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

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.

i have often been told that i'm just an old woman, so i'm not sure where that places me .... anyway, as my IG L2 platform seems to be misbehaving, i have banked that nice little profit on my dow short opened yesterday afternoon

Lol - thanks guys for all your pearls of wisdom!

CAD Core Retail Sales m/m 0.5% consensus 0.2% previous 0.0%

CAD Retail Sales m/m 0.7% consensus 0.2% previous 0.1%

USD Unemployment Claims 361K consensus 358K previous 343K

USD Final GDP q/q 3.1% consensus 2.8% previous 2.7%

USD Final GDP Price Index q/q 2.7% consensus 2.7% previous 2.7%

EUR Consumer Confidence -27 consensus -26 previous -27

USD Existing Home Sales 5.04M consensus 4.88M previous 4.79M

USD Philly Fed Manufacturing Index 8.1 consensus -2.2 previous -10.7

USD CB Leading Index m/m -0.2% consensus -0.2% previous 0.2%

USD HPI m/m 0.5% consensus 0.2% previous 0.2%

Moved my stop on UKX short to entry, haven't got a clue where it's going :O)

That's me stopped out for nowt.

hard work, and was fortunate to make a modest turn on Dow this evening ..... closed out now at a reasonable profit ... it would have been more had i waited another 15 minutes, but who cares

Dow currently 13,148/13,154

FTSE 5,934/5,940

US cancels vote on Boehner's fiscal cliff 'Plan B'

US Republicans have cancelled a tax vote in Congress, less than two weeks before a deadline for budget reform.

Republican House speaker John Boehner proposed the bill, which would have raised taxes on high earners. But right-leaning Republicans rejected it.

Analysts say the rejection has weakened Mr Boehner's position in negotiations with the White House.

Politicians need to agree fiscal rules by 1 January, or steep tax rises and deep spending cuts will take effect.

wow! glad i had the sense to shut dow long before bed last night .... shame i didn't reverse it too! ..... just shorted ftse as i'm sure -25 (as it stands) will be much greater later .... ftse 250 will probably drop far more but that index not yet open for trading

Damn!!!!! The fine art of kicking yourself :O) Could have equally gone the other way though, such is the casino of playing the indeces. Well done to those who had the battle to stay short.