Please find below the Financial Fixed Odds report from David Evans, market analyst at BetOnMarkets.

It’s rally time and banks are leading the charge.

Barclays in the front runner, rising to over £2.80 and gaining nearly 10% today alone. Barclays is benefitting from the so called ‘independence’ premium and speculation over the potential gains to be made with the sale of its BGI unit. With today’s gains, Barclays has overtaken Britain’s only other remaining independent bank in terms of returns over the last year. Barclays has lost 38.71%, while HSBC has lost 44.28% over the last 365 days. Interestingly, HSBC is the only major UK bank which hasn’t rallied by 70% or more in the last month.

It’s not just the banks that are enjoying a good day, BSkyB posted excellent results that showed there was some truth in the belief that people will spend more on home entertainment in a recession. Sky’s profits were boosted by demand for its HD service.

Today’s rally comes despite record continuing jobless claims in the US. However, it is thought that the decline in the four week average of weekly claims is pointing to a peak. Investors know they aren’t out of the woods yet, but perhaps what we’re seeing at the moment is a belief that financial Armageddon has been averted.

Rallies off multi year lows rarely happen without corrections along the way. The FTSE has rallied by 20% since the March lows, so it could be time for a pull back. A No Touch trade predicting that the FTSE 100 won’t touch 4500 at any time during the next 40 days could return 109%

This website content does not constitute investment advice. No individual contributor, contributing company nor Online-Spread-Betting.com accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the content.

The FTSE has been trading in a tight range giving current volatility, trading between 4090 and 4120.

Shell have announced profit decline of 58%, perhaps not particularly surprising given the oil price and announcements from BP earlier this week.

Otherwise, swine flu is still at the forefront of news, with occurrences of the disease spreading further afield to countries such as Germany. Cases have now been identified in the UK, USA, Canada and as far afield as New Zealand.

This really could put a dampener on global trade which would put downward pressure on the oil price: this poses the question whether the likes of BP and Shell have further to fall.

Eyes to the US open, we are calling the Dow up 70 points from yesterday’s close.

Traders are anticipating whether there will be any improvements in US Q1 figures: any indication that the world’s engine of growth has started to turn a corner will be received with great cheer, but with the swine flu progressing, this could prove short lived.

By Philip Gillett, Sales Trader, IG Index.

Spread Betting carries a high level of risk to your capital and you can lose more than your initial investment, it may not be suitable for all investors. Ensure you only speculate with money that you can afford to lose and that you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent financial advice where necessary.

This website content does not constitute investment advice. No individual contributor, contributing company nor Online-Spread-Betting.com accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the content.

Please find below the Financial Fixed Odds report from David Evans, market analyst at BetOnMarkets.

Fears over swine flu look to be subsiding with the majority of fatalities confined to Mexico so far. Of more concern to markets are the results of the stress test on US banks, early reports indicate that Citigroup and Bank of America may be forced to raise more capital in order to shore up their balance sheets.

It is thought that the results of the stress could have implications for UK banks and if today’s market movements are anything to go by, RBS could be the most vulnerable. Stress test speculation hit markets hard this morning, but they have been recovering throughout the day. Even Citigroup and Bank of America are managing an attempting at closing their opening gap down.

Adding to the positive sentiment are perceived signs of a slowing of the US housing slump. According to the latest Case-Shiller House Price Index, February was the first month since October 2007 when the 10 and 20 city composite didn’t post a record annual decline. The 10 city composite is still down by over a third from its peak, with prices returning to Q3 2003 levels.

There has been volatile trading amongst oil stocks as BP announced a 60% dip in profits. As drastic as these numbers were, they were not as bad as they could have been.

Oil is trading around the $50 marker today. Many people talk of gold as a safe haven asset, but it appears investors are feeling safe enough at the moment with gold falling hard over the last couple of days.

Gold has had plenty of chances to come to the fore of late, but so far it been lacklustre since touching $1000 in February.

Gold Fixed Odds Trade

A barrier range trade predicting that gold won’t touch either $835 or $975 in the next 35 days could return 111%.

This website content does not constitute investment advice. No individual contributor, contributing company nor Online-Spread-Betting.com accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the content.

Please find below the Financial Fixed Odds report from David Evans, market analyst at BetOnMarkets.

