Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 surged 1.1% to close at 5,552.3.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 1.0% or 9.3 points to 985.3.
• DJIA declined marginally to close at 12,019.4. NASDAQ rose slightly to settle at 2,626.9. S&P 500 ended marginally lower at 1,244.3.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.4% higher, at 8,680.1.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 40 cents higher at $101.36 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.5605, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1632, and 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥121.661.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed higher on Friday, led by a rise in banking sector stocks, after French and German leaders called for a greater degree of fiscal union, easing concerns about the European debt crisis. Additionally, upbeat employment data from the US boosted market sentiment.
• Among mining sector stocks, Rio Tinto, Antofagasta, Xstrata, BHP Billiton and Kazakhmys advanced between 1.3% and 4.1%, as base metals prices rose.
• Eurasian Natural Resources added 1.8%, amid renewed speculation about a possible bid from Glencore.
• Banking stocks gained, with Barclays, the top gainer on the FTSE 100 index, rallying 7.6%, while Lloyds Banking Group increased 5.8%, as risk appetite increased among investors.
• Royal Bank of Scotland gained 5.3%, after it sold its pub business, Galaxy Pub Estate, to Scottish & Newcastle Pub.
• Interdealer broker, ICAP gained 7.2%, after BoA Merrill Lynch added the stock to its "Europe 1 focus list".
• FTSE 100 surged 1.1% to close at 5,552.3, while FTSE 250 soared 1.0% to settle at 10,307.3.
• Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group gained 7.6% and 5.3%, respectively, amid easing worries over the Europe’s contagion risk.
• ICAP gained 7.2%, after BoA Merrill Lynch added the stock to its "Europe 1 focus list".
• Royal Bank of Scotland gained 5.3%, after it sold its pub business, Galaxy Pub Estate for about £22 million.
• BHP Billiton and Kazakhmys logged gains of 4.0% and 4.1%, respectively, as base metal prices rose.
• Rolls-Royce Group shed 1.8%, after S&P slashed its rating on the stock to “Hold” from “Buy”.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Currencies Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.5605, 0.1% lower against the EUR at €1.1632, and 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥121.661.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.3415.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥104.592.
• The EUR is trading higher against the USD, ahead of the European leaders’ summit on the region’s sovereign debt crisis and as Italy approved a plan to cut its deficit.
• The EUR/JPY rose, amid speculation that the European Central Bank is planning to channel €200 billion through IMF to fight the debt crisis.
• The JPY fell against most of its peers after a report on Friday showed that the US jobless rate slid to the lowest level since March 2009, decreasing the demand for safe haven assets.
• The AUD and the NZD are trading higher after Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti announced a €30 billion of austerity and growth measures, increasing demand for riskier assets.
• On Friday, the USD closed higher against the EUR as key meetings in the Europe the following week prompted traders to unwind large positions.
• The USD reversed earlier loss against the CAD, after data showed that Canada’s November jobless rate unexpectedly rose to 7.4% from 7.3% in October.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading marginally lower today, at $1746.05 per ounce.
• Gold prices for February delivery gained 0.7% or $11.50 to $1,751.30 per ounce on Friday, as investors speculated that talk of more fiscal union in Europe would make way for further central-bank stimulus measures.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 40 cents higher at $101.36 per barrel.
• On Friday, crude oil for January delivery closed 0.8% or 76 cents higher at $100.96 per barrel. This came as a fall in US unemployment rate spurred hopes of an increase in future energy demand.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.