Dollar, US and European Markets Update

The FTSE 100, DAX 30 and CAC 40 have made a flat start to the day as European stocks play catch up with the action from US markets last night. The main US market, the S&P 500 hit eight month highs yesterday, rising 45% from the lows in March. There was quite a slump in [...]

Spread Betting US Shares Market Update

Wall Street has been approaching new highs for 2009 so far today, as buoyant metal prices and the release of better-than-expected US quarterly results from several companies attracted investors to equities. US miners have been having a good day, with Alcoa up 3.54% to $11.40, Century Aluminium 5.2% higher at $28.45 and Newmont Mining 2.3% [...]

European Markets and Sterling Update

The FTSE, DAX and CAC have made a good start to the trading day, opening up around 0.75% to 1%. The main reason for this is a late surge of bullishness in US markets last night which, as it often does, leaves the European markets playing catch up. Markets have fallen back a little though [...]

Wall St and Commodities Spread Betting Markets Tumble

The FTSE remained up this afternoon, reaching 4549.55 by 3pm despite failing to hold on to all of this morning’s gains. Meanwhile, on Wall Street, commodities prices tumbled and negative manufacturing figures weighed on hopes of a recovery. The FTSE’s slight slip backwards was reflected by some of the index’s winners and losers. Schroders’ share [...]

Index and Foreign Exhange Update

The FTSE, CAC and DAX look set for an interesting session today with all three European stock markets up over 0.5%. Just 45 minutes prior to the open it was looking like a negative start to the day, but buyers stepped in quickly to push stocks into the black. This morning’s rally comes despite the [...]

US Spread Betting Markets Hit by Profit Taking

US markets were back in the red today, as investors continued to take profits on the back of last week’s rally. Data released today revealed that rising US unemployment has lead to a sharper-than-expected drop in US consumer confidence data. This exacerbated declines on Wall Street because it indicates that household spending is likely to [...]

Commodity Currencies Perform Strongly

US markets managed to grind out another positive session last night and Asian markets were positive over night. The, FTSE, CAC and DAX were set for a flat open until two major European companies gave the bulls the shot in the arm they needed. BP’s profits halved, but thanks to cost cutting measures, the numbers [...]

Wall St Index Hit by Profit Taking

Wall Street was struck by a bout of profit taking today, as Aetna and Honeywell’s disappointing full-year earnings forecasts weighed on market sentiment. This could be due to the fact that the stronger-than-expected second-quarter earnings were completely priced into the market last week. Equity analysts may now be beginning to focus on the third- and [...]

AUD Trading at 2009 High

After a relatively quiet session on Monday the FTSE, CAC and DAX have picked up the bullish baton and rallied strongly this morning. If it continues into the close it will extend the winning run on the FTSE to a record equalling 11 sessions. Asian markets set the tone overnight with the Nikkei closing up [...]

US Equities send Wall St Index Lower

Wall Street has been shedding some of yesterday’s gains this afternoon, as disappointing results from Microsoft, Amazon and American Express knocked the shine off US equities. Microsoft plunged 10.6% to $22.85 within the first hour of trading after failing to live up to the market’s expectations. The world’s largest software maker last night revealed that [...]