Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 surged 1.5% to close at 5,696.7.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index climbed 1.8% to end at 1,027.2.
• DJIA climbed 0.6% to close at 12,462.5. NASDAQ added 1.0% to end at 2,702.5. S&P 500 rose 0.9% to settle at 1,292.1.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.2% higher, at 8,438.2.
• In Asia, crude oil for February delivery is trading 0.4% or 39 cents lower at $101.85 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.5457, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.2128, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥118.85.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Equities Trading Review

• UK markets ended higher yesterday, after China posted a higher-than-expected trade surplus and as Fitch reiterated that it was not mulling to cut France’s AAA debt rating in 2012.
• Among energy stocks, Cairn Energy gained 3.3%, after it provided details of a planned $3.5 billion payout to shareholders following the sale of a majority stake in its Indian business to Vedanta Resources.
• Kazakhmys, Vedanta Resources and Antofagasta jumped between 5.0% and 5.9%, after data indicated that China’s imports of copper touched a record high in December.
• Precious metal miners, Randgold Resources and Fresnillo advanced 4.6% and 5.7%, respectively, led by a surge in gold and silver prices.
• Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays logged gains of 5.3% and 5.7%, respectively, amid improvement in investors’ sentiment.
• Aviva added 2.7%, amid speculation of receiving a takeover bid from Chinese insurer Ping An.
• FTSE 100 surged 1.5% to close at 5,696.7, while FTSE 250 climbed 0.9% to end at 10,347.7.
• Miners, Kazakhmys, Antofagasta and Vedanta Resources climbed between 5.0% and 5.9%, after a report showed that China’s copper imports rose 47.7% on YoY basis in December.
• Precious metal stocks, Fresnillo and Randgold Resources soared 5.7% and 4.6%, respectively, in line with a rise in silver and gold prices.
• Banking stocks, Barclays, RBS and Lloyds Banking Group surged between 4.3% and 5.7%, as risk appetite increased among investors.
• Aggreko declined 0.4%, after RBC downgraded the stock to “Sector Perform” on valuation grounds.
• Tesco dropped 0.1%,ahead of its trading update this week, after industry data for December showed that sales growth at the company had trailed competitors for a third straight month.
• 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 $1.5457, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.2128, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥118.85. British Chambers of Commerce stated that Bank of England’s stimulus might not be enough to revive UK’s economic growth.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.2745. The EUR / JPY currency pair is trading marginally lower at ¥98.0.
• The EUR is trading lower against the USD and the JPY, amid speculation that industrial production in the European region might show a decline for a third month in November.
• The USD is trading higher against the AUD and the NZD, ahead of Spain and Italy’s debt auction this week, amid speculation that the countries’ credit ratings might be downgraded.
• Yesterday, the EUR closed lower against the USD, after ratings agency Fitch warned that Italy still remains at substantial risk for an imminent downgrade.
• The AUD and the CAD ended higher against the USD, amid higher commodity prices, after China reported that its trade surplus had widened sharply in December to $16.52 billion, increasing the demand for the commodity linked currency.
• The GBP closed lower against the AUD and the NZD, amid speculation that China would take steps to drive economic growth, decreasing demand for the UK assets as a refuge.
• 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 $1,637.40 per ounce.
• Gold for February delivery added 1.5% or $23.40 to settle at $1,631.50 per ounce yesterday. This came as prospects of aggressive monetary easing from the world's key central banks and hopes for strong physical demand spurred investment in the yellow metal.
• In Asia, crude oil for February delivery is trading 0.4% or 39 cents lower at $101.85 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for February delivery advanced 0.9% or 93 cents to settle at $102.24 per barrel. This came amid growing concerns that the dispute between Iran and the western governments might lead to a disruption in Middle East crude exports.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.