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

Apples & oranges. (FTSE /DOW)

Blue apples? I don't think so!

Sir Alex Ferguson is going to retire at the end of the season

Sir Alex Ferguson will step down as Manchester United manager at the end of the season after 26 years in charge.

The Scot, 71, has won 38 trophies since taking over from Ron Atkinson on 6 November 1986, including this season's Premier League title.

His haul includes 13 titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups and five League Cups.

"The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about. It is the right time," Ferguson said.

"It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so.

Countries which are growing fast (3.5% to 8%) have over 50% of the world population (India, China, Malaysia, Brazil). Market is ignoring the positive news from these countries. Relaxing single child policy by China should help as well.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-april-trade-data-beats-023948850.html

This combined with money injection around the world should push the value of cash lower and asset values higher.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/feds-credibility-tested-inflation-drifts-050452057.html

German Industrial Production m/m 1.2% -0.1% 0.6%

Tipping point? I think so, short DAX today for me..

GBP Manufacturing Production m/m 1.1% 0.4% 0.8%

GBP Industrial Production m/m 0.7% 0.3% 1.0%

GBP Asset Purchase Facility 375B 375B 375B

GBP Official Bank Rate 0.50% 0.50% 0.50%

CAD NHPI m/m 0.1% 0.1% 0.2%

USD Unemployment Claims 323K 333K 324K

Yen breaks through 100, Abenomics hits another milestone

TOKYO | Fri May 10, 2013 4:13am BST
(Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scored another small victory as the yen broke below major support of 100 to the dollar, with analysts predicting further declines over the course of the year that would underpin the export-dependent economy.

The yen fell to as low as 101.20 per dollar, down more than two percent from Thursday's high around 98.65, and the lowest level in over four and a half years.

German Trade Balance 17.6B 18.0B 17.7B

Don't panic!

Italian Industrial Production m/m -0.8% -0.2% -0.9%

Wow, what a rise in the FTSE!
I imagine that you closed your shorts some time ago skinny or else the pain might be a little bit too intense.
At the moment I am considering placing all of my Pension funds and ISA's into cash or less volatile investments as I can't see this rise continuing for too much longer. Retirement looms and I don't want the gains to be lost in a crash however big or small it may be.
TT

Yes - I'm out (a few quid) and have a limit in @6,638 - which was been missed earlier.

I agree about the SIPP and ISA funds and have liquidated/reduced a few recently - BT may go today.

IC are recommending defensives over the summer, so utilities, tobacco & telecoms, which are high yielding but not too volatile. I can't see any point in holding a large amount in cash as it would be depreciating day by day. Just my opinion, but I am similarly looking to bank profit but then reinvest in safer stocks, in my stock ISA.
On behalf of an elderly neighbour I have just had a barny with HSBC over a cash ISA that was paying only 0.2% (having expired the original introductory bonus) and only until we threatened to take the money out would they then offer 1.6% for 12 months. Took three phone calls & a visit to the local branch. Still, it's better than nothing but even so doesn't keep up with inflation!!

GBP Trade Balance -9.1B -8.9B -9.4B

Anybody who doubts this rise can continue should maybe note that, apparently, there’s been decent interest to buy 3-month yen puts with 107.00 strikes this morning. Currently sat around 101.20.

And the tiddlywinks upping the rhetoric on Okinawa won't help.