Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 shed 1.0% or 53.0 points to close at 5,075.5.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index declined 1.2% or 11.2 points to 912.3.
• DJIA slumped 2.4% or 258.1 points to close at 10,655.3. NASDAQ tumbled 3.3% or 79.6 points to settle at 2,335.8. S&P 500 shed 2.9% or 32.2 points to end at 1,099.2.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 2.0% lower, at 8,373.9.
• In Asia, crude oil for November delivery is trading 1.4% lower or $1.11 lower at $76.50 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.5444, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1699, and 0.2% higher against the JPY at ¥118.45.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed lower, amid renewed concerns over the debt situation in Greece.
• Among miners, Vedanta Resources, the top laggard on the FTSE 100 index, plunged 8.3%, while Rio Tinto and Xstrata retreated 2.4% and 3.6%, respectively. This came as Morgan Stanley reduced its outlook on the mining sector in the wake of diminishing prospects for global growth.
• Burberry Group extended its losses over the previous sessions, shedding 7.0%, amid concerns over its exposure to the Chinese market.
• Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Chartered lost between 3.2% and 4.5%.
• Precious metals miners, Fresnillo and Randgold Resources, bucked the trend, rising 1.1% and 3.7%, respectively, tracking a rise in gold prices.
• Sainsbury gained 2.3%, following an upgrade to “Buy” from “Hold” at RBS.
• FTSE 100 shed 1.0% to close at 5,075.5, while FTSE 250 slipped 0.7% to 9,750.6.
• Precious metal stocks, Randgold resources and Fresnillo, rose 3.7% and 1.1%, respectively, tracking higher gold and silver prices.
• Vedanta Resources sank 8.3%, as copper prices retreated.
• Burberry Group plummeted 7.0%, amid concerns over its exposure to the Chinese market.
• Aviva tumbled 5.5%, following report that the company might cut its stake in its insurance joint venture with First Financial Holding.
• Standard Chartered fell 4.5%, as risk appetite decreased among shares spread betting investors, amid speculation that Greece would not meet its deficit-reduction targets this year.
• 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 $1.5444, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1699, and 0.2% higher against the JPY at ¥118.45.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.3201. The EUR is trading 0.2% higher against the JPY at ¥101.25.
• The JPY is trading lower against the USD and the EUR, as Goldman Sachs Group cut its forecast for Japanese economic growth for this and the next year citing a global economic slowdown.
• The AUD is trading lower against the USD, as concerns that the global economy recovery is slowing, dampened demand for higher-yielding assets. AUD also dropped ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s meeting today, where policy makers are expected to hold interest rates
• The NZD is trading lower against the USD, following a report that showed New Zealand’s business confidence had eased in the three months to September.
• Yesterday, the EUR closed lower against the USD and JPY, as concerns about European sovereign debt crisis deepened. This came amid fears that Greece would not receive the next bailout package from international lenders, and after data showed that European manufacturing activity declined in September.
• The CAD ended lower against the USD, as concern that the US economy is faltering coupled with lower commodity prices decreased the demand for the commodity linked currency.
• The GBP closed lower against the USD, amid speculation that the Bank of England would purchase government-bonds to provide further stimulus to the economy.
• 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 $1,667.05 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery added 2.2% or $35.40 to end at $1,657.70 per ounce yesterday. This came as a decline in global equity markets and speculation that Greek’s sovereign-debt crisis might worsen, forced investors to purchase the yellow metal as a safe haven asset.
• In Asia, crude oil for November delivery is trading 1.4% lower or $1.11 lower at $76.50 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for November delivery dropped 2.0% or $1.59 to $77.61 per barrel. This came amid fears that Greece might default on its debt, after its government stated that it would fall short of its deficit target this year, overshadowing positive US economic data on manufacturing, construction and new vehicle sales.
• A retreat in the European manufacturing activity raised worries about future oil demand.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.