rather than pick out individual stocks to trade, it can often be worthwhile to trade the indices themselves, especially in times of high volatility.

for those so inclined, i attach below charts for FTSE and FTSE 250, though one might equally be tempted to trade Dow or S&P, which is significantly broader in its coverage, or even NASDAQ

for ease of reading, i have attached 1 year and 3 month charts in each instance

CAD Wholesale Sales m/m 0.9% consensus 0.4% previous -1.4%

USD Building Permits 0.90M consensus 0.88M previous 0.87M

USD Housing Starts 0.86M consensus 0.87M previous 0.89M

all fairly neutral ...... will dow therefore take a breather?

Obama Administration Threatens Boehner Budget Bill Veto

By Kathleen Hunter & Roger Runningen - Dec 19, 2012 3:47 PM GMT

President Barack Obama would veto a tax proposal presented by House Speaker John Boehner because it would put “too big a burden on the middle class,” White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said.

General Motors flying today on share purchase scheme.

Skinny,

Veto - what Boehner wanted? A plan seen as positive, a veto as negative?

Cheers,
KidA

Veto - as in block or stop. The article is there in the link or here is the FT take on it.

Obama threatens to veto Boehner’s plan B


The White House threatened to veto a bill backed by Republican leaders in the House of Representatives to extend tax cuts for all except those earning more than $1m, without any accompanying spending cuts, as fiscal cliff talks appeared to lose some momentum.

“This approach does not meet the test of balance, and the president would veto the legislation in the unlikely event of its passage,” said Dan Pfeiffer, White House communications director, in a statement on Wednesday.

i went short dow at 13354 and am quite surprised that following the above rattle, that the market has not headed south quite sharply

now i'm stuck! .... don't know where to estimate the short-term bottom of this ..... arguably around 12940 i guess, but that implies a pretty sharp correction

DOW down 99 points, futures off a further 20.

U.S. "fiscal cliff" talks turn sour, Obama threatens veto

WASHINGTON | Thu Dec 20, 2012 2:28am GMT

(Reuters) - The conflict over the stalled "fiscal cliff" talks grew more heated Wednesday and threatened to become even more so Thursday when the action is expected to shift for the first time to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

In the absence of a bipartisan agreement, the Republican leadership of the House plans to move a bill of its own to the floor Thursday to avert the steep tax hikes and budget cuts set for January.

Under pressure from PM-elect, BOJ boosts stimulus again

TOKYO | Thu Dec 20, 2012 6:30am GMT

(Reuters) - The Bank of Japan delivered its third dose of monetary stimulus in four months on Thursday in a prelude to more aggressive action next year, as it faces intensifying pressure from the country's next leader for stronger efforts to beat deflation.

It also signalled setting a higher inflation target at its next meeting in January, when a new government will be in place ready to negotiate with the central bank.

FTSE stumbles on fresh U.S. budget concern

LONDON | Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:18am GMT
(Reuters) - The FTSE 100 index fell on Thursday as investors used renewed tensions in U.S. budget talks as an excuse to lock in profits.

The FTSE 100 was down 5.01 points, or 0.1 percent, at 5,956.58 by 8:06 a.m. British time, having closed up 25.69 points, or 0.4 percent, at 5,961.59 on Wednesday, scaling fresh nine-month highs.

Sentiment towards riskier assets turned negative overnight, hurting U.S. shares, while mining stocks and banks were pressured on Thursday as talks to avoid a "fiscal cliff" of planned tax hikes and spending cuts in the United States stumbled yet again.

I seem to lose all the profit I make on the DOW and FTSE because I mess up about as often as I get it right. I'm beginning to think that I'm wasting my time - though it is fun when things go right!

In my opinion, markets, (FX, Index's and shares) are the cleverest, most amazing and successful invention to part people with their money ever created, bar nothing!

The way it messes with your psyche and is programmed to do exactly the opposite of what our natural emotions tell us to do is incredible.
We are programmed to bank a profit early but run our losers further. Nobody likes to register a loser, right?
Even with a system, success breeds over-confidence and the likelihood to give it all back. Have 3 small winners in a row and then try not to increase the stakes, your 4th will be the bigger loser... (if not that one, the next 3 will be!)
Its a cliche, but discipline is the only way to win consistently. Without that, the market wins, (in the end)...

Hmmm - how very true!

Ahhh. Therein lies the difference between a man and a woman. You boys were clearly just programmed wrong in the first place.

No surprises there, I suppose. :o)

Well unless a complete disaster strikes I'll be ending the year nicely in profit. I suppose for every winner there has to be a loser so all's even in love and spreadbetting...

It's taken me a long time to think like a woman. But it works :-)

12 Images To Show You The Subtle Difference Between Men And Women :-)

I always knew you'd get there in the end, Floss. :o)

It wouldn't be unreasonable to say you had a lot to do with it - thanks Hils!

Or maybe I just got lucky ;-)

Daily FTSE100 above, support and resistance added.