Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 declined 2.3% or 126.6 to 5,292.0.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index declined 2.5% to 948.6.
• DJIA dropped 2.2% or 253.3 points to close at 11,240.3. NASDAQ tumbled 2.6% or 65.7 points to settle at 2,480.3. S&P 500 fell 2.5% or 30.5 points to end at 1,174.0.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.7% lower, at 8,802.2.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.8 % lower at $85.80 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% lower against the USD at $1.6181, marginally 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1419, and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥124.19.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed sharply lower on Friday, led by losses in banking and mining sector stocks, as disappointing US jobs data dampened market sentiments, adding to signs that the global economic recovery would falter.
• Banking stocks, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland Group, plummeted between 5.4% and 8.4%, as risk aversion increased among investors.
• Miners, Kazakhmys, Xstrata and Rio Tinto Group, declined between 2.5% and 3.4%, as base metal prices retreated.
• Oil stocks, BP, Cairn energy and Royal Dutch Shell, fell between 1.9% and 3.6%, tracking a decline in crude oil prices.
• BP lost value after Halliburton announced that it has filed a new lawsuit against BP.
• Pharmaceutical stock, AstraZeneca, eased 3.7%, after a trial of its cholesterol drug, Crestor, failed to meet expected results.
• FTSE 100 declined 2.3% to 5,292.0. FTSE 250 fell 1.9 % to 10,381.0.
• Banking stocks, Barclays Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland Group, plummeted between 5.4% and 8.4%, as risk appetite decreased among investors.
• Glencore tumbled 6.7%, tracking a fall in commodity prices.
• Anglo American shed 4.7%, tracking lower base metal prices.
• Precious metal stocks, Randgold Resources and Fresnillo, added 4.3% and 0.5% respectively, tracking higher gold and silver prices.
• Tullow oil gained 0.3%, amid bid speculation from Cnooc.
• Compass Group advanced 0.1%, after it acquired school meals group Cygnet.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% lower against the USD at $1.6181, marginally 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1419, and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥124.19.
• The EUR is trading 0.3% lower against the USD at $1.4168, amid speculation that the European nations would struggle to restrain the region’s debt crisis, after talks between the Greek government and international financial organizations were put on hold.
• The EUR is 0.3% lower against the JPY ¥108.75, after an election loss for German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party in her home state added to concerns that opposition to any solution to a deepening crisis is growing.
• The WON declined against the USD, after reports showed that global funds sold more Korean stocks than they bought, following net purchases of $1.17 billion last week.
• On Friday, the USD closed lower against the CHF, amid speculation that the Federal Reserve would take additional steps to stimulate growth, after US Labour Department reported that job growth stalled in August.
• The CHF closed higher against all its major currencies, after weaker-than-expected US job data and increasing concerns about the global economy, increased demand for safe haven assets.
• The AUD ended higher against the USD, amid speculation that the Australian Reserve Bank would cut borrowing costs.
• The NZD / USD closed higher after New Zealand’s government announced that it would be able to maintain its forecast payout to farmers, boosting strength in the economy.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.1% lower today, at $1,880.5 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery rose 2.6% or $47.80 to $1,876.90 per ounce on Friday, as worse-than-expected US job data and renewed concerns about the Greek debt problems, forced investors to purchase the yellow metal as a safe haven asset.
• In Asia, crude oil for October delivery is trading 0.8 % lower at $85.80 per barrel.
• On Friday, crude oil for October delivery eased 2.8% or $2.48 to settle at $86.45 per barrel, amid worries over demand prospects, after the US Labour Department report showed that employment in the US unexpectedly stagnated in August.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.