Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 advanced 1.0% to close at 5,567.3.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index added 0.9% or 9.1 points to 983.8.
• DJIA added 0.8% to close at 12,170.2.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.7% higher, at 8,715.0.
• In Asia, crude oil for December delivery is trading 0.1% or $0.12 higher at $96.92 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally higher against the USD at $1.6102, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1640, and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥124.91.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Equities Trading News

• UK markets closed higher yesterday, as a flurry of upbeat corporate earnings lifted market sentiment, and amid speculation that Italian Prime Minister would resign shortly.
• Vodafone rose 1.8%, following robust earnings forecast. Lloyds Banking Group, the top riser on the FTSE 100 index, surged 4.4%, after posting better-than-expected consolidated results.
• Among fund managers, Ashmore and Hargreaves Lansdown added 2.2% and 2.9%, respectively, following a change in market sentiment.
• Man Group rose 3.1%, after HSBC reiterated its “Overweight” rating on the stock.
• Property stocks, Land Securities and British Land advanced 2.1% and 3.9%, respectively, following a better-than-expected trading update from their peer, Segro.
• Mining shares, Rio Tinto, Anglo American and Vedanta Resources advanced between 1.5% and 2.5%, tracking a rise in base metal prices.
• FTSE 100 advanced 1.0% to 5,567.3. FTSE 250 rose 1.1% to 10,419.3.
• Lloyds Banking Group rose 4.4%, as its third-quarter results surpassed market expectations, and after it affirmed its full-year earnings estimates.
• British Land advanced 3.9%, after its peer Segro reported better-than-expected earnings.
• Man Group added 3.1%, after HSBC reiterated its “Overweight” advice on the stock.
• Prudential gained 3.0%, after it reported a rise in nine-month sales.
• AstraZeneca fell 3.2%, after it failed to meet late-stage trial of an anti-depressant product.
• InterContinental Hotels Group declined 2.0%, after revenue growth from its rooms slowed in October.
• International Airlines Group eased 1.9%, after Credit Suisse trimmed its target on the stock.
• 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 $1.6102, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1640, and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥124.91.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the USD at $1.3832.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥107.31.
• The JPY is trading higher against all of its major peers, amid easing concerns that the Bank of Japan would act to weaken the Yen.
• The AUD is trading lower against the USD and the JPY, amid speculation that Australian unemployment might show a rise in October.
• Yesterday, the USD closed lower against the EUR. This came amid news that the Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi would resign once austerity measures received Parliamentary backing, easing investors’ concerns about the sovereign debt crisis.
• The CAD closed higher against the USD, following higher-than-expected Canadian housing starts, and after the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi agreed to resign.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.1% higher today, at $1,791.59 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery rose 0.5% or $8.10 to end at $1,799.20 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.
• Gains were limited for gold amid positive Germany’s exports data and a rise in equity markets.
• In Asia, crude oil for December delivery is trading 0.1% or $0.12 higher at $96.92 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for December delivery advanced 1.3% or $1.28 to settle at $96.80 per barrel, after crude inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma, fell 4.4% in the first three days of the month. The advance also came after OPEC and EIA forecasted stronger growth in global crude oil demand.
• Crude oil was supported by a fall in the dollar against the euro.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.