UK blue chips ended down yet again Wednesday, just easing off a late low following a very volatile afternoon session, matching a mixed performance on Wall Street with the DJIA turning back from an opening rally.

At the close, the FTSE 100 index was 12.3 points lower at 4,358.4, just off the session bottom of 4,354.7, and well below a midmorning peak of 4,392.9.

The broader FTSE indices were all lower as well, with the FTSE 250 index shedding 17.1 points to 6,120.4.

Volume was fairly solid, with around 2.94 bln shares changing hands in 216,081 deals.

In the U.S. stocks closed higher (just) Wednesday, ending a three session losing streak.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 21 points at 10,240 at and the Nasdaq composite was up 2.6 points at 1,966. The S&P 500 gained 2.11 points to 1,118.3.

Yahoo and Alcoa are due to kick off the second-quarter earnings season after the bell.

So the magic roundabout will spin again tomorrow.

Good Hunting
Zebedee of Oxon

morning all,

after a wild and windy night last night it is nice and sunny here in hertfordshire,very much like the markets at the moment...

Hope you all have a great day:-)

Mega...

morning all.
Dull grey and mouldy here in Ellesmereport

slightly , grim but dry,with a slight blue haze in north wales no rain.,,a bit like a weather report! morning all,who`s for a blue start?

if only...but it is looking tinged with depression here in Inveresk...:-(

big al,have you looked at the mtn tradeing up date,what did i tell you .jamey, corner table ,christmas,states trip/.........

Morning all,

decided to take a small long in MKS.......

Morning.

dave - had a quick look. Don't like the negatives. Bid only possible upside for me.

Went long small VAN at the off. No follow-through yet, but probably not the day to long techs!!

Morning all

nice positive trading update from gfrd this am

Good morning all,
Where is AZN heading ? A small bounce from here?

al,going somewhere this one,who`s name will be above the door any bodys guess?.

ARM starting to come back from the earlier lows :-)

mornin all

Not bad bounce for AZN

time for a sleep my be,some nice bargains out there to be had,i am beginning to think the levels of between 4500/4550, are well over valued,and the present levels are more sustainable,,,,,,,hope i`am wrong,any views.

Don't sleep to long there's still money to be made!!!

ANL's bounced slightly today...curiouser and curiouser (said Alice)
managed to restrain myself from buying any more LLOY this AM, but it
was hugely tempting - such a low price for that divi!!
Hope everyone is finding a way to make some money today - Be Lucky!!

Rates on hold.

torquay is it raining down there, went up that smeaten lighthouse last year with the kids,and theres a bed right in the top,,,,,,,i was very tempted to get in.

Lunchtime report.

Closed out MGCR short for +6 (I think) and have gone long with a tight stop.

Was very worried about PLR earlier, but it has bounced off support by the look of it. Nice hammer formed now if it holds the current level.

Best judgement I've made in yonks to reverse MGCR. Going nicely now.

Out for +3.5

SVT is +8.5 after doing very little since going ex div. Does someone know something?

SVT. is it down to the yeild?

I think i have a major problem with my screens they are going from RED to BLUE any ideas please :-)))))

MB, Keep smiling:-}

:-))))

End of day report. Cracking day!! Had one of those you get once every few weeks so well chuffed.

Big Al: Well done and now u can go and open a few bottles at Gds.
rgds
zarif

zarif - on my way!

;-)