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

Think it'll close below 6360

Well that looks compelling!

Thought Non-farm Payrolls were out today, have I missed something?

Apparently! :-)

UPDATE: U.S. ISM Manufacturing Index Hits 20-Month High

--ISM PMI unexpectedly rises to 54.2 in February from 53.1 in January --New order index rises to highest since April 2011 --Price pressures rise but not yet a concern, says ISM By Kathleen Madigan The U.S. manufacturing sector expanded a bit faster last month but cost pressures intensified, according to data released Friday by the Institute for Supply Management. The ISM's manufacturing purchasing managers' index increased to 54.2 in February from 53.1 in January. A reading above 50 indicates expanding activity. The index is at its highest since June 2011. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had expected the February PMI to fall to 52.5. "Everything looks positive," said Bradley Holcomb who oversees the ISM survey. He pointed to broad-based gains in demand and no signs of overheating. The ISM report is one of the more positive reads on U.S. factory activity out so far. The February survey suggests "the manufacturing sector is regaining momentum lost over the second half of 2012 due to concerns over the fiscal cliff," said economists at Jefferies. Mr. Holcomb said respondents were not focused much on the sequestration spending cuts set to kick in Friday. Some respondents in computer and electronics commented on slower defense spending. Earlier Friday, data provider Markit said its U.S. PMI showed a slowing factory sector, but even there the news was not all bad. The Markit PMI fell to 54.3 from 55.8 in January, but the output index was the highest since March 2012. Factory surveys already released by regional Federal Reserve banks gave a mixed reading on February factory activity. Some Fed banks reported stronger growth but others said their manufacturers were pulling back in February. The ISM survey, on the other hand, was generally stronger. Demand strengthened last month. The new orders index increased to 57.8 from 53.3. The exports index jumped to 53.5 from 50.5. The new orders index is the highest since April 2011. The production index improved to 57.6 in February from 53.6 in January. The employment index slowed to 52.6 from 54.0. The ISM report said an employment index above 50.5, over time, is "generally consistent with an increase" in factory employment measured by the U.S. Labor Department. The inventory index edged up to 51.5 from 51.0. Businesses didn't add much to their inventory levels in the fourth quarter, according to Commerce Department data. The ISM readings suggest faster stocking in the first quarter, which is a plus for economic growth. The prices paid index jumped to 61.5 in February from 56.5 in January. Mr. Holcomb said a rise in the price index wasn't unusual at the start of the year, when many businesses mark up their price list. Only one commodity, steel bars, was reported to be in short supply. "I'm not concerned at this point," he said.

What did they think of them?

Anyone got a link?

Not out until next week according to this.

http://www.cityindex.co.uk/market-analysis/market-news/7451082013/lloyds-shares-fall-on-loss-whilst-us-data-lifts-the-market-heading-into-the-close/

Onto next week

There is a raft of crucial economic data due out next week that needs to be watched including central bank decisions from the RBA, BoE and ECB, alongside the all important US non farm payrolls data to finish the week.

Protection for Investors against Boiler Room Scams
1st Mar 4:58 pm
- See more at: http://www.directorstalk.com/#sthash.EV6idX9o.dpuf

Oh bug off TW! stick it on the Daily Thread.

thats not where i'd put it.,.

.. And sideways -):

President Obama said Friday that people across the country should brace for layoffs and pay cuts after he and congressional leaders failed to compromise on a replacement for $85 billion in across-the-board spending reductions set to kick in just before midnight.

'Starting tomorrow, everybody here, all the folks who are cleaning the floors at the Capitol … They're going to have less pay, the janitors, the security guards. They just got a pay cut, and they got to figure out how to manage that,' Obama said. 'That's real... that's not a scare tactic.'

Obama made the remarks from the White House following a meeting with House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, as well as Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.


Boehner emerged from the meeting and told reporters that taxes were off the table as an option to avoid the spending cuts, making it clear that no compromise had been made.

'The discussion about revenue, in my view, is over,' he said. 'It's about taking on the spending problem.'
Obama blamed Republicans for the country's predicament, claiming that there are many conservatives on Capitol Hill who agree with him, but are unwilling to say so publicly.
'We just need Republicans in Congress to catch up with their own party and the country on this,' he said.

President Obama wanted to replace the so-called sequester with a plan that would raise revenues as well as make a series of targeted spending cuts. But after making concessions on taxes in December by raising rates on the wealthiest of Americans, Republicans said they were unwilling to include new revenues in a plan to avert the sequester.



Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article-2286623/Sequester-President-Obama-says-85B-spending-cuts-WILL-kick-Friday.html#ixzz2MKJFHXEY

Ho Hum - Obama formally orders "deeply destructive" cuts, blames Congress

WASHINGTON | Sat Mar 2, 2013 6:03am GMT

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama formally ordered broad cuts in U.S. government spending on Friday night after he and congressional Republicans failed to reach a deal to avert automatic reductions that could dampen economic growth and curb military readiness.

As the United States staggered into another fiscal crisis, the White House predicted that the spending cuts triggered by the inability of Obama and lawmakers to forge a broader deficit-reduction agreement would be "deeply destructive" to the nation's economic and national security.

UK heads for triple dip as factories slump, mortgage lending slides

LONDON | Fri Mar 1, 2013 5:53pm GMT

(Reuters) - The risk that Britain is entering its third recession in four years grew on Friday with figures showing that manufacturing shrank unexpectedly last month and mortgage approvals for home buyers dropped in January.

Gross domestic product fell at the end of last year, bringing Britain within sight of another recession and the latest data suggested the central bank may need to do yet more to revive the economy.

The pound sank to its lowest level against the dollar in more than 2-1/2 years, while prices of British government bonds - which the Bank of England could resume buying - rose after the releases.

The Markit/CIPS Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 47.9 from a downwardly revised 50.5 in January, confounding forecasts for a rise to 51.0. It was the first reading below the 50 line that separates growth from contraction since November.

Why no US non farm payroll numbers yesterday?

Stan - they are next week! :-)

Thanks Skinny, been busy again this week so not up to date much, Do you know why they are delayed 1 week at all?

They aren't delayed.

NFPs are released on the third Friday after the conclusion of the week which includes the 12th of the month. Most often this happens to be the first Friday of the new month, but not exclusively so.

glad i went short dow on friday, even if my timing for so doing was somewhat wonky .... reckon that will be about the only bit of cheer today

GBP Construction PMI 46.8 consensus 49.2 previous 48.7

EUR Sentix Investor Confidence -10.6 consensus -4.5 previous -3.9