Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 edged down 0.2% to end at 5,127.6.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index eased 0.3% or 2.7 points settle to 899.5.
• US markets were closed yesterday for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 0.1% higher, at 8,174.7.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 0.4% or $0.38 higher at $96.55 per barrel
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.5459, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1617, and 0.2% higher against the JPY at ¥119.67.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Index Trading Signals

• UK markets closed on a mixed note yesterday, with the FTSE 100 index extending its losing streak for the ninth consecutive session.
• The FTSE 100 lost its earlier gains, after German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, again ruled out the issuance of eurobonds to contain the escalating eurozone debt crisis.
• Furthermore, sovereign rating downgrade of Portugal by Fitch Ratings also weighed on market sentiment.
• BAE Systems, lost 2.0%, amid criticism in the parliament on its plans to cut nearly 3,000 UK jobs.
• Marks & Spencer slid 0.5%, amid speculation that clothing director Kate Bostock might leave the firm.
• Associated British Foods and Tate & Lyle declined 0.4% and 1.4%, respectively.
• Among gainers, Weir Group rose 3.4%, after Credit Suisse raised its target price on the stock.
• Cable & Wireless Worldwide rallied 4.9%, after a broker upgraded the stock to “Buy” from “Sell”.
• Miners, Xstrata, Kazakhmys and Vedanta Resources gained between 1.7% and 2.8%, as copper prices rebounded.
• FTSE 100 edged down 0.2% to end at 5,127.6. FTSE 250 inched up 0.4% to settle at 9,601.9.
• RBS, Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group soared between 2.6% and 3.6%, tracking a rise in their European peers.
• Weir Group rose 3.4% after Credit Suisse raised its target price on the stock.
• Vedanta Resources gained 2.8%, in line with the rise in base metal prices.
• 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 $1.5459, 0.1% higher against the EUR at €1.1617, and 0.2% higher against the JPY at ¥119.67.
• In forex spread betting the EUR is trading 0.2% lower against the USD at $1.3307.
• The EUR is trading 0.1% higher against the JPY at ¥103.01.
• The EUR and the NZD are trading lower against the USD, ahead of an Italian bill auction, after the country’s two-year yield climbed 20 basis points yesterday to 7.32%, decreasing demand for higher yielding currencies.
• The JPY is trading lower against most of its major peers, after Standard & Poor’s stated yesterday that Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s administration’s lack of progress in tackling its public debt burden might put it at risk of a downgrade.
• Yesterday, the EUR closed lower against the USD, after Fitch Ratings cut Portugal credit ranking to below investment grade citing country’s weakening economy.
• 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 $1,692.98 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery declined 0.1% or $1.0 to settle at 1697.9 per ounce yesterday, as the dollar rose against the euro, decreasing the demand for the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 0.4% or $0.38 higher at $96.55 per barrel amid expectations for more Western sanctions against Iran and its oil industry.
• Floor trading was suspended yesterday for the US Thanksgiving Day holiday.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.