Spread Betting Markets Snapshot

• FTSE 100 soared 2.9% to close at 5,312.8.
• FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 3.6% or 33.0 points to 940.9.
• DJIA rallied 2.6% to close at 11,523.00. NASDAQ surged 3.5% to settle at 2,527.3. S&P 500 soared 2.9% to end at 1,192.6.
• Nikkei 225 index is trading 1.3% higher at 8,398.0.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading $0.45 lower at $97.76 per barrel.
• At 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally higher against the USD at $1.5501, 0.2% lower against the EUR at €1.1622 and slightly higher against the JPY at ¥121.05.
• For more on trading stock market indices see spread betting on indices.

UK Stock Market Index Trading Signals

• The UK spread betting markets surged yesterday, amid optimism that European policy makers would unveil solid measures to stem the region’s debt crisis in a meeting at Brussels. Furthermore, a strong start on Wall Street added to the momentum.
• Industrial pump maker, Weir Group, the top riser on the FTSE 100 index, jumped 8.3%, after Barclays Capital raised its target price and as UBS issued an upbeat note on the stock.
• Among banking stocks, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays advanced between 2.1% and 7.8%, amid hopes that the British government would probably extend credit guarantee schemes.
• Barclays also rose after a broker reiterated its “Buy” rating on the stock.
• Antofagasta climbed 4.8%, as copper prices gained, while Rio Tinto jumped 4.4%, after it announced that it would augment its capital expenditure by 17%.
• FTSE 100 soared 2.9% to close at 5,312.8. FTSE 250 surged 2.8% to settle at 9,908.5.
• Weir climbed 8.3%, after Barclays Capital raised its price target on the stock from 2350p to 2500p.
• Barclays rose 7.8%, after a broker reiterated its “Buy” rating on the stock.
• Miners, Vedanta Resource and Kazakhmys advanced 7.2% and 6.5% respectively, after Nomura issued an upbeat report on the mining sector.
• Randgold Resources dipped 7.9%, after the company cut its output target due to a series of problems at its Tongon mine in the Ivory Coast.
• For more on trading UK shares see spread betting on UK shares.

Forex Spread Betting Markets

• Looking at the forex spread betting markets, as of 0400 BST today, the GBP is trading marginally higher against the USD at $1.5501, 0.2% lower against the EUR at €1.1622 and slightly higher against the JPY at ¥121.05.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% higher against the USD at $1.3337.
• The EUR is trading 0.2% higher against the JPY at ¥104.16, as demand for high yielding currencies increased, after most of the Asian equity markets traded higher.
• The AUD and NZD is trading higher against USD and JPY, as optimism over Eurozone leaders meet in Brussels today boosted the demand for higher-yielding assets.
• Yesterday, the EUR ended higher against the USD, boosted by expectations that European leaders might agree on new measures to resolve the region’s debt crisis.
• The GBP/AUD spreads ended lower, after data showed that UK house prices dropped and retail sales dropped in November, and as the British Chambers of Commerce cut its economic-growth forecasts.
• Mexico’s peso ended higher against the USD, as record US Thanksgiving retail sales boosted optimism for exports from Latin America’s second-biggest economy.
• For more on trading the forex markets see forex spread betting.

Commodities Spread Betting Markets

• Gold for immediate delivery is trading 0.1% lower today, at $1,710.38 per ounce.
• Gold prices for December delivery gained 1.5% or $25.10 to $1,710.80 per ounce yesterday, tracking a rise in global equity markets, on hopes that European leaders would take decisive steps to tame the region’s debt crisis.
• Robust sales over the Thanksgiving weekend in the US also boosted hopes that precious metals would benefit from increased jewellery demand.
• In Asia, crude oil for January delivery is trading $0.45 lower at $97.76 per barrel.
• Yesterday, crude oil for January delivery closed 1.5% or $1.44 higher at $98.21 per barrel, amid expectation of increase in oil demand, following strong US holiday sales and amid easing concerns over the eurozone debt crisis.
• Crude oil prices also rose, as the dollar depreciated, increasing the demand for commodities as an alternative investment.
• For more on commodities trading see commodities spread betting.