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

holding

Good call. Now up 125 points.

and still holding - now +150 ...... hoping for another 100 points, though doubt if we shall see that tonight ...... will contemplate on whether to cut later in the evening

Be interesting what it does in the last hour

currently 13244 = +260 .... from memory, 13255 is a potential resistance so have put in trailing stop at 13195 ..... anyway, unless even if that gets stopped out, provided Dow does not fall away completely, strong opening on FTSE assuredly assured ..... on that basis, i also opened a FTSE long earlier at 6362

so much for that resistance! ..... Dow finished at about 13300 and have raised trailing stop to 12965 .... if it gets stopped out during the night, then so be it, but certainly a lot happier than i was 24 hours ago!

Happier!!!? Understatement methinks! You must be booking your next holiday on that result! :o)

Good call cynic!

thanks guys! ...... perhaps that prize ass scottinvestor should take note occasionally! ..... just for info ..... Dow long still open but trailing stop now raised to 13275; FTSE long doubled early this morning at 6427.5 ..... shall be monitoring both very closely as it is far from impossible that either market could boil over and i have no intention of allowing those profits to fritter away

HSBC meant to be updating today which could have an impact if monstrous

DOW futures only +19 at present.
Might see some profit taking this p.m., imo.

if so, my stop will cut in, but that's fine by me

Dow now closed, and also half of FTSE

Yes, I thought you might. Am not confident that this afternoon is going to be as good as the last 24 hours, so also sold stock I bought yesterday.

always hard to know after such a surge ..... actually bought into BRR this morning and bought back HAWK

DOW now -40 !!! Awaiting inflation report from the U.S.

back in long Dow at 13349 ...... care not that previous position was closed out at 13275 as Dow could have gone anywhere after the figures just announced .... as it is, they are in line with expectations at worst, so (today's) market looks promising again

Amazing turnaround on the FTSE, but DOW still -3.
Happy with my profit today & will just watch now until tomorrow.

havin g taken my large profit in Dow and reasonable one in 1/2 FTSE this morning, my new positions are both adequately in the money .....

harry ..... watch carefully as Wall Street opens in a few minutes to see the reaction ..... not really predictable, but you may want to reopen

Just closed my first trade on FTSE, went long at 6350 and made a modest 20 point gain. Unfortunately I was transfixed to the screen and didn't get back to tiling my bathroom, may have to treat the other half to a slap meal somewhere.

Next time will walk away with my stops and limits in place, not a healthy occupation watching the screen for to long.