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

Bernanke to Congress: Don't Let Sequester Take Place

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday repeated testimony to Congress, defending the central bank's monetary easing and warning Congress against letting looming spending cuts take place.

"Given the still-moderate underlying pace of economic growth, this additional near-term burden on the recovery is significant," Bernanke told the House Financial Services Committee.

In testimony Tuesday, Bernanke strongly defended the Fed's easy monetary policy and said there was little risk of a spike in inflation in the near term.

14050 is a better level Shortie, you're right

meanwhile, my other "scary punt" HG+HC index is also now nicely in the money

Closed my FTSE +71 and reversed !

Great trade Skinny!

Stocks advance after Bernanke balm


Wednesday 16:00 GMT. Markets are more positive than of late as optimism that the US economy – with continued central bank support – can overcome fiscal constraints helps counteract the return of eurozone jitters.

The dollar index is down 0.3 per cent though moves in major industrial commodities are mildly muddled. Copper is off 0.2 per cent to $3.57 a pound and Brent crude is adding 6 cents to $112.77 a barrel.

I think we do need to be careful though, that what's happening in the Eurozone will likely have an impact in the US before too long

Thanks Toya - I've closed the short -2, looks like a breather and more?

We've just hit 14000

Still long on the FTSE, not closing just yet.....

and couldn't quite hold, so have sold balance at 13993 .... thank you very much, says the bank manager

You should be fine with that Shortie - it often gets a power-surge at around 16:30!

4 HRs DOW chart if your looking to short off the upper range...

Thanks for that!

Well held Shortie - I had 6318 as resistance and closed as it dithered.

5 minute chart excellent over the past 50 or so minutes.

On edit :- just seen your DOW chart - thanks.

Coming @5:30.

Holding for 6360 on the FTSE before reversing, so expect to go overnight again...

Keep yer Eyes on AAPL.... I'm fancying a long position off support here..

And thats all the plays I've got at the moment, pretty short on ideas here..

I'm off to Circuit Training - will check the DOW when I get in tonight, by which time it may all have turned back on itself...