US Election voting starts

The US vote counting procedure is quite lengthy given the time zones involved but has already started and the early exit polls are confirming the analyst's feelings, that this is going to be a very close election.

There are 9 key potential swing states that could change the course of history, with Ohio the most prized territory, as no President has ever made the White House without winning Ohio, where Obama had a 2% lead over Romney in a recent local poll.

President Obama is currently playing the celebrity card, trotting out Bruce Springsteen and rapper Jay-Z, late on in his bid to retain the Presidency and not be consigned to the list of one term wonders. Would have preferred to see Jay-Z''s missus out there instead but that's just a personal preference, not politically driven in any way.

Markets seem to be taking the election fairly calmly with no wild gyrations going on. US equity markets gaining slightly on Monday and most European bourses in negative territory, more concerned with the manner in which austerity programmes are being carried out in Greece and whether Spain is going to request bailout funds in the near future.