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

We shall see, have to say I've only ever held dividend plays within my ISA never on a spreadbetting account so a new play for me.

I quite often do on a Tuesday - if only to partly mitigate a FTSE short - the best recently was CLLN - bought on 3rd September - I received the dividend and it is currently 25 points in profit.

Today's punt is CNA.

This looks good also, that was my exact thinking Skinny to hedge out the charges on a FTSE short.

Yes I saw that - I chose CNA.

It all helps but its yet something else to be monitored/checked.

Spot on with that dividend calculation Skinny for Drax.

The CNA dividend play was 'millibanded' - managed to get out @390 and just bought again @382p

DRAX didn't fair any better.

You lost me there skinny!
Oh the freezing of power charges. OK

6586 short FTSE

6564 position closed

15 minute FTSE, maybe a long play next, awaiting reversal

Tempted to go long

6552.3 gone short

30min Wall St, no position yet

1Hr DAX waiting for a short signal..

Still expect a fall back to 4024 at some point.

still out of this one while clenching the bum with NMX 3720 which is currently being rather naughty

Pretty safe to expect 10205 will fail and this will continue to trend downwards. 10116 looks like the target and where I'd consider buying from.

i fear you may be right, but guess i'll just stay put and just possibly add further (pain?) in due course ..... in fact, 10129 mid hit earlier today, which was pretty much spot on - i.e. implies 10119/10139

NMX 3720
i see it closed right on the upper resistance level ..... since then, dow has moved ahead again, though not with great conviction .... wait and see