World equity markets started lower today, but only slightly. The World Health Organisation elevating the swine flu outbreak to pandemic status has certainly hit markets with individual sectors such as travel firms and energy stocks selling off the most today.

In a replay of the moves seen during the outbreak of SARS virus, pharmaceutical firms are actually rallying today as traders speculate that the sector could profit from futures investment in finding a cure. Astrazeneca in particular is finding support after European regulators approved the use of its drug Iressa for certain lung cancer patients.

With further details on the results of the bank’s stress test expected soon, investors certainly don’t need any excuses to sell today. Anyone coming late to the rally may be quick to sell at the moment. The bullish sentiment hasn’t completely evaporated though and world markets are actually recovering well as the afternoon progresses.

Initial reports are that the Swine flu isn’t as bad as SARS. Astrazeneca recently underperformed the main market and if swine flu is contained as is hoped, Astrazeneca could drop. A No Touch trade predicting that Astrazeneca won’t touch £26 at any time during the next 30 days could return 100%.

This website content does not constitute investment advice. No individual contributor, contributing company nor Online-Spread-Betting.com accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the content.

Please find below the Financial Fixed Odds report from David Evans, market analyst at BetOnMarkets.

The FTSE currently indicates a particularly weak open, as traders worry that the worse then expected UK Hometrack housing numbers could set off another selling spree.

With almost no economic news being released in UK the rest of the week, the FTSE is likely to be influenced by data from other countries.

Crude oil is trading around the $50 level on speculation that a slow recovery from the global recession may limit demand.

The economy in the US, the world’s largest oil consumer, may continue to stagnate. In the mean time increased output by non-OPEC producers has left the market oversupplied.

Here is a good value play

With the price of oil likely to fall in the coming days, the USD/CAD is likely to strengthen. A no touch for 7 days on the USD/CAD with a 1.19 trigger pays 34% ROI

Fixed Odds FTSE BET

With the price of oil likely to fall in the coming days, the USD/CAD is may strengthen. A No Touch bet for 7 days on the USD/CAD with a 1.19 trigger pays 34% ROI.

Predicted opens as of 06:00 BST

FTSE 100: 4125.4 (-45.00)
CAC 40 3073.10 (-27.90)
DAX 30 4636.0 (-27.50)
DOW: 7995 (-73)
S+P 500: 856.83 (-12.75)
Gold: $915.45 (+$3.40)
Oil: $50.59 (-40.94)

For more details see: Financial Fixed Odds.

This website content does not constitute investment advice. No individual contributor, contributing company nor Online-Spread-Betting.com accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the content.

Please find below the Financial Fixed Odds report from David Evans, market analyst at BetOnMarkets.

The FTSE currently indicates a very weak open, as traders are organizing their portfolio ahead of tomorrows UK GDP report.

Analysts are expecting a contraction of almost 2% for the first quarter. However there has been talk that the number could come much worse then that. The FTSE is likely to spend the day in the red.

Crude oil is currently trading around the 48 dollars per barrel mark after the risk of widening bank losses dragged US equities and other commodities lower.

Oil’s two-day climb stalled after lenders including Wells Fargo & Co. said credit markets haven’t recovered yet.

Adding to the weak crude price is the report from US regarding the oil inventory which rose for a seventh week to its highest level since September 1990.

Fixed Odds FTSE BET

A bull/bear bet, on the FTSE closing below 4005 on April 30th returns a 99% ROI

Predicted opens as of 06:00 BST

FTSE: 3978.8 (-46.5)
CAC 40 2971.40 (-40.40)
DAX 30 4528.2 (-62.1)
DOW: 7839 (-43)
SP+500 837.08 (-2.00)
Gold: $892.00 (+42.25)
Oil: $48.51 (-$0.34)

For more details see: Financial Fixed Odds.

This website content does not constitute investment advice. No individual contributor, contributing company nor Online-Spread-Betting.com accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the content.

While individual equities are looking quite volatile the net effect on the markets is muted and the fear for many broking houses will be that the current market conditions continue through the year.

Historically this inertia is unusual and is normally ended by a big break out in one direction or the other. Whilst this will remain (probably) the eventual outcome it has to be admitted that it is difficult to see any such event happening in the short term.

While any attempts at the boundaries have appeared to have good chances of breaking out in reality any trade opposition of these levels has paid out handsomely to spread betting account holders willing to take the risk.

