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

9:30am

GBP CPI y/y 2.7% consensus 2.7% previous 2.7%

GBP PPI Input m/m 1.3% consensus 0.9% previous 0.0%

GBP RPI y/y 3.3% consensus 3.2% previous 3.1%

GBP Core CPI y/y 2.3% consensus 2.4% previous 2.4%

GBP HPI y/y 3.3% consensus 2.1% previous 2.2%

GBP PPI Output m/m 0.2% consensus 0.2% previous -0.1%

Short FTSE @6317.5

DOW futures now in slight positive territory (from -28 this morning), so not sure about your FTSE short!

I went long on BARC at the open - only fair I give some back :-)

US Redbook retail sales positive, DOW to test 14000....

FTSE shorts in play also.

Mario @2:30pm

German WPI m/m 0.3% consensus 0.4% previous 0.0%

So much for my ideas of the FTSE falling further before it climbs back up. I'd gone short yesterday at 6315 thinking I'd got a good deal... And on top of that, I got whacked with some 'Short FTSE Dividend' fee - having only been in that short position for a matter of hours :( I've not had such a bad day in ages!

CHF PPI m/m -0.1% consensus 0.2% previous 0.1%

Mistress T - you clearly need some of my comfort food; rotten luck

Thanks Cynic - certainly need some comfort. Anyway, I'm getting over it and will live to see another day

perhaps i should turn out a spotted dick for you!

with cream???

Thanks chaps. I'm not so keen on the spots in the dick. I shall have my sticky toffee pudding (with dates) and custard

more likely to be pus-coloured custard

he always drags it down........lol

Mmmmmm slice of hairy pie....

Last nights DFT dividend on the FTSE100 was a biggie Toya, would have been paid to you however if you were long, I feel your pain as also got slapped with this...

Et moi!