IG is powered in turbulence by plucky amateurs

Markets are unusually turbulent and professional traders openly admit share prices are too tough to call.

But the amateurs still fancy their chances. That's what emerges from an update issued today by IG Group, the spread-betting giant often described as the grandaddy of the industry.

Its bank of wealthy clients have been punting with gusto throughout the financial crisis, volatility be damned.

IG said in a statement that revenues for the first half of the year will be around £193 million, up from £156.7 million a year ago. That's growth of 23%.

The shares today rallied 19.2p, ormore than 4%, to 453p. At that price, the company is valued at £1.64 billion. The stock peaked at 551p in October 2010.