The FTSE 100 opened unchanged at around 3980 but has seen a steady drip drip of selling on the off and we have slipped back to 3965 at the time of writing. This is very much middle of the range and interest will probably not be pricked until we approach 3875 or 4030.

The Dow and S&P have slipped around 90 pips since the close last night as fears over the banking sector continue to swirl. The US indices have had a slow curve higher since the lows of early March but this is looking to be getting ready for some sharp action either up or down.

The 8000 level in the Dow seems to have an almost magnetic attraction. Since October last year every move seems to have been an attempt to break away from it only for the irresistible gravity of the number acting to pull us back. For the FTSE the same could be said for 4000 and for the S&P 850.0.

Financial Spread Betting Markets Trade the Ranges edited by James.

Risk Warning: Spread Betting carries a high level of risk to your capital and you can lose more than your initial investment, it may not be suitable for all investors. Ensure you only speculate with money that you can afford to lose and that you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent financial advice where necessary.

This website content does not constitute investment advice. No individual contributor, contributing company nor Online-Spread-Betting.com accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the content.

The FTSE currently indicates a weak open, even after the rightmove house prices index showed that home prices have increased for the third straight month. It now seems that while the housing situation is improving, the equities market is expecting a faster recovery. With no other economic news today, look for the FTSE to open in the red.

Crude oil trading around the $52 mark as reports this week may show any economic recovery in the US, the world’s biggest oil user, will be slow to develop. Traders will probably wait until the inventories report to see if a move above the 55 dollar level is warranted.

Here is an interesting Fixed-Odds value play:

A break out play on the euro/usd with the upper level being $1.32 and the lower one being $1.27 for 11 days pays a 20% ROI.

Predicted opens as of 06:00 GMT

FTSE: 4073.9 (-21.4)
Gold: $865.90 (-$1.05)
Oil: $52.23 (-$0.21)

By David Evans, market analyst, BetOnMarkets.com.

This website content does not constitute investment advice. No individual contributor, contributing company nor Online-Spread-Betting.com accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the content.

Going into the final minutes of trading, the FTSE 100 is down 39-points on the day, failing to benefit from encouraging housing market statistics and a rise in the pound.

Despite the release of optimistic housing statistics that took the pound to a 3-month high against the dollar, investors seem disinclined to jump at today’s signs of recovery, with the FTSE loitering around the 3949 mark.

Positive news can take time to filter down to share prices, which means that things could still be on the up, and savvy investors will be watching keenly over the coming days to see what turn events will take.

The Dow was also bucking a trend, although in the opposite direction to the FTSE, rising 38-points since opening, with gains brought in by consumer and industrial firms despite the release of poor consumer-price industrial output data.

With the markets remaining unpredictable, it seems many investors are happy to put statistics to one side and go with their instincts.

By Tim Hughes, Head of Sales Trading, IG Index.

This website content does not constitute investment advice. No individual contributor, contributing company nor Online-Spread-Betting.com accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the content.

US equities opened sharply lower this afternoon as an unexpected drop in retail sales and producer prices offset optimism emanating from an upbeat speech by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke.

‘Recently we have seen tentative signs that the sharp decline in economic activity may be slowing, for example, in data on home sales, homebuilding, and consumer spending, including sales of new motor vehicles. A levelling out of economic activity is the first step towards recovery,’ Mr Bernanke said in a speech today.

Mr Bernanke’s encouraging comments came at the same time as the release of a dismal economic report, which showed a sharp drop in US retail sales and producer prices. Instead of offering signs of a recovery, the official government report unveiled a 1.1% decline in US retail sales for March – much worse than Bloomberg’s most pessimistic forecast of a 0.2% decline in March from an originally reported 0.1% drop the month before. February’s data was revised to show a 0.3% gain, however. The US Labor Department has attributed this sharp drop in retail sales to rising unemployment levels, which have forced consumers to scale back on spending habits.

A separate report also released today came out worse than anticipated as well, showing a drop of 1.2% in US producer prices for March following a 0.1% rise in February. Core prices, which exclude food and fuel, were unchanged, however. The majority of economists taking part in a Bloomberg survey were expecting US producer prices to remain unchanged and core producer prices to increase by 0.1%.

By Anthony Grech, Research Analyst, IG Index.

This website content does not constitute investment advice. No individual contributor, contributing company nor Online-Spread-Betting.com accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the content.