Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 surged 1.1% to close at 5,545.6.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index added 1.9% or 18.5 points to 990.1.
• DJIA surged 1.8% to settle at 12,044.5. NASDAQ gained 2.2% to close at 2,698.0. S&P 500 jumped 1.9% to end at 1,261.2.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.4% higher, at 8,759.9.
• In Asia, crude oil for December delivery is trading 0.2% or $0.20 lower at $93.87 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.6012, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1597, and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥124.89.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed higher yesterday, following an unexpected rate cut by European Central Bank (ECB) and amid reports that Greece had cancelled the idea of holding a referendum on the European Union’s bailout plan.
• Commercial broadcaster, ITV, the top gainer on the FTSE 100 index, jumped 5.9%, as Credit Suisse reiterated its “Outperform” rating on the stock.
• RSA Insurance and Tate & Lyle gained 3.9% and 5.2%, respectively, following robust earnings reports.
• Aviva added 1.4%, as it reported strong operating performance in the nine months to September.
• Among miners, Antofagasta, Kazakhmys and Vedanta Resources gained between 1.4% and 3.6%, as base metal prices firmed up.
• Man Group rose 2.4%, after it reported a smaller-than-forecast decline in earnings in the first half.
• BT Group gained 2.8%, after its second-quarter earnings beat market expectations.
• FTSE 100 surged 1.1% to 5,545.6, while FTSE 250 soared 1.5% to settle at 10,406.7.
• ITV surged 5.9%, after Credit Suisse reiterated its “Outperform” rating on the stock.
• Fresnillo rallied 5.4%, in line with a rise in silver prices.
• Tate & Lyle soared 5.2%, after the company reported its fiscal first-half earnings that surpassed market expectations.
• RSA Insurance climbed 3.9%, after the company revealed that its net written premiums in the third-quarter rose 11.0%.
• Vedanta Resources rose 3.6%, tracking higher base metal prices.
• ICAP lost 1.6%, amid lingering concerns about the weak outlook for investment banking.
• Banking stocks, RBS and Lloyds Banking Group eased 1.4% and 1.0%, respectively, despite positive comments from a broker.
• Unilever slid 0.2 %, after the company stated that its profitability might fall 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% lower against the USD at $1.6012, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1597, and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥124.89.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.3806.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥107.69.
• The EUR is trading lower against the USD and the JPY, amid worries over the sovereign debt crisis, after Greece’s largest opposition party rejected sharing power with Papandreou, raising the prospect of elections.
• The USD is trading lower against the JPY, amid speculation that US jobs growth slowed and the unemployment rate remained unchanged, backing the case that the Federal Reserve might consider monetary easing.
• The AUD is trading lower against the USD and the JPY, after the Australian Central Bank cut forecasts for economic growth and inflation for the next two years.
• Yesterday, the EUR and the CAD ended higher against the USD, following reports that Greece would not hold a referendum on the bail-out package, encouraging demand for higher-yielding assets.
• 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 $1,759.42 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery advanced 2.1% or $35.50 to settle at $1,765.10 per ounce yesterday. This came as the dollar weakened against the euro, increasing the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• Gold also gained value after the US Institute for Supply Management reported that activity in the service sectors of the US economy expanded at a slightly slower pace in October, raising concerns about the country’s economy.
• In Asia, crude oil for December delivery is trading 0.2% or $0.20 lower at $93.87 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude for December delivery added 1.7% or $1.56 to end at $94.07 per barrel. This came as a decline in US jobless claims, an interest-rate cut by the European Central Bank and hopes that Greek would cancel a referendum on the latest bailout package, buoyed market sentiments.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.