Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 soared 2.3% to close at 5,699.9.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index advanced 1.6% or 16.1 points to settle at 1,028.0.
• DJIA advanced 1.5% to close at 12,397.4. Nasdaq gained 1.7% to settle at 2,648.7. S&P 500 rose 1.5% to settle at 1,277.1.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.3% higher, at 8,563.1.
• In Asia, crude oil for February delivery is trading 0.3% or $0.28 lower at $102.69 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally lower against the USD at $1.5643, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1998, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥120.00.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Betting Markets

• UK markets closed higher yesterday, as upbeat manufacturing data from US, China, India and Australia overshadowed investors’ worries over the European debt crisis. Furthermore, an improvement in UK factory output added to the momentum.
• Among mining stocks, Kazakhmys, the top gainer on the FTSE 100 index, jumped 9.5%, while Xstrata, Rio Tinto and Antofagasta climbed between 5.6% and 7.4%, as base metal prices rallied.
• Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays rallied between 4.1% and 5.8%, as risk appetite improved among investors.
• Among retailers, Marks & Spencer Group added 1.9%, after Bank of America upgraded its rating on the stock to “Neutral” from “Underperform”.
• Burberry rose 4.9%, amid reports that China might announce steps to boost consumer spending.
• BAE Systems advanced 3.4%, after it bagged a £133 million contract from the Brazilian Navy.
• FTSE 100 soared 2.3% to close at 5,699.9, while FTSE 250 surged 2.6% to end at 10,362.0.
• Miners, Kazakhmys, Rio Tinto and Xstrata soared between 5.6% and 9.5%, as base metal prices rallied on upbeat manufacturing data from US, China, India and Australia.
• Essar Energy surged 6.8%, as crude oil prices increased.
• ENRC rose 6.0%, after Goldman Sachs issued a “Buy” rating on the stock.
• Shire declined 0.8%, amid worries that a shortage of hyperactivity drugs might put its sales at risk.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

UK FX Trading Review

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally lower against the USD at $1.5643, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1998, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥120.00.
• The EUR / USD is trading 0.1% lower at $1.3038. Investors await data on bookings for factory orders from the US Commerce Department, due today.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% lower against the JPY at ¥99.98. The EUR weakened against the JPY amid concern that the European sovereign-debt crisis would dent growth. Investors also await data on European services and manufacturing output for December, due today.
• The WON rose against the USD, as a rise in US manufacturing brightened the outlook for South Korean exporters and spurred demand for riskier assets.
• The AUD and EUR are trading lower against most of its major peers, amid concern that Germany, Portugal and France might lose their top credit rating, ahead of their bonds auctions this week. The EUR also lost value, amid speculation that European services and manufacturing activity would show a contraction for the fourth month in December.
• Yesterday, the EUR and the CAD ended higher against the USD, after US manufacturing activity expanded better-than-expected in December and after Germany’s unemployment numbers declined by a seasonally adjusted 22,000 to 2.88 million in December, its lowest since 1991.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.3% lower today, at $1,600.88 per ounce.
• Gold for February delivery rose 2.2% or $33.70, to end at $1,600.50 per ounce yesterday, as the dollar weakened against the major currencies, increasing the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• In Asia, crude oil for February delivery is trading 0.3% or $0.28 lower at $102.69 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil futures for February delivery surged 4.2% or $4.13 to end at $102.96 per barrel. This came after the Institute for Supply Management reported that its US factory index for December rose to 53.9 from 52.7 in November.
• Crude oil traded higher amid lingering concern that further sanctions against Iran might disrupt oil shipments.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.