It’s been a good start to the day for the FTSE, CAC and DAX.

This is largely down to a final hour surge in US markets last night with the European indices playing catch up this morning. Speculators rushed to take a position in Google last night ahead of their earnings announcement after JP Morgan beat expectations.

Although markets are higher this morning, there are reasons for caution out there.

Google’s results were mixed with their share plunging in after hours trading.

The overnight bomb blasts in Jakarta have also forced investors on the defensive, putting the brakes on gains in financial markets this morning.

As we saw in early trading yesterday, investors have reverted to risk averse mode, moving to safer assets overnight. The yen and dollar and in demand with the pound and Aussie dollar particularly out of favour with investors.

There is little by the way of economic announcements this morning apart from US building permits at 12.30.

The GBP/USD been one of the morning’s biggest movers and if US building permits come in better than expected, the pound’s slump could continue.

One way to play GBP/USD might be a Fixed Odds No Touch trade with the trigger level set at around $1.6100. A One Touch trade over three days could return 259% over the next 3 days.

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.

It’s a quiet start to the day for the FTSE, CAC and DAX, with investors taking a breather after a tremendous start to the trading week. In just three days, recent fears have been swatted away as investors see reasons to be cheerful in the economy and corporate profits.

The recent rally has been sparked by Goldman Sachs and Intel with other companies such as Exxon Mobil and American Express pitching in. There were no major US companies announcing earth shattering earnings after the close last night so sentiment has drifted overnight.

Before the US markets open, we have earnings from JP Morgan and after the close we have earnings numbers from Google & IBM. If the Californian search giant is able to beat profit estimates, we could have a week to remember with the rally this would spark.

It’s a quieter day on the economic news front today with the standout announcements being US unemployment claims at 12.30 GMT and TIC Long Term Purchases at 13.00.

Fixed-Odds Trading

The dollar and yen have been under pressure as investors look to take on more risk.

During the wobble in recent weeks, the yen was seen as a safe haven, but with the rally we’ve seen this week, traders have been dumping safety in favour of the dollar and other currencies such as the euro.

This morning we’re seeing a reversal of that trend with the yen strong across the board, especially against the euro and AUD.

This makes today’s pair in play the EUR/JPY.

If the recent rally falters, we could see further strength in the yen. A way to play this might be a Fixed Odds No Touch trade predicting that the EUR/JPY won’t rise again and touch ¥133.00 over the next 5 days. Currently this would yield around 100%.

Also see EUR/JPY Spread Betting.

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.

It’s been a strong opening for the FTSE, CAC and DAX with the main European indices up between 0.5% and 1.2%.

The prospect of higher than expected earnings from US companies is getting traders excited after Intel produced encouraging results late last night. Asian markets kept the momentum going and markets look set for another good day.

We’ve a very busy day on the economic news front with UK claimant count change, average earnings and unemployment rate at 08.30 GMT. At 09.00 we get the release of European CPI numbers.

At 12.30 we have the first of a stream of US economic announcements starting with US CPI, then various announcements leading up to the release of the last FOMC meeting minutes.

Markets seem to be in a bullish mood and any one of these announcements could push shares even higher today.

FX Fixed Odds Trading

The Euro is in play today, rising strongly against the dollar especially. With steady stream of announcements due today that could impact on the dollar, the EUR/USD could be where the action is today.

A Fixed Odds Two Day Expiry Miss might be the best way to play this.

An Expiry Miss trade will win if the pair is below your lower target or above your higher target within that time. Basically, as long as it moves out of a trading range and stays there, you win.

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.

It’s all a bit flat this morning, but this certainly won’t last.

Yesterday stock markets rallied on rumours that the profits from investment bank Goldman Sachs will tip $2 billion. This was the first positive catalyst that investors have had in a few days and they grabbed it with both hands.

This morning we’re seeing the calm before the storm with Goldman’s actual results being released just before the opening of US markets. It could therefore be a volatile open for the Dow Jones depending on how well Goldman’s actual results are received.

It’s not just Goldman’s results that could excite today, we have a raft of important economic announcements to come this morning. From 08.30 GMT we have UK CPI and RPI which will give trades an idea of the current inflation expectations for the UK economy. This could have a knock effect on the pound especially with MPC member Posen speaking at the same time.

