Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 edged down 0.3% to settle at 5,387.3.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index declined 0.5% or 4.9 points to settle at 956.9.
• DJIA edged down marginally to close at 11,866.4. NASDAQ inched 0.6% higher to settle at 2,555.3. S&P 500 edged up 0.3% to settle at 1,219.7.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.1% lower, at 8,312.9.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 0.7% or $0.63 lower at $92.90 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading 0.1% lower against the USD at $1.5476, marginally higher against the EUR at €1.1912, and marginally lower against the JPY at ¥120.65.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Spread Bets Trading Review

• UK markets slid on Friday, amid ongoing concerns over the European sovereign debt crisis. However, losses were restricted, as mining sector stocks posted a rally.
• Essar Energy, the top laggard on the FTSE 100 index, declined 4.5%, as it was named in the on-going 2G mobile phone spectrum allocation investigation in India.
• Among fund managers, Hargreaves Lansdown slipped 2.9%, as Citigroup downgraded the stock to “Neutral” from “Buy”, while Man Group dropped 4.4%, after Deutsche Bank issued a “Sell” recommendation on the stock.
• British Sky Broadcasting lost 1.2%, after Bank of America downgraded the stock to “Neutral” from “Buy”.
• Kazakhmys rose 3.2%, after it secured a loan facility from the China Development Bank Corporation to develop its copper mine project in Kazakhstan, while Antofagasta rose 3.7%, as copper prices rebounded.
• FTSE 100 edged down 0.3% to settle at 5,387.3, while FTSE 250 inched 0.2% lower to close at 9,803.2.
• Antofagasta added 3.7%, after Societe Generale stated that the stock was under­valued.
• Kazakhmys rose 3.2%, after the company announced that it had secured a $1.5 billion loan facility from the China Development Bank Corporation for a project in Afghanistan.
• Precious metal stocks, Fresnillo and Randgold resources added 2.7% and 2.0%, respectively, in line with a rise in silver and gold prices.
• Miners, Xstrata and ENRC climbed between 2.3% and 1.8%, respectively, tracking higher base metal prices.
• Essar Energy sank 4.5%, as it was named in the on-going 2G mobile phone spectrum allocation investigation in India and delays in its plans to open electricity plants.
• Man Group lost 4.4%, after Deutsche Bank downgraded the stock to “Sell” from “Buy”.
• Capital Shopping Centres eased 2.8%, after Deutsche Bank cited concerns over the group’s own property valuations.
• International Power fell 2.1%, after its finance director, Mark Williamson, resigned to join GDF Suez.
• 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 $1.5476, marginally higher against the EUR at €1.1912, and marginally lower against the JPY at ¥120.65.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% lower against the USD at $1.3000, ahead of the bill auction by France and Spain this week amid concern that the economies would have their credit ratings cut.
• The EUR is trading marginally lower against the JPY at ¥101.32.
• The USD is trading higher against most of its major peers, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Il died, increasing demand for the currency as a safe haven from market and cross-border turmoil.
• The AUD is trading lower against most of its major peers, ahead of the release of the minutes of Reserve Bank of Australia’s December meeting.
• The NZD is trading lower against the USD, amid concern that European policy makers would not be able to contain the region’s sovereign-debt crisis as they convene to discuss additional funding through the IMF. Separately, a survey showed that New Zealand’s consumer confidence slumped in the fourth quarter amid concern that the Eurozone debt crisis might lead to a slowdown in global growth and lead to tighter credit conditions.
• On Friday, the USD closed higher against the EUR, after Fitch Ratings put six Eurozone nations on watch for a possible downgrade, increasing demand for safe haven assets.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.5% lower today, at $1,591.28 per ounce.
• Gold for February delivery rose 1.3% or $20.70, to $1,597.90 per ounce on Friday, helped by bargain hunting by investors.
• Gold gained value, after S&P issued a cautious outlook for European countries for 2012, spurring purchase of the precious metal as an alternative investment.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading 0.7% or $0.63 lower at $92.90 per barrel.
• On Friday, crude for January delivery declined 0.4% or 34 cents to $93.53 per barrel. This came amid speculation that a slowdown in global economy would curb demand.
• Crude oil prices also ended lower, as the dollar appreciated against most other currencies, decreasing the demand for commodities as an alternative investment.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.