Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 added 1.0% or 52.8 points to close at 5,227.0.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 1.4% or 12.8 points to 913.2.
• DJIA rose 1.3% or 140.9 points to close at 11,246.7. NASDAQ climbed 1.6% or 40.4 points to settle at 2,572.6. S&P 500 gained 1.4% or 15.8 points to end at 1,188.7.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.4% higher, at 8,640.0.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.3% lower at $88.63 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.5756, trading flat against the EUR at €1.1471, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥120.84.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed higher yesterday, led by a gain in retail sector stocks, despite a rating downgrade of two French banks, as debt crisis fears in Europe receded, ahead of the teleconference between the leaders of Greece, France and Germany.
• Retailer, Next, the top gainer on FTSE 100, soared 6.3%, as it raised its full-year profit guidance after posting an 8.5% rise in its first-half profit. Peers, Kingfisher, Marks & Spencer and Burberry rose between 2.4% and 5.6%.
• BP added 3.5%, as it announced its intention to double the size of the operations at the newly acquired Brazilian bio-fuel operations.
• Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group jumped 2.5%, 4.2% and 5.5%, respectively, amid optimism of a possible resolution to European debt crisis.
• FTSE 100 added 1.0% to 5,227.0, while FTSE 250 gained 1.0% to 10,107.9.
• Retailers, Next and Burberry, rallied 6.3% and 5.6%, respectively, after the former reported a rise in its first-half earnings.
• Banking stocks, Lloyds Banking Group and RBS, soared 5.3% and 4.2%, respectively, as risk aversion decreased among investors.
• BP rose 3.5%, after the company announced two acquisitions.
• Imperial Tobacco Group declined 2.0%, after Bank of America trimmed its fourth-quarter earnings estimates.
• Land Securities and British Land eased 1.8% and 1.5%, respectively, after Societe Generale downgraded both the stocks to “Sell” from “Hold”.
• Randgold Resources dropped 0.5%, tracking lower gold prices.
• Rio Tinto fell 0.5%, in line with a fall 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% lower against the USD at $1.5756, trading flat against the EUR at €1.1471, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥120.84.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.3738, following reports that Spain would sell as much as €4.0 billion of bonds at its auction today. The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥105.35.
• The AUD is trading lower against the USD after the statistics bureau’s new methodology for calculating seasonally adjusted inflation indicated that the Reserve Bank of Australia’s core measures might have been lower last quarter.
• The NZD / USD is trading higher after New Zealand’s central bank kept interest rates unchanged and stated that it would not raise interest rates until the global recovery strengthens.
• Yesterday, the GBP ended weak against the USD after a report showed that jobless-benefit claims increased last month, boosting speculation that central-bank might consider asset purchases to revive economic growth.
• The EUR ended higher against the USD, after leaders of France, Germany and Greece agreed that Greece would remain in the Eurozone, easing investors concerns about European debt crisis.
• The AUD closed lower against the USD, on speculation that Australia’s Central Bank would not increase interest rates.
• The CAD ended lower against the USD, as oil and copper prices dropped decreasing the demand for the commodity linked currency.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.4% lower today, at $1,815.8 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery dropped 0.2% or $3.60 to end at $1,826.50 per ounce yesterday. This came as concerns about the Eurozone debt crisis eased amid speculation that China might support Europe, eroding the demand for the yellow metal as a safe haven asset.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.3% lower at $88.63 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for October delivery declined 1.4% or $1.30 to settle at $88.91per barrel. This came after the US Energy Information Administration report showed that gasoline inventories increased in the country, offsetting a higher-than-expected decline in crude oil inventories.
• Crude oil also declined after a report showed that US retail sales unexpectedly stalled in August, increasing concerns over the strength of the economy and demand for fuel.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.