At 09.00 we have German & European ZEW economic sentiment which could impact the euro. Then at 12.30 we get US retails sales and PPI.

It’s quiet now, but this really could be the calm before the storm today.

GBP/USD Fixed Odds

With Goldman Sachs releasing their results from midday, and a raft of important economic announcements, dollar pairs could be in play today with GBP/USD potentially the most active of all the pairs. It’s relatively calm until 08.30 GMT so it may be a good time to profit from the coming volatility before it happens.

A Fixed Odds One Day Breakout Trade could be a good way to play this as the GBP/USD can go in either direction and the trade still win as long as it goes up or down fast.

Also see GBP/USD Spread Betting.

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.

Unfortunately the new week offers no respite as the FTSE, DAX and CAC are all down by at least a third of a percent in the first hour of trading.

Weekend economic sentiment drifted downwards as rumours of second massive US stimulus package continue to grow.

Today’s top economic announcement is the Bank of Canada business outlook survey at 14.30 GMT. In additional to this we have ECB president Trichet speaking at 10.30 GMT and US Federal budget balance at 18.00.

Perhaps more important than any standard economic announcement is the start of US earnings season this week.

Every quarter, US giants such as Microsoft and Apple release their latest numbers resulting in huge volatility in US stock markets as traders adjust their expectations.

There is a fear that company profits will be even worse than previously expected which is one of the reasons behind recent falls.

FX Fixed Odds

In FX trading, the pound is under pressure this morning against the euro (-0.85%), the dollar (-0.88%) and the yen (-1.15%).

The Australian Dollar is also out of favour, falling by similar measures against the major currencies. Weakening commodity prices is a common factor with oil once again starting the trading session below $60. The pound is continuing to tumble this morning, making it today’s pair-in-play.

The GBP/USD found support at $1.6000 on Wednesday, with the pair rebounding swiftly off this level.

Now we are heading for a retest and this time the $1.6000 level might not hold.

A Fixed Odds One Touch trade might be a way to play this. A One Touch trade predicting that the GBP/USD will touch $1.5950 in the next 24 hours could return 120%. The level has to be touched at least once for you to win.

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.

European markets have opened with a dead weight around their neck and look set to close another week in the red.

This will mark six consecutive weeks of declines for the FTSE 100.

It’s no coincidence that the commodity heavy UK index is struggling just as oil dips below $60 a barrel.

Crude Oil is heading for its biggest weekly decline since January, as the US dollar gained against the euro, reducing the appeal of commodities as a hedge against inflation.

Oil has fallen about 10 percent this week amid concerns a prolonged global recession may sap energy demand.

Today we have UK PPI at 08.30 GMT which is a good measure of the level inflation and activity in manufacturers. Analysts are expecting a rise of 0.8% against the 0.4% rise seen last time.

Later we have a raft of important Canadian economic data with unemployment change the unemployment rate at 11.00 GMT. This is followed by the US trade balance at 12.30 GMT.

FX Trading

There has been lots of action on FX markets already this morning, with money flowing out of Europe and into Japan. The Australian and New Zealand Dollar are also out of favour as investors rotate away from commodities.

If we break down the action further, it is the euro that is being hit the hardest on concerns over its exposure to Eastern Europe which is crumbling fast as an economic region.

The euro is falling against the pound, dollar and especially the yen. The euro is down 0.8% against the dollar, 0.3% against the pound and 1.22% against the yen.

The EUR/YEN is where the action is today, making it today’s pair-in-play.

It seems that speculators are losing their appetite for risk and this could see further interest in the yen against the euro.

A way to play this might be a Fixed Odds Double Trade which wins if the market is below current levels at a certain point in the future. A Double Trade always returns 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.

There is a divergence in the fortunes of the FTSE, CAC and DAX in early trading this morning.

The FTSE is up a third, while the CAC and DAX are up 0.5% and 1% respectively. The commodity heavy FTSE is suffering as crude oil prices remain under pressure.

Today we have the ECB monthly bulletin at 08.00 GMT followed by UK trade balance at 08.30 GMT. Today’s top announcement is the Bank of England rate statement due at 11.00 GMT. Rates are highly likely to remain unchanged, but traders will be looking for some significant comments on quantitative easing from governor King that could spark some volatile action.

