Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 slumped 1.8% to settle at 5,427.9.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index dropped 1.9% or 18.3 points to settle at 967.5.
• DJIA declined 1.3% to close at 12,021.4. NASDAQ lost 1.3% to settle at 2,612.3. S&P 500 slumped 1.5% to settle at 1,236.5.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.9% lower, at 8,576.1.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 0.2% or $0.16 higher at $97.93 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.5614, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1830, and 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥121.57.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets slumped yesterday, after Moody’s Investors Service placed Eurozone countries under review citing doubts over the success of the recent summit aimed to resolve the European debt crisis, dampening investors’ sentiment.
• Lloyds Banking Group, the top laggard on the FTSE 100 index, declined 8.6%, while Barclays shed 4.6%, amid renewed worries over the Eurozone debt crisis.
• Royal Bank of Scotland Group slipped 6.5%, after the UK Financial Services Authority report revealed reasons for the near-collapse of the bank in 2008.
• Among mining sector stocks, Xstrata, Antofagasta and Kazakhmys retreated between 5.6% and 6.7%, amid speculation that a slowdown in China’s industrial output would decrease demand for copper.
• ENRC dropped 7.4%, amid speculation that Britain's Serious Fraud Office has launched a formal corruption investigation into the company.
• FTSE 100 slumped 1.8% to 5,427.9, while FTSE 250 tumbled 2.3% to close at 9,901.2.
• Diageo gained 1.0%, as it launched a TV advertising campaign to promote its popular alcoholic drink, ahead of the Christmas season.
• Imperial Tobacco Group and British American Tobacco, rose 0.5% and 0.1%, respectively, after Investec raised its price target on both the stocks.
• Banking stocks, Lloyds Banking Group and RBS sank 8.6% and 6.5%, respectively, as risk aversion increased among investors.
• Essar Energy fell 8.5%, after India reported that factory output had declined for the first time in more than two years.
• ENRC plummeted 7.4%, amid speculation that Britain's Serious Fraud Office has launched a formal corruption investigation into the company.
• Miners, Kazakhyms, Xstrata and Antofagasta, slumped between 5.6% and 6.7%, amid speculation that a slowdown in China’s industrial output would decrease demand for copper.
• Fresnillo lost 6.5%, in line with a fall in silver prices.
• Aviva fell 6.3%, tracking a fall in its European peers.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Foreign Exchange Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.5614, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1830, and 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥121.57.
• The EUR is trading 0.3% higher against the USD at $1.3198. The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥102.76.
• Greece is scheduled to sell £1.25 billion of six month bills, while Spain would auction 12 and 18 month debt today. The Federal Reserve will also hold its final policy meeting of the year, later today, but is not expected to announce any policy measures. Markets also await data on German investor sentiment and US retail sales.
• The AUD is trading lower against the USD as increased risk aversion hurt commodity linked currencies. A National Australia Bank survey indicated that Australian business confidence remained unchanged in November.
• The NZD is trading steady against the USD after Auckland-based Fonterra Cooperative Group, raised its milk payout forecast to farmers for the year through May.
• Yesterday, the EUR closed lower against the USD, after Moody’s Investors Service announced that it would review the credit ratings of European Union member states after last week’s summit, increasing demand for safer assets.
• The USD closed higher against most of its major peers, amid renewed concerns that European policymakers were not doing enough to stem the region’s sovereign-debt crisis, dampened demand for riskier assets.
• The CHF closed lower against the EUR, amid speculation that the Swiss National Bank would weaken the currency at its quarterly policy meeting on 15 December.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.6% lower today, at $1,655.42 per ounce.
• Gold futures for February delivery fell 2.8% or $48.60 to end at $1,668.20 per ounce yesterday. This came as the dollar rose against the major currencies, decreasing the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 0.2% or $0.16 higher at $97.93 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for January delivery declined 1.7% or $1.64 to settle at $97.77 per barrel. This came amid renewed concerns about the European debt crisis, after Moody’s Investors Service stated that it would review its ratings for countries in the European region. Additionally, a rise in dollar also weighed on crude oil prices.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.