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

crikey ..... better not say what i did, but by golly last day of the year sure ended well for me .... lucky alphonse comme on dit!

1 January 2013 Last updated at 08:58

US Senate passes key deal to avoid tax rises

The US Senate has approved a deal to avert general tax hikes and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff".

The bill, which raises taxes for the wealthy, came after lengthy talks between Vice-President Joe Biden and Senate Republicans.

The House is due to consider it later. Spending cuts have been delayed for two months to allow a wider agreement.

to be read as, to allow the morons time to make even greater obstructive idiots of themselves instead of working for the general good of the country

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glad shortie closed his short positions .... bet he is too!

They are wreaking their future generations lifes, ie grandchildren etc. Going to be very tough future years.

thought i'ld be a smartarse and open a new ftse position - IG indicates only +29 - but unfortunately all closed up and couldn't deal ...... it must re-open late this evening, but probably not until after my bedtime

DC - never expect ANY politician to look further than the next election, if that far, and the amis are far far worse .... that only about 30% even own passports tells you plenty about their introspection which allows them to delude themselves that the country is the world's greatest role model.

i think the fact that chip+pin is still unknown in usa says plenty!

A very piggish attitude live for today, have the pain another day. Looking at the old boys walking out of the talks (all over the hill as to say) they all look like they have done well out of life. They are really giving the country away to those buying up its debt. No doubt before long a certain country will be steering the reigns and they will be told whats to be done.

Thats the problem here cynic do politicians do whats best for the country or to win votes. Perhaps things need to be changed. How I do not know. Happy new year .

at least in this country, at the end of the day, what the governing party decides to do, it does, albeit that the lords and opposition can and do have the power to smooth out some of the excesses and similar prior to enactment.

With the split party we seem somewhat like the states. Thinking about it a lot of their states are near bust , so they are going to have real pain ahead. Why not put the petrol price up over their and down size their gas guzzlers for a start. You cannot live that wealthy without earning it.

Very interesing chart.

Have you two got nothing better to do on new years day!!!! very sad.,.

I see the 3rd sad person has joined in. Hny Bb

Fiscal Cliff? What Fiscal Cliff?

President Obama praises US 'fiscal cliff' deal

Barack Obama has hailed a deal reached to stave off a "fiscal cliff" of drastic taxation and spending measures as "just one step in the broader effort to strengthen the economy".

The US president was speaking after the House of Representatives passed a Senate-backed bill by 257 votes to 167.

With final vote, U.S. Congress resolves "fiscal cliff" drama

WASHINGTON | Wed Jan 2, 2013 6:05am GMT

(Reuters) - The United States averted economic calamity on Tuesday when lawmakers approved a deal preventing huge tax hikes and spending cuts that would have pushed the world's largest economy off the "fiscal cliff" into recession.

U.S. fiscal plan averts "dairy cliff," buys time for farm bill

(Reuters) - A deal approved by the U.S. Congress late on Tuesday to avoid the automatic tax hikes and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff" also includes measures to avert the "dairy cliff" - a steep increase in milk prices.

The tax agreement contains a nine-month fix for expiring farm subsidy programs by extending a 2008 farm law. That gives lawmakers time to come up with a new five-year replacement.

I see you've been busy Skinny - lol!

It'll be one cliff after another now - with the Debt Ceiling the biggest of them all!

Dreamcatcher: thanks for that chart!

Spanish Manufacturing PMI 44.6 consensus 44.9 previous 45.3

I thought they had just delayed the whole thing for two months? Kicking the can down the road again...........