Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 edged down 0.5% to end at 5,519.0.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index declined 0.9% or 9.2 points to 975.5.
• DJIA edged down 0.6% to close at 12,079.0. NASDAQ slid 0.8% to settle at 2,657.2. S&P 500 lost 1.0% to end at 1,251.8.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.7% lower, at 8,540.0.
• In Asia, crude oil for December delivery is trading marginally lower at $98.11 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.5890, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1674, and marginally higher against the JPY at ¥122.59.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets ended lower yesterday, surrendering opening gains, amid investor caution over the ability of new governments in Italy and Greece to resolve the sovereign debt crisis.
• Vedanta Resources, the top laggard on the FTSE 100 index, fell 3.6%, while Rio Tinto and Xstrata lost 1.3% and 1.8%, respectively, as EU industrial production fell 2.0% in September from August, and as metal prices fell.
• Among banking sector stocks, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays declined between 1.6% and 2.7%, amid worries over their exposure to European debt.
• A downgrade at Goldman Sachs to “Sell” from “Neutral”, also hit Barclays.
• Insurance groups, Prudential, Legal and General and Resolution slipped between 1.9% and 2.6%, amid concerns over their asset base.
• FTSE 100 edged down 0.5% to end at 5,519.0. FTSE 250 inched 0.4%lower to settle at 10,347.8.
• ITV rose 3.3%, after it reported a 4.0% rise in its nine-month revenues.
• Burberry Group advanced 3.2%, ahead of its first half results.
• Smith & Nephew climbed 2.6%, after Exane BNP Paribas raised its recommendation on the stock to “Outperform” from “Neutral”.
• Vodafone added 1.5%, after US business journal Barron’s stated that Vodafone was undervalued.
• Financial sector stocks, Standard Chartered, Barclays and RBS, fell between 2.3% and 3.2%, as risk appetite deceased among investors.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

UK Foreign Exchange Trading News

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.5890, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1674, and marginally higher against the JPY at ¥122.59.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.3612.
• The EUR is trading marginally lower against the JPY at ¥105.02.
• The EUR is trading lower against the all of its major peers, ahead of a report that might show German investor confidence fell to a three-year low.
• The AUD trimmed losses against the USD. This came after minutes of the recent meeting of the Reserve Bank of Australia revealed that the central bank may keep its borrowing costs unchanged to await the expansionary effects of high commodity prices and the resource investment boom.
• Yesterday, the EUR closed lower against the USD. This came as five-year Italian government bonds came at the highest cost for the government since 1997 and after Spain’s yields relative to Germany’s reached to a record high.
• The GBP ended lower against the USD. This came after the CIPD reported that its index of UK hiring fell to -3 in the fourth-quarter from -1 in the third-quarter, adding that private sector would grow at a slower pace over the next three months.
• 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 $1,778.12 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery fell 0.5% or $9.70 to settle at $1,778.40 per ounce yesterday. This came as the dollar rose against the major currencies, dampening the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• Gold lost value as investors took advantage of recent gains and preferred to book profits.
• In Asia, crude oil for December delivery is trading marginally lower at $98.11 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude for December delivery declined 0.9% or 85 cents to end at $98.14 per barrel. This came as the rise in dollar decreased the demand for the commodities as an alternative investment, and amid speculation that a slowdown in global economy would curb energy demand.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.