Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 shed 1.3% to end at 5,139.8.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index declined 1.3% or 12.0 points settle at 902.2.
• DJIA declined 2.1% to close at 11,257.5. NASDAQ slumped 2.4% to settle at 2,460.1. S&P 500 lost 2.2% to end at 1,161.8.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.4% lower, at 8,199.0.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 0.3% or $0.24 higher at $96.41 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.5555, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1627, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥119.88.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Shares Trading Signals

• UK markets slid sharply yesterday, with the FTSE 100 index extending its losing streak for the eighth day, after Germany missed its fund-raising target at a recent bond auction, increasing concerns about the Europe’s debt crisis. Further, downbeat economic data from China, Europe and the US weighed on investor sentiment.
• Insurer, Prudential slid 3.5%, as markets remained sceptical over the management’s ability to meet targets.
• Among fund managers, Man Group, the top decliner on the FTSE 100 index, fell 10.0%, while Ashmore and Schroders lost 3.6% and 4.3%, respectively, amid concern that the global turmoil would trigger another wave of redemptions.
• BHP Billiton, Anglo American and Rio Tinto declined between 1.4% and 2.3%, as Australia’s lower parliament passed legislation for a 30% tax on miners.
• Fresnillo fell 2.5%, as Chinese manufacturing PMI data showed a drop in November.
• FTSE 100 shed 1.3% to 5,139.8. FTSE 250 lost 1.4% to 9,568.8.
• Glencore International advanced 2.4%, after the company was included in the Stoxx Europe 600 index.
• Fund managers, Man Group, Schroders and Ashmore, sank between 3.6% and 10.0%, amid concerns that the global economic turmoil would deteriorate future fund cash flow.
• Royal Bank of Scotland lost 5.9%, as risk aversion increased among spread betting investors.
• Essar Energy dropped 4.8%, in line with a fall in crude oil prices.
• Burberry Group declined 4.5%, amid demand worries, after disappointing Chinese manufacturing PMI data.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Spread Betting Markets

• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.5555, marginally lower against the EUR at €1.1627, and 0.1% lower against the JPY at ¥119.88.
• The EUR is trading 0.3% higher against the USD at $1.3379.
• The EUR is trading marginally lower against the JPY at ¥103.11.
• The EUR is trading lower against the JPY, ahead of Italy’s bond auction scheduled tomorrow and as Germany failed to secure bids for 35.0% of the 10-year government bonds.
• The JPY is trading higher against most of its 16 major peers, amid speculation that German business confidence index dropped for a fifth month, forcing investors to invest in safe haven assets.
• Yesterday, the USD closed higher against the EUR, amid mounting concerns about the European debt crisis, after Germany received insufficient bids at a bond auction.
• The USD closed higher against all of its major peers, as European services and manufacturing index shrank in November and as PMI data signalled a decline in China’s manufacturing activity, increasing the demand for safe haven currency.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading marginally lower today, at $1,689.65 per ounce.
• Gold for December delivery declined 0.4% or $6.50 to settle at $1,695.90 per ounce yesterday, 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 0.3% or $0.24 higher at $96.41 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for January delivery dropped 1.9% or $1.84 to $96.17 per barrel. This came amid expectation of a decrease in energy demand, after data showed that manufacturing activity in China and the Eurozone slowed down in November. Additionally, a rise in dollar also weighed on crude oil prices.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.