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

Interesting article Shortie - thanks

Timing eh!

China's surprisingly strong trade data fans optimism

China has reported better-than-expected trade data, adding to optimism that growth in the world's second-largest economy may be rebounding.

Exports, a key driver of expansion, rose 14.1% in December from a year earlier. Most analysts had forecast a figure closer to 4%.

Imports also rose, climbing 6% and indicating stronger domestic demand.

Inflation: Changes to the calculation of RPI expected


Changes to the measurement of inflation are set to be announced on Thursday, potentially cutting the income of many private sector pensioners.

The Office for National Statistics has been consulting since October on three possible changes to the way the retail prices index (RPI) is calculated.

Any of the changes would ensure that RPI rose more slowly in the future.

That would also restrain the future income of people holding index-linked bonds and savings certificates.

"The RPI change could be very significant," warned Joanne Livingstone of actuaries Punter Southall.

Off it's earlier peak @23,447.89

US fear index plummets to a 5½-year low - Vix shows investors turning more positive on stocks. - Another indication that markets are set to continue their climb!

I think I need a re-think... More coffee needed, it's still dark out there!

Now that is a beautiful chart. I have a Chinese trader friend and spoke with him a couple of weeks ago. He showed me a chart of the Chinese stock market, which had clearly just started a 5w advance, (i think near the top of wave 1 at the time or around where the HSI was back in July eg), buying Chinese company shares would probably be the best way to go as it would smooth out the pullbacks, (buy on dips), but i couldn't find the same chart with my provider. That said, the above looks ripe for a pullback or consolidation (poss couple months as a complex wave 4) before higher again...

It's good to have your technical view on this Davai :)

personally i wouldn't touch chinese shares with a bargepole, but yes, and as i have said on a good number of occasions (and ridden the derision), world economies are picking up ...... iron ore prices are now at a 15 month high ......

and from today's FT Briefing

China trade rebound hints at strong growth
Chinese exports and imports rebounded strongly in December, pointing to solid economic growth both in China and abroad.
Exports rose 14.1 per cent from a year earlier, the fastest in seven months and well above November’s 2.9 per cent pace. Imports increased 6 per cent in December from a year earlier after flatlining in November. Both outstripped most forecasts.

This would be Chinese co's listed on the China SE as opposed to listed here or across the pond...

Its tough at the top!

Rolls-Royce car sales edge up to new record



Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, which is owned by BMW, has reported record car sales for the third year in a row.

Sales edged up from 3,538 cars in 2011 to 3,575 in 2012. But the 1% growth was much lower than the 31% and 150% growth rates seen in the last two years.

and THAT model is an absolute monstrosity ..... give me the Bentley GT Supersport every time

Quite agree with you Cynic :) - and thought of you as I read the Chinese data, because you have indeed been telling us so for a while now

There are some analysts who reckon the Chinese momentum will struggle to keep up this pace in 2013:

Chinese exports soar

GBP Asset Purchase Facility 375B consensus 375B previous 375B

GBP Official Bank Rate 0.05% consensus 0.50% previous 0.50%

BOE Stays On Hold As Growth Worries Linger

By Jason Douglas LONDON--The Bank of England left its monetary levers untouched on Thursday as concerns about persistently high inflation trump signs of a renewed economic downturn. The U.K.'s central bank said its Monetary Policy Committee left the BOE's benchmark interest rate at 0.5% and the limit for its bond-buying stimulus program at 375 billion pounds ($600.8 billion pounds) following its two-day policy meeting. As is usual when policy is left unchanged, the BOE didn't publish a statement explaining its decision. Sterling and U.K. government bonds were broadly unmoved. Minutes of the meeting will be published Jan. 23. The MPC enters 2013 facing a similar mix of stubbornly high inflation and weak growth that dogged its decisions during 2012. Business surveys and economic data published in recent weeks suggest the U.K. economy contracted in the final three months of 2012 and will probably struggle to grow in the first few months of this year, raising the specter of three recessions in relatively quick succession. A recession is typically defined in the U.K. as two consecutive quarters of shrinking gross domestic product, and the nation has experienced two such periods since 2008. Consumer confidence declined in December, the European Commission said Tuesday, while a quarterly survey of finance chiefs at U.K. firms published Monday by business services firm Deloitte LLP found executives plan to keep hoarding cash this year, stymieing hopes for an investment-led recovery. Recent trade data showed Britain's economy is still suffering from the effects of the downturn in the neighboring euro zone, while at home demand is being hurt by a continuing budget squeeze by Prime Minister David Cameron's governing coalition. Economists on average expect the U.K. economy to have shrunk 0.1% in 2012 and estimate it will grow 1.1% in 2013, according to a range of independent economic forecasts compiled by the U.K. treasury. The first official estimate of 2012 gross domestic product is scheduled to be released Jan. 25. BOE officials expect the annual rate of inflation to stay above their 2% target for the rest of the year, which may limit their appetite to shore up growth by printing more money to buy bonds, a policy known as quantitative easing, or QE. Economists are divided on whether more QE will be forthcoming, and some officials appear to be unsure it is as effective a stimulus tool as it once was. "Even if the committee pauses for the next couple of months, we still think that more QE is likely before long. If we are right in expecting the economic stagnation to persist throughout this year, and tensions in the euro zone to re-emerge before long, then growth concerns are once again likely to trump near-term inflation worries," said Vicky Redwood, chief U.K. economist at Capital Economics, a consultancy. The BOE is hoping a joint program with the treasury to boost bank lending will help drive a recovery. The Funding for Lending Scheme, or FLS, aims to clear a logjam in lending that policy makers worry is holding back spending and investment. Officials on the BOE's Financial Policy Committee, which oversees the financial system, are also trying to free up more resources to fund new credit by relaxing some bank rules and urging lenders to sort out bad loans. A quarterly survey of lenders published by the BOE this month suggested these efforts may be bearing fruit. Banks said they plan to significantly increase the amount of loans available to would-be borrowers this quarter, the survey found. Analysts are increasingly focused on what changes incoming BOE Governor Mark Carney will bring to the conduct of British central bank policy when he joins from the Bank of Canada in July, replacing Mervyn King. A recent speech demonstrated Mr. Carney's interest in methods of stimulus as-yet untried in the U.K., such as providing guidance on the likely path of interest rates, a strategy adopted by the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve aimed at encouraging greater spending. "With the risks to the economic outlook still firmly weighted to the downside, the use of further unconventional monetary policy tools is possible," said Melanie Bowler, an economist at Moody's Analytics.

Can someone give me the FTSE intra day high please - I seem to have lost my feed.

According to the IG chart it was 6118

Thanks Toya.

Thursday, January 10, 2013
Chinese exports numbers give US markets a lift




US stocks have opened firmer on the back of encouraging export figures from China and an upbeat press conference from Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank.

Chinese exports in December were 14.1% higher than a year earlier, helping drive a sharp increase in the People’s Republic’s trade surplus to US$31.6bn.

In November, exports had been up a mere 2.9% year-on-year, while the trade surplus was US$19.6bn.

In Europe, Draghi cheered the market when he suggested that “we are now back in a normal situation from a financial viewpoint” though he cautioned that “we’re not at all seeing an economic recovery

For Hils. Japanese government approves $116bn stimulus package

The Japanese government has approved a fresh 10.3 trillion yen ($116bn; £72bn) stimulus package in an attempt to spur a revival in its economy.

The package will include infrastructure spending, as well as incentives for businesses to boost investment.

The government said the stimulus is likely to boost Japan's gross domestic product by two percentage points.


Nokia shares rise on better-than-expected Lumia sales







Nokia shares have risen sharply after the Finnish group said mobile phone sales in the fourth quarter exceeded its own expectations.

Nokia said it sold 86.3 million devices in the last quarter, with revenues totalling 3.9bn euros ($5.2bn; £3.2bn).

It said its mobile phone business had achieved underlying profitability, thanks to better-than-expected sales of its Lumia smartphone.

Nokia shares closed up 11% in Helsinki and 18.7% higher in New York.

Looks like I missed getting filled @6,132 by 0.5 of a point.