell and BG Group advanced 1.9% and 1.4% respectively, amid hopes that oil production in Libya might resume.
• Derivative trading firm, IG Group Holdings, rallied, 4.0%, after the company announced that its first-quarter sales might increase by 19.0%.
• Interdealer broker, ICAP, rose 3.8%, after its Chief Executive stated that the company would leave EU if financial transactions tax is imposed. However, gains were restricted by losses in banks.
• FTSE 100 advanced 1.1% to 5095.3. FTSE 250 added 1.0% to 9,854.8.
• Compass gained 4.0%, helped by bargain hunting from investors.
• Randgold resources added 3.9%, as gold for December delivery rose 2.1% to $1,891.90 per ounce.
• ICAP rallied 3.8%, after its Chief Executive, stated that the company would quit EU if financial transactions tax is imposed.
• Petrofac advanced 3.7%, after the company reported a 6.6% rise in adjusted profit for the six months.
• Fresnillo advanced 3.5%, as silver futures gained 2.1% to $43.33 per ounce.
• GlaxoSmithKline rose 2.8%, after the company acquired a minority stake in Autifony Therapeutics.
• Banking stocks, RBS, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays, eased between 2.8% and 5.3%, as risk aversion increased among investors.
• Essar Energy declined 3.8%, after the firm reported a delay in setting up of power plants and gaining approval for coal projects.
• Miners, Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Vedanta resourced, declined between 1.6% and 2.5%, tracking a decline in base metal prices.
• 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% higher against the USD at $1.6478, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1454 and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥126.49.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% lower against the USD at $1.438.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the JPY ¥110.34, amid speculation that Japanese officials would intervene to curb gains, after Japanese Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda stated that excessive movements in the yen can hurt the nation’s recovery.
• The USD traded lower against major currencies, following a private report that showed that China’s manufacturing activity was stronger in August compared to that in July, boosting demand for higher-yielding assets.
• South Korea’s WON is trading higher against the USD amid speculation the Federal Reserve would take additional measures to shore up US economy.
• Yesterday, the dollar ended higher against major currencies as global economic uncertainties prompted investors to invest in dollar as a safe haven asset.
• The CHF closed lower against the USD and NZD, amid speculation that the Swiss central bank would take further steps to weaken the currency.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.5% lower today, at $1899.18 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery advanced 2.1% or $39.70 to settle at $1,891.90 per ounce yesterday, as lingering Eurozone sovereign-debt concerns forced investors to purchase the precious metal as an alternative investment.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.6 % higher at $84.85 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for September delivery expired 2.3% or $1.86 higher at $84.12 per barrel, amid hopes that the Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would signal steps to prop up the US economy at a gathering of central bankers this week.
• Crude oil was trading lower earlier, amid speculation that overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi’s government might allow oil production in the Libya to resume.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.