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

easily missed getting out at the top, but have just taken nice profits in both ftse and dow and gone very modestly short of both, if only on the basis that a breather is due

and got it wrong too by the looks of it at the moment ...... ah well, it would have been nice to have hung on for a much greater profit on my longs, but as i often say, no one ever went broke banking a profit and it could all easily have gone the other way - and still may of course

Think I'll play short today. 6465 looks like the initial target.

Good luck Shortie - I'm flat index wise atm.

Not much news wise until Benny speaks tomorrow evening.

Hic!

Cheers Skinny, just closed out for +12 pips profit, would have left it on but the sun is calling and its a shame to waste a nice day trading..

6,500 former resistance.

6465 or a break to the upside now??

I was short earlier (now closed) and just watching.

As I said, nothing much today until Bennie speaks and to a lesser extent the bond auction - could be an afternoon for the great outdoors!

Theres no direction at the moment although a trading range of 6535 to 6465 seams to be about right at the moment. Think I'll go test the Euro.

is that to see if you're pregnant?

Shortie yep thats what Ive got the range at aswel.

FTSE 15min chart, lets see if the break above the upper range is maintained or if it falls back into it. Trending is to the upside and a new range of 6535-6614 is a possibility today and more favourable than a fall back I think.

having got caught with my pants down and in danger of being buggered - ah happy memories of public schooldays! - with my shorts (sorry about the pun) in dow and ftse, i am perhaps rashly staying with those positions

meanwhile, i have just hopped back into HG+HC Index (NMX3720) at 10926 as it was "dumped" this morning, perhaps due to certain companies (RB?) going ex div

having got caught with my shorts down (well up actually!) and in danger of being buggered - ah those happy memories of public schooldays! - i am perhaps rashly staying with those positions

meanwhile, i have just hopped back into HG+HC Index (NMX3720) at 10926 as it was "dumped" this morning, perhaps due to certain companies (RB?) going ex div

No companies ex dividend today cynic - its Friday!

Wednesday was 2 days ago cynic.

whatever .... in that case, no idea why the "clunk", but happy enough to buy in

Just had a dabble myself on NMX3720 @10,831.

DP of IC still struggling to predict the future!
"I am standing by my forecast of further near-term gains for the DAX and FTSE. Neither is showing any sign of exhaustion yet, even though I will admit to having seen more vigorous uptrends in the past. I did not expect to be trading these indices from the long side in mid-July, given the experience of the last three years or so. However, my job is to follow the trend, and that is what I shall continue to do for now. I may add to my existing long position in the FTSE – entered Friday – with some exposure to the DAX today.

The DAX made it easily to my stated target of 8213 on Friday. Such pullbacks as have occurred have been very modest, which is a testament to the strength of the uptrend. I am still looking for an attack on 8344.9. On the fourhourly timeframe, the price remains somewhat overbought.

DAY: I’d buy a bounce from around the 21-hourly EMA (8215.7)

POSITION: I’d buy a bounce from around the 21-hourly EMA (8215.7)"