Spread Trading Markets Snapshot

• FTSEurofirst 300 index declined marginally to 969.2.
• DJIA edged down 0.7% or 77.0 points, to close at 11,405.9. NASDAQ lost 1.2% or 31.8 points to settle at 2,523.5. S&P 500 dipped 1.0% or 11.7 points to 1,192.8.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.9% lower, at 9,021.4.
• In Asia, crude oil for September delivery is trading 27 cents higher at $86.92 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally against the USD at $1.6433, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1416 and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥125.99.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread trading on indices.

Spread Trading UK Markets

• UK markets closed mixed yesterday, as losses in miners and oil producers were offset by gains in precious metal miners and stocks receiving upgrades from brokers.
• The FTSE 100 index traded lower earlier in the session, after data showed that the economies of the Eurozone and Germany grew less than forecast in the second quarter.
• Miners, Vedanta Resources, Xstrata and Eurasian Natural Resources, lost between 0.3% and 3.0%, as base metal prices fell.
• Oil related stocks, Petrofac, Cairn Energy and BP, declined between 0.1% and 2.3%, tracking lower crude oil prices.
• Precious metal miners, Randgold resources and Fresnillo climbed 4.1% and 3.6%, respectively, as gold and silver prices rose.
• Old Mutual and British American Tobacco advanced 2.5% and 2.0% respectively, as various brokers took a positive stance on these stocks.
• The FTSE 100 index erased losses in the final minutes of trading, helped by encouraging US economic data and after Fitch Ratings affirmed its “AAA” credit rating on the US.
• FTSE 100 added 0.1% to 5,357.6. FTSE 250 fell 1.1% to 10,412.7.
• Randgold resources climbed 4.1%, as gold for December delivery added 1.5% to $1,785 per ounce.
• Fresnillo advanced 3.6%, as silver for September delivery rose 1.3% to $39.82 per ounce.
• Old Mutual gained 2.5%, as JPMorgan Cazenove upgraded the stock to “Overweight” from “Neutral”.
• Kingfisher rose 2.3%, amid speculation that Home Depot or Lowe’s might bid for the company.
• British American Tobacco gained 2.0%, after Nomura increased its price target on the stock.
• Miners, Vedanta Resource, Antofagasta and Kazakhmys, dropped between 2.0% and 3.0%, as copper for September delivery lost 4 cents to $3.99 per pound.
• Glencore International declined 2.7%, ahead of its interim results due on Thursday.
• Oil related stocks, Petrofac and Essar Energy lost 2.3% and 2.1% respectively, as crude oil for September delivery fell $1.23 to $86.65 per barrel.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread trading on UK shares.

Forex Spread Trading Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally against the USD at $1.6433, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1416 and the GBP / JPY is 0.1% lower at ¥125.99.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.4391.
• The EUR is trading slightly lower against the JPY at ¥110.34, after German and French leaders rejected calls for a joint-borrowing plan to curb the Eurozone debt crisis.
• The NZD is trading lower against the most of its major currencies, after Auckland-based Fonterra Cooperative Group stated that whole-milk powder prices fell to the lowest in more than a year.
• The AUD is trading lower against most of its major currencies, after data indicated that the country’s wage price index rose in line with market expectations in the second quarter and a leading economic index came marginally changed in June.
• Yesterday, the GBP ended higher against the EUR, after a report showed that UK Consumer Price Index rose to 4.4% in July from 4.2% in June.
• The EUR ended lower against the USD, after data showed that the economies of the Eurozone and Germany grew less than forecast in the second quarter.
• The CAD ended lower against the USD, as a fall in crude oil prices decreased the demand for the commodity linked currency.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread trading.

Commodities Spread Trading Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading marginally lower today, at $1,785.03 per ounce.
• Gold prices for December delivery gained 1.5% or $27 to $1,785 per ounce yesterday, as investors’ mounting concerns about the pace of the economic recovery spurred investment in the precious metal as a safe haven asset.
• In Asia, crude oil for September delivery is trading 27 cents higher at $86.92 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for September delivery closed 1.4% or $1.23 lower at $86.65 per barrel, amid worries over future energy demand. This came after data showed that the economy in the Eurozone and Germany grew more slowly-than-expected in the second quarter.
• Oil prices came under pressure as the stronger dollar decreased the demand for the commodities as an alternative investment.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread trading.