Canadian housing starts follow 12.15 and US unemployment claims at 12.30 could also cause so big movements in North American markets.

GBP/JPY Trading

There was a huge increase in yen pairs yesterday and a corrective move is in place this morning. The yen increased by 3% against the dollar in just a few days, causing Japanese officials to blame speculators.

The dollar is also under pressure as confidence returns to financial markets and the dollar’s safe haven status seems less attractive.

Predictably the yen pairs are in play this morning with the EUR/JPY (Euro vs Japanese Yen) and GBP/JPY (Pound vs Yen) moving nearly 1% this morning alone.

With a rate announcement due from the bank of England today, today’s pair in play is GBP/JPY.

GBP/JPY hit ¥146.75 and is now trading around ¥150. For now the longer term trend is still intact and the ¥146.75 level could be revisited in the next couple of days.

A way to play this might be a Fixed Odds One Touch trade which returns a profit if the level is hit just once.

At current levels a One Touch trade predicting that the GBP/JPY will hit ¥146.75 in the next 4 days could return 183%.

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 100, DAX and CAC are down by 0.25% at the open. Asian markets were weak overnight, with losses ultimately following the evening sell off in US markets. Wall Street slumped to a six week low as traders dismiss talk of green shoots.

UK PM Gordon Brown has warned of a second wave in the recession and there are rumours of second massive stimulus package being required to kick start the US economy.

Crude Oil is a good barometer of economic sentiment and judging by the 5th consecutive session of declines in crude prices, the omens aren’t good.

Today we have the UK Halifax House Price index at 08.00 GMT followed by Eurozone GDP at 09.00.

USD/CAD Fixed Odds Trading

Currency markets are quiet so far today as traders adjust to the renewed strength in the dollar seen over the last few days. The yen pairs have seen the most action so far today with AUD/JPY the biggest mover after better than expected Australian home loans data.

The biggest movement seen on a non-yen pair is the USD/CAD (US Dollar/Canadian Dollar) which is often influenced by the price of oil.

So far the pair has moved less than the equivalent move in the price of crude and if oil maintains its rate of decline, this relative inaction might not last.

This makes the USD/CAD today’s pair in play. A break out trade can be a good way to trade a range bound market as the range cannot last forever.

One way to play this would be a Break Out trade on the USD/CAD over 2 days with the lower level set as 1.1500 and the higher level set as 1.1850.

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, CAC and DAX are quiet this morning after a mild recovery in late trading on US markets last night.

There is unlikely to be any significant movement until the release of UK manufacturing production at 08.30 GMT and German factory orders at 10.00 GMT.

AUD/USD Fixed Odds

In the FX markets US dollar has been strong this morning, pushing back against the Euro, Yen, Pound and Australian Dollar.

The Royal Bank of Australia elected to keep rates on hold at 3% earlier, but this move was widely expected so there has been little change in AUD following the announcement.

As often happens, there was an initial spike higher on the release of the rate decision, followed by a correcting move. That correcting move looks set to continue and today’s pair in play is the AUD/ USD.

With the release of the rate statement from the RBA, AUD/ USD spiked higher, but that move is now retracing and could continue until the lows of the day are hit.

A possible way to play this might be a Fixed Odds One Touch trade predicting that the AUD/USD will revisit today’s lows of 0.7878 at any time in the next 24 hours.

With a One Touch trade, the level only has to be hit once for your trade to win.

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.

Markets are having a reasonable day today as economic indicators continue to show signs that the global economy has stopped cliff diving.

‘Less-Bad’ is the new ‘Good’ it seems.

Today’s ADP employment data showed that private employers cut 473,000 jobs, still much worse than pre Lehman Brothers levels, but it is getting less severe by the month. ISM manufacturing data is showing a similar trend.

Resource stocks are a good barometer of global economic sentiment and today the miners and energy firms are the standout performers.

The dollar is being forced onto the back foot today with losses against the pound and euro. The euro looks the pick of the currencies today, with particular strength against the dollar.

FX markets aren’t looking at the positives in the ADP data as equities appear to be doing today.

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.