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

LOL.,.

Oh that old thing of course -):

is the FTSE going to reach 7000 this month, or will sell in May prevail?

Sell in May - not so far this year.

Ben B to address Congress later today. Assuming he doesn't bring bad news, which is forecast to be unlikely, then I'm on the side of the 7000'ers, though this month seems a bit optimistic!

Up, up and away..... Can't bring myself to go long, can't bring myself to go short either.... The sidelines are becoming monotonous though!!

This from someone I follow on Twitter:

Oliver Tomahawk ‏@OliverTomahawk
HOORAY !!! Have hit my #spreadbetting target of doubling £45k to £90k. Took me just over 8 weeks in total. WOW.
Will update my blog later.

of course he did, and why would you doubt someone like that?

===================

meanwhile, just before i went out to dinner i gritted my teeth and topped up my dow short (at 15465) ..... doesn't look tooo dumb now dow has completely boiled over as has been long overdue

===============

and again just now at 15305

Cyners,

I'm an introducer for quite a few Forex brokers and, as such, I get access to my own clients' trading records. I've got clients who regularly achieve the kind of thing that Mr Tomahawk claims. Sure, the vast majority of punters play with the minimum allowed stake for a bit of pocket money, and for those people, Mr Tomahawk's claims are inconceivable because they nearly always get wiped after a few weeks. But, equally, there are no shortage of players hitting it big. I've seen guys turn $10k into $100k+ in a matter of days, and then some.

All you need do is to take a largish position in the direction of a trend that has just started and which you are able to sit with for a few days, and it happens.

Didn't say I believed him! As it happens, I do believe this one for various reasons. I just posted it because I thought it was interesting and would bring a bit of light relief to the thread.

i personallly know one very successful day-trader, but he has the wherewithal, ability and discipline to make it work ...... i am sure hilary would concur that 99% of those who attempt this, merely keep the bookies in rolls royces

I think we'd all agree there! I long since gave up trying to day trade.

post 1254 - stay VERY alert ..... dow really is looking very tired and is of course very seriously o'bought

i may have been 3 days early, but as i posted on GF's chart thread, when the market turns, it just plummets - and so it has come to pass

i know i have a cushion with that juicy dow short, and took money off the table last week, but may top-slice elsewhere today as well - e.g. blnx that has had a great run

Cyners,

The problem with the 99%ers (actually, it's probably closer to 90% imo), is that once they've blown their coupla hundred bucks, they tend to steer clear. You need to replenish them with regularity if you want to buy that Roller. It's far better to keep the BSDs onside.

Awesome overnight fall in Japan

i'm happy enough with my current "tart's car", but thanks for the thought :-)

Hairdresser's car, Mr C. I don't think tarts can afford that kind of motor! ;o)

I've made massive gains over a few weeks only to lose them over trading in the following weeks.

hairdresser certainly can't

now you understand why i regularly preach about the prudent banking of profits