UK Spread Betting Markets Open Higher as the Nikkei Makes Fresh 5-Yr Highs

UK blue chips have opened slightly higher this morning after strong overnight performance in Asia that saw the Nikkei make fresh 5-year highs as it closes in on 50% gains year to date. A dearth of economic data in Europe this morning is mirrored across the pond, giving spread betting investors traders the opportunity to [...]

Aviva Spread Betting Market Rallies amid Upbeat Q1 Earnings

Equity markets have largely held their levels this morning, propped up by positive sentiment over recent earnings announcements and growing confidence that central bank policy will remain accommodative in the medium-term. Aviva are leading the blue chip index, up almost 5% after reporting an 18% surge in new business during Q1 that fed stronger earnings [...]

USD/JPY Spread Betting Market Hits 4-Yr High as Yen Decline Continues

Owing to the UK bank holiday, European markets started last week trading fairly flat with thin volumes to match. Asian shares advanced on the back of better than expected U.S jobs data released on Friday. The Dow closed above 15,000 on Tuesday for the first time, a significant achievement that highlights the importance of the [...]

Financial Spread Betting Investors Short Indices Despite Record Highs

The FTSE largely shrugged off mixed Industrial Production data out of the UK at 09:30 as European equities took a collective pause after the frantic optimism of yesterday’s session. With the UK base rate unlikely to move from 0.5% when the announcement arrives at 12.00, the macroeconomic focus may shift to Jobless Claims data due [...]

Standard Chartered Spread Betting Market Slumps as Q1 Operating Profit Falls

With a light macro calendar today, and in spite of positive trade numbers from China overnight, European spread betting indices are pausing for breath this morning as they hold steady around all-time highs. In a trading update, Standard Chartered reported a decline in Q1 operating profit but a growth in revenue – as usual without [...]

UK PMI Manufacturing Data Boosts Sterling and Shares Spread Betting Markets

With European equities closed for the May day bank holiday, UK traders sent stocks better bid as strong corporate earnings, optimism over a European rate cut and continued stimulus from the Fed and BoJ contribute to continuing investor optimism. PMI Manufacturing numbers from the UK at 09:30 added weight to the morning rally, arriving ahead [...]

Sceptical Spread Betting Investors Push Mining Stocks Lower Before US Q1 GDP

Strong corporate earnings from US firms yesterday helped to support global equity indices within touching distance of recent highs, though there is room for significant swings today as US GDP readings hit the tapes at 13:30. An in-line number might prove to be the best tonic for equity bulls, with concerns that a significant beat [...]

Upbeat UK GDP Data Sees the GBP/USD Spread Betting Market Rally Over 100 Points

Data out from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed that the UK avoided a Triple Dip recession after seeing growth of 0.3% in the first quarter of this year, beating forecasts of 0.1%. It must of course be said that this is a preliminary reading and historically, preliminary GDP readings have proved highly volatile [...]

Poor German Economic Data Pull Spread Betting Indices Lower

The only catalyst seemingly able to dampen the US bulls, who grabbed the opportunity to push markets higher on the back of a positive earning session, was a fictitious post from a hacked twitter account causing a 140 point round trip on the Dow. Over the pond however, European spread betting indices have already given [...]

Spread Betting Indices Slide as German PMI Misses Expectations

PMI data out of Germany this morning caught equity bulls off guard and dragged indices back from their highs as both the Manufacturing and Services measure missed expectations. The single currency was also aggressively sold off, as once again the ability of Germany to prop up the broader Eurozone economy was drawn into question. Amongst [...]