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

6390 key support for the FTSE, if the downside is to gain momentum this level will need to be taken out

I do hold for both (the yield and as a hedge) - although last night I was short the FTSE but took on none of today's yielders - mainly because I thought the way the market looked to be heading would cause any of today's yielder's to fall by more than the dividend, which seems largely to have been the case (HSD border line).

As for why - mainly habit - but I should look into the costs as they seem very minimal.

On edit :- last night's adjustment was 0.8 of a point.

Skinny - Any thoughts on Albermarle & Bond?

Not really - I had a cursory glance at this earlier.

I don't know much about them - but a pawn broker going broke!

Blimey - talk about vertigo!

I know, I'm viewing this collapse as being very over done.

I've replaced the charts with some candles - Shortie, you could have 'caught that knife' in April!

Actuly its been a share on my yield watch list for some time. I've followed them on and off but never invested. I posted a link on the other thread of a FT report, worth a read I think. Bought 2 long futures today, may well buy more tomorrow.

Thanks - 'yield', music to me ears :-) - I'll have a look a bit of a look later.

Gone short 6459.8

SELL SELL SELL, the end of the world is nigh.

Maybe the start of the pullback I've been waiting for!!

Richard Wiltshire‏@etxwiltshire8m
#fx-U.S. LABOR DEPARTMENT CONFIRMS MONTHLY JOBS REPORT WILL NOT BE ISSUED ON FRIDAY, SAYS AN ALTERNATIVE RELEASE DATE HAS NOT BE SET

15000 the big test! Will it hold???

position closed +12 pts

there's been some accidental x-pollination on the NOWT thread, so i thought i'ld import a post here ....

sticky - with CFDs i don't need to do daily trades - i can just open a position and let it run as long as i choose ..... i don't think it'll be so much o'sold stocks to take a look at, but special sits .... NYO was a good (i hope) one this morning, and there'll assuredly be other spivvy stocks which suddenly take the fancy of the lemmings, on which it can be worth riding the momentum

i'ld be more inclined to try to catch (estimate!) the bottom of dow or s+p500 or even ftse, because when an agreement does come - as assuredly it will, there will be at least a hefty DCB .... shortie and skinny are pretty good on those, though i don't agree with shortie's assessment that dow 15,000 was critical other than as a convenient round number

.

all thud and blunder on dow this evening