Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 added 0.8% to settle at 5,529.2.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index added 1.3% or 12.2 points to settle at 985.8.
• DJIA rose 1.6% to close at 12,184.3. NASDAQ climbed 1.9% to settle at 2,646.9. S&P 500 soared 1.7% to settle at 1,255.2.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.6% higher, at 8,672.2.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 0.1% or $0.12 lower at $99.29 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% lower against the USD at $1.5637, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1716, and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥121.39.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK financial spread betting markets closed higher on Friday, after the Eurozone leaders agreed on a new inter-governmental treaty that would lead to closer fiscal union in the region at the EU summit in Brussels.
• Lloyds Banking Group, the top gainer on the FTSE 100 index, jumped 6.5%, while Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays climbed 5.1% and 5.4%, respectively, after Britain rejected the EU plan.
• Banking stocks also rose after the recent stress test results indicated that UK banks were sufficiently capitalized.
• Among mining sector stocks, Xstrata, Eurasian Natural Resources and Antofagasta rallied between 2.2% and 3.0%, tracking a rise in base metal prices.
• BG Group jumped 1.2%, as Nomura reiterated its “Buy” rating on the stock.
• Outsourcing group, Capita rose 1.5%, after it received approval from the Office of Fair Trading to acquire Vertex.
• FTSE 100 added 0.8% to settle at 5,529.2, while FTSE 250 edged up 0.4% to close at 10,130.6.
• Banking stocks, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays and RBS, surged between 5.1% and 6.5%, after the recent stress test results indicated that UK banks were sufficiently capitalized.
• Miners, Antofagasta, Eurasian Natural Resources and Kazakhmys, climbed between 2.6% and 3.0%, following higher base metal prices.
• Insurers, Prudential and Aviva, rose 2.9% and 2.3%, respectively, benefiting from a recovery in the equity markets.
• Fresnillo added 2.3%, as silver prices increased.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

FX Futures Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% lower against the USD at $1.5637, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1716, and 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥121.39.
• The EUR is trading 0.3% lower against the USD at $1.3347.
• The EUR/JPY is trading 0.3% lower at ¥103.62, as Italy and France prepare to sell bills amid concern that the region’s debt crisis is spreading to other economies.
• The USD closed higher against most of its major peers, amid speculation that a German report, scheduled to be released, would show that investor confidence in the country slid to a three-year low, boosting demand for safer assets.
• The AUD closed lower against most of its major peers, following a report that showed that Australian trade surplus narrowed to A$1.6 billion in October from a revised A$2.25 billion in September.
• On Friday, the EUR closed higher against the USD, after the European leaders agreed on closer fiscal ties and other instruments to prevent the escalation of the European debt crisis, increasing the demand for riskier assets.
• The CAD ended higher against the USD, as a rise in US consumer confidence and Europe’s latest plan to resolve the debt crisis, increased the demand for the high yielding currency.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.9% lower today, at $1,695.79 per ounce.
• Gold for February delivery advanced 0.2% or $3.40 to end at $1,716.80 per ounce on Friday. This came as the dollar fell against the major currencies, increasing the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 0.1% or $0.12 lower at $99.29 per barrel.
• On Friday, crude oil for January delivery added 1.1% or $1.07 to settle at $99.41 per barrel. This came amid expectation of an increase in energy demand, as European leaders agreed on new tighter fiscal rules to boost the region’s rescue fund, and after a report showed that confidence among US consumers rose to a six-month high.
• Crude oil prices rose as they were supported by a fall in the dollar against the euro.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.