Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 advanced 1.5% or 76.4 points to 5,205.9.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 1.4% to 936.8.
• DJIA climbed 1.3% or 144.0 points, to close at 11,320.7. NASDAQ edged up 0.9% or 21.6 points to settle at 2,467.7. S&P 500 gained 1.3% or 15.3 points to 1,177.6.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.7% higher, at 8,787.9.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.1 % lower at $85.10 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally higher against the USD at $1.6368, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1362 and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥125.93.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed sharply higher yesterday, led by gains in banking and mining sector stocks, as better-than-expected US durable-goods orders data eased concerns about the pace of global economy recovery. Moreover, encouraging corporate updates boosted market sentiments further.
• Banking stocks, RBS, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays, soared between 2.9% and 9.4%, as risk aversion decreased among investors.
• Miner, BHP Billiton, rose 2.3%, after the company reported its second-half earnings that surpassed market expectations.
• Xstrata, Anglo American and Vedanta resources, climbed between 2.4% and 5.2%, tracking higher base metal prices.
• WPP surged 7.4%, after the company reported a rise in its first-half profit.
• Energy stock, Tullow Oil, soared 8.4%, after its first-half earnings surpassed market expectations.
• Hedge-fund manager, Man Group, rallied 10.0%, after HSBC Holdings upgraded the stock to “Overweight” from “Underweight”.
• FTSE 100 advanced 1.5% to 5,205.9. FTSE 250 added 1.2% to 10,041.6.
• Man Group rallied 10.0%, after HSBC Holdings upgraded the stock to “Overweight” from “Underweight”.
• Banking stocks, RBS and Lloyds Banking Group, surged 9.4% and 6.4%, respectively, as risk appetite increased among investors.
• Tullow Oil soared 8.4%, after its first-half earnings surpassed market expectations.
• WPP surged 7.4%, after the company reported a rise in its first- half profit.
• Glencore rallied 6.0%, after the company announced that it would bid for 27.0% stake in Australia’s Minara Resources.
• Xstrata climbed 5.2%, in line with a rise in base metal prices.
• Admiral Group tumbled 12.0%, after its earnings fell short of market expectations.
• Serco Group fell 4.0%, after the company trimmed its full-year earnings estimates.
• 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% higher against the EUR at €1.1362 and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥125.93.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.4399, amid speculation that the German consumer sentiment would show a drop.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% lower against the JPY ¥110.8.
• The USD is trading higher against most other currencies amid speculation on whether the US Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, would consider additional measures to boost US economy.
• Yesterday, the USD closed higher against the EUR, after German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, reiterated her opposition to both breaking up the Eurozone and issuing bonds backed by European countries.
• The JPY settled lower against the USD, despite speculation that Tokyo would intervene directly in the foreign exchange market to curb the currency.
• The AUD and NZD ended lower against the USD, as most Asian equity markets traded lower, decreasing the demand for high yielding assets.
• The Canadian dollar gained against all of its major peers, as US durable-goods orders rose more than forecast.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.2% higher today, at $1,753.15 per ounce.
• Gold for December plunged 5.6% or $104 to end at $1,757.30 per ounce yesterday, as demand for the safe haven asset waned amid speculation that the global economy is recovering, after US durable-goods orders and home prices data surpassed market expectations.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.1 % lower at $85.10 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude for October declined 0.3% or $0.28 to settle at $85.15 per barrel, amid fears of decrease in energy demand, after Moody’s Investors Service cut Japan’s debt rating, and amid speculation that the US Energy Department report would show an increase in crude oil inventories for the week ended 19 August.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.