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

I'm short @6,623.0 which hopefully is it for now.

What are you averaging now Skinny?

I closed previously for -11, the entry was based on R1 @6,594.36 and looked doomed almost immediately - hence my post at the time.

This position is based on the method mentioned yesterday @6,622.17 - Non farms @1:15pm so lets see.

On edit that was -11 not -9.

FTSE 100 2hr chart now below to pick up higher resistance levels.

6619 closed at 6604.5 for +14.5, average 6582

ADP Jul US Private Sector Jobs +200,000

Treasury bonds sold off Wednesday after a private-sector employment report that brightened the outlook for the labor market and raised fears the Federal Reserve would taper bond-buying this quarter. In recent trade, the benchmark 10-year Treasury note was 14/32 lower in price, yielding 2.658%, according to Tradeweb. Bond prices fall when their yields rise. The yield is approaching a 23-month peak of 2.756% set July 8. The data showed 200,000 jobs were added to the private sector, compared to 183,000 forecast by economists. An improving jobs market raised anxiety that the Federal Reserve may dial back its bond purchases as early as September. Bond yields have jumped sharply since the start of May as fears grew that a major buyer of Treasury bonds may step back. The Fed has been buying $85 billion per month in a combination of Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities aiming to hold longer-dated bond yields near historic lows to stimulate consumer and business borrowing. The Federal Open Market Committee is set to wrap up a two-day policy meeting Wednesday afternoon and is scheduled to release a statement on interest rates at about 2:15 p.m. EDT.

I still can't believe that the markets know that QE is going to come to an end at some point, yet they still fear it and seem unable to build it into their investment strategies. They have had plenty of advanced warning and time to adjust their positions accordingly......but they still don't like it! It seems markets are only forward looking when it suits them.

I suppose the big problem with investment vechicles and their managers is that they have to pay yields as well as a build on the capital invested with them. That has typically meant exiting bonds and cash where interest rates are super low in favour of equities driving indicies higher. No one wants to sell out of equities for cash too early and miss a dividend reducing a funds payable yield... Even when tappering does occur it will take time before the effects filter through into corporates earnings, reduce yield and force fund mangers to shift investments, the capital flight however is a different story.

6632.8 short, average 6598.

Short @6,642.8

Short 6648.8 now averaging 6611.4 with 4 bets.

6648.8 closed at 6606.8 +42, three bets averaging 6598.9

I managed to close half @6,605 now wish I'd closed it all - what a mad few seconds!

Gold on a mission.

I debated the same Skinny, quite alot going ex div today also

Shortie - that was calculated last night - you must have picked up the tab on your short!

My closing was not one for the purist - more blind panic.

6632.8 closed at 6618.5 +14.3, two bet remaining average 6582.0.

Note the gold chart, a bit more and I think I might start buying.

I did pay a dividend and also a small over night fee last night yes. £2.22 in the pound the divi worked out at, ok I'm going mad, thought there was another one due tonight so didn't want to leave too much overnight.

I know the feeling - in that made fall just before the close, I unintentionally closed the trading platform instead of changing tabs!

I'll get me coat!