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

skinny - do you happen to know the symbol for the Construction and Materials Index? ...... comparing that with NMX3720 might be interesting and fruitful as one would have thought they would move hand in hand, but i suspect C+M has lagged, perhaps unfairly

NMX2350 (blue)

There's a rumour going round that ECB's Weidmann is to resign.... A similar story did the rounds last summer, but he had a 'change of heart' then.

If this story has got any legs it'll seriously dent the markets imho. DAX and euro are already coming off quite hard on it.

I wondered what caused the dip in the last half hour!

It's a fave old chestnut for a bit of manipulation, Skinners. I doubt there's anything in the rumour but, if you want to buy the market, you just tell the world and his wife that Weidmann's resigned. :)

Such realism cynicism in one so young! :-)

Well at least you got the young bit right... :)

thanks skinny .... rather bears out what i thought and am glad i manfully resisted the siren call to get back into NMX3720 yet again - it's served me well to date ...... looks as though we are heading for a quick consolidation sell-off, so i'll try to get my timing right for the next foray, though prob into NMX2350

Hils Lol!

Off topic, just nipped to Morrisons for red wine for beef casserole - Hardy's Aussie Shiraz @£3.99 - now the dilemma!

Thanks for the explanation Hilary - I, too, wondered what was going on... closed my short while I could do so in profit.

Skinny: save some for later!

Just seen this rather more 'official' explanation for the earlier nosedive:

' European stock markets struggled for direction in early trade on Tuesday, as investors digested the latest policy decision from the Bank of Japan, which said it would introduce open-ended monetary easing and a formal 2% inflation target.'

Mistress - a successful w/e cooking ..... dinosaur casserole very yummy and rib-sticking; marmalade good and bitter to match my personality

Ah good - thanks cynic. What time should I come round to sample your culinary delights?

you can come when you like as well you know - or even as often

:-)

Slightly 'stable door'

German ZEW Economic Sentiment 31.5 consensus 12.2 previous 6.9

ZEW Economic Sentiment 31.2 consensus 14.1 previous 7.6

GBP 10-y Bond Auction 1.90|2.9 previous 1.80|1.7

Spanish HPI q/q -2.2% previous -2.4%

GBP CBI Industrial Order Expectations -20 consensus -10 previous -12

Thanks for dragging yourself away from the cooking Skinny, to keep us posted!

USD Existing Home Sales 4.94M consensus 5.09M previous 5.04M

USD Richmond Manufacturing Index -12 consensus 4 previous 5

Dipping my toe back in with a short at 6188 and a SL at 6205

bhunt - I have a limit in @6200.35 - I hope we are both lucky!