Waning Chinese GDP Data Weighs on Global Spread Betting Markets

Global spread betting markets started last week on a negative note after Chinese GDP figures showed the Chinese economy grew at a much slower rate than analysts initially anticipated. Chinese GDP for the quarter came in 0.3% below the initial 8% expected, resulting in a sharp decline in commodity prices. Gold took the brunt of [...]

Missed NFP Number Causes the Gold Spread Betting Market to Jump

After a weak start for European indices this morning, the picture has become significantly worse throughout the session as weak US data compounded negativity to see stocks pushing lower into the weekly close. In the UK, low cost airline EasyJet published their March trading update before the opening bell. Brokers have taken a mixed view [...]

USD/JPY Spread Betting Market Soars after BoJ Announces QE

Whilst UK miners have largely clung to gains in today’s session, the wider market has continued to pull back as spread betting investors reduce risk in the face of Eurozone concerns and weaker US macro data. ENRC and Vedanta have been the headline outperformers on the day, both adding 5%. ENRC saw their stock pushed [...]

Gold Spread Betting Market Benefits from Italian Elections Stalemate

In recent times we have seen a number of economic phrases popularised by the media. Looking back briefly, we have had the “fiscal cliff” and more recently “currency wars”. Last week’s hot word on everybody’s lips was “sequester”. US lawmakers failed to pass two bills last week confirming the inevitability of spending cuts, (sequester) which [...]

NFP Data Pushes the Gold Spread Betting Market to 4-Month Lows

UK markets ended last week in positive fashion with the FTSE 100 passing the 6,070 level as better-than-expected Non Farm Payrolls figures boosted investors’ appetite towards risk. US futures also indicated a slightly higher open after the United States added 155k jobs in December compared to the 150k expected. Meanwhile, the gold spread betting dropped [...]

FX Spread Betting: EUR/USD Declines Despite Stronger EU Employment Figures

It’s been a pretty slow, low volume day in Europe today as markets absorb yesterday’s sharp moves higher on the recent deal between US politicians to resolve some parts of the so called fiscal cliff. While FX spread betting markets appear somewhat dismissive of the agreement on the fiscal cliff, equity markets have still managed [...]

EUR/USD Spread Betting Market Targets $1.35 on Renewed Momentum

Traders’ books, nearing year-end, are unwinding euro shorts vs gold, which were accumulated in early May by Greek elections uncertainty. The elections risked placing the anti-austerity left wing party in power and pushing the country out of the Eurozone. May-June 2012 seemed like the perfect storm for euro pessimists, while the anti-EUR (USD) was boosted [...]

Fiscal Cliff Stalemate Pressures Spread Betting Markets

Having opened on the back foot this morning Europe’s markets continued to struggle throughout the day. This came as concerns about the continuing impasse between Republicans and Democrats in the US over a resolution to the fiscal cliff kept spread betting investors cautious. There was also a general sense of uncertainty about the terms of [...]

Vodafone Shares Near 6 Month Lows after Profits Warning

The first expansion in Chinese HSBC manufacturing PMI in thirteen months gave European markets a bright start and kept them on the front foot all day. The session has been extremely quiet due to US markets being closed for the traditional Thanksgiving break. Mining stocks were the main gainers as hopes rose that the Chinese [...]

Shares Trading: Johnson Matthey Underperforms Following Weak Profits

Despite the failure of European finance ministers to agree anything tangible at last night’s Eurogroup meeting, markets have reacted calmly after initially opening slightly lower. Disappointment appears to have been tempered somewhat by expectations that EU leaders will, in the final analysis, agree something next week on November 26th. Ultimately, this will unlock the extra [...]