Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 gained 0.9% or 46.1 points to close at 5,441.8.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 1.6% or 15.6 points to 977.0.
• DJIA gained 0.9% to close at 11,518.8. NASDAQ climbed 0.8% to settle at 2,604.7. S&P 500 rose 1.0% to end at 1,207.3.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.1% higher, at 8,830.3.
• In Asia, crude oil for November delivery is trading 0.8% or 66 cents lower at $84.91 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally higher against the USD at $1.5737, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1417, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥121.23.
• 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 mining sector stocks, amid optimism over increase in Chinese demand and as Slovakia agreed to pass a new vote to support the expansion of the eurozone bailout fund. Additionally, a call by EC president Jose Manuel Barroso to establish a permanent bailout fund by the middle of 2012, one year ahead of schedule, buoyed market sentiment.
• Among mining stocks, ENRC, the top gainer on the FTSE 100 index, surged 7.4%, on news that the company’s customers have agreed to hold ferrochrome prices for the fourth-quarter.
• Among banking stocks, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays climbed 2.0% and 6.4%, respectively, as Society Generale issued an upbeat note on UK banks.
• Insurer, Aviva gained 5.6%, as Numis initiated coverage on the stock with a “Buy” rating.
• Burberry climbed 3.5%, after it reported fiscal second-quarter sales that surpassed market expectations.
• FTSE 100 gained 0.9% to 5,441.8, while FTSE 250 rose 1.6% to 10,320.0.
• ENRC surged 7.4%, on news that the company’s customers have agreed to hold ferrochrome prices for the fourth-quarter.
• Miners, Antofagasta, Xstrata and Vedanta Resources, soared between 4.1% and 6.9%, in line with a rise in metal prices.
• Barclays rallied 6.4%, tracking gains in its European peers.
• Insurer, Aviva gained 5.6%, as Numis initiated coverage on the stock with a “Buy” rating.
• Man Group tumbled 6.0%, after the company stated that its flagship AHL fund lost 5.5% of its value last week.
• Tullow Oil lost 3.9%, after Uganda voted to delay the company’s $2.9 billion asset sale.
• Fresnillo declined 2.0%, after the company reported a drop in its quarterly silver production.
• 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 $1.5737, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1417, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥121.23.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.3785, ahead of the European Commission President Jose Barroso’s speech in Brussel. This also came amid optimism that Slovakia would approve Europe’s enhanced bailout fund completing the ratification process across the 17 euro countries.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥106.19.
• The JPY is trading higher against the USD, on speculation that Japanese exporters bought the currency.
• The AUD is trading higher against the USD, following a report that showed that Australia’s jobless rate fell for the first time since March as number of people employed rose more-than-forecast.
• Yesterday, the EUR ended higher against the USD. This came on hopes that European leaders would contain the sovereign-debt crisis, after Slovakia’s political parties agreed to pave the way for the parliament to approve enhancements to the EFSF, increasing the demand for high yielding assets.
• The CHF closed higher against the USD and the EUR, amid optimism that the Swiss National Bank would adjust its cap to further weaken the currency.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading marginally higher today, at $1,679.41 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery added 1.3% or $21.60 to end at $1,682.60 per ounce yesterday. This came as the dollar weakened against the major currencies, increasing the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• In Asia, crude oil for November delivery is trading 0.8% or 66 cents lower at $84.91 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for November delivery dropped 0.3% or 24 cents to end at $85.57 per barrel. This came after minutes from the latest FOMC meeting showed Federal Reserve officials were concerned about the economic growth.
• Crude oil prices lost value amid speculation that US crude-oil inventories rose by 800,000 barrels last week. However, losses were limited on hopes that the European lawmakers would resolve the sovereign-debt crisis and as the dollar depreciated against the euro.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.