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

Dell sales fall ahead of buyout but beat forecasts

Computer maker Dell has reported quarterly profits and revenues ahead of expectations, in what could be its last set of results as a public company.

The world's third largest PC maker said net profit in the fourth quarter fell 31% to $530m (£345m) compared with the same period a year ago.

Revenue fell 11% to $14.3bn, hurt by a shrinking consumer business, but still beat analysts' forecasts.

Founder Michael Dell has offered to buy the business for $24.4bn.

GBP Claimant Count Change -12.5K consensus -5.3K previous -15.8K

GBP MPC Meeting Minutes 0-0-9 consensus 0-0-9 previous 0-0-9

GBP Unemployment Rate 7.8% consensus 7.7% previous 7.7%

GBP Average Earnings Index 3m/y 1.4% consensus 1.4% previous 1.5%

Thats 6,400!

CHF ZEW Economic Expectations 10.0 previous -6.9

DOW down over 100 points atm. Doesn't seem to be anything too serious, just that they can't seem to decide on how to stimulate the U.S. economy. Might be a 'down day' on the FTSE if this persists!

It will get serious

8am.

French Flash Manufacturing PMI 43.6 consensus 43.9 previous 42.9

French Flash Services PMI 42.7 consensus 44.5 previous 43.6

German Flash Manufacturing PMI 50.1 consensus 50.4 previous 49.8

German Flash Services PMI 54.1 consensus 55.5 previous 55.7

Limited out of yesterday's FTSE @6,317 + 80 - more by luck than judgement and maybe too early.

thank goodness i took modest profit on long dow yesterday evening and reversed (13998) ...... rest of the stuff looking very sick this morning

EUR Flash Manufacturing PMI 47.8 consensus 48.4 previous 47.9

EUR Flash Services PMI 47.3 consensus 49.2 previous 48.6

decided to bank good profit on dow short as shall be out of office for a few hours

GBP Public Sector Net Borrowing -9.9B consensus -9.0B previous 13.2B

GBP CBI Industrial Order Expectations -14 consensus -16 previous -20

EUR Spanish 10-y Bond Auction 5.20|1.6 previous 5.29|2.3

GBP 10-y Bond Auction 2.15|2.3 previous 1.90|2.9

CSR bucking trends

USD Core CPI m/m 0.3% consensus 0.2% previous 0.1%

USD Unemployment Claims 362k consensus 353K previous 341K

USD CPI m/m 0.0% consensus 0.1% previous 0.0%

USD Flash Manufacturing PMI 55.2 consensus 55.6 previous 55.8

Weak growth likely to win euro zone more time to cut deficits

BRUSSELS | Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:03am GMT

(Reuters) - Several euro zone countries are likely to miss deficit cutting targets because of a weak economy, the European Commission is expected to forecast on Friday, but they may be granted extra leeway rather than face disciplinary action.

The European Union executive will publish economic forecasts for the 27-nation bloc for 2013 and 2014.

German Ifo Business Climate 107.4 consensus 104.9 previous 104.3

Busy reporting week for the house builders next week.

Monday 25th BVS,PSN.

Tuesday RDW

Wednesday BDEV

Friday TW.

CAD Core CPI m/m 0.1% consensus 0.2% previous -0.6%

CAD Core Retail Sales m/m -0.9% consensus 0.1% previous -0.3%

CAD CPI m/m 0.1% consensus 0.3% previous -0.6%

CAD Retail Sales m/m -2.1% consensus -0.3% previous 0.2%