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%.

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