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

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

I'm out of the indicies as of last night when I decided to short GBP/USD. 1.61547. Wish I'd also done the Yen aswell.

I'm waiting to go short again - although I'm not sure about leaving it over the weekend.

I've taken a long on TATE this morning.

Shortie,

You'd probably need to switch to a timeframe such as 1-hour or 4-hour to see it, but there's a nice uppy trendline in place from 30th August which that cable move down this morning took out. Overnight, it was consolidating support just above that trendline, but Asians never have the cahunas to smash major trendlines, and they invariably sit on the fence and wait for volumes to pick up in London trade before deciding direction.

This isn't an exact science, but I would expect that the price will probably move back up at some stage (not necessarily today) to the level at which the trendline support was broken (circa 1.6160), at which point a fresh wave of sellers will kick in as that earlier support turns to resistance.

But hey, wdik.

Skinny, Fotune Oil has announced a 2.36 special dividend (current sp 10.27 so yields 23%) details below, I'm considering a position as they paid dividends in 2011 of 0.13p, 2012 of 0.18p and 2013 2.52p. Something you may be interested in.

Fortune Oil is pleased to announce the key dates for the special interim dividend of 2.36 pence per ordinary share (the "Dividend"), which was approved by shareholders at the general meeting of the Company held on 25 September 2013.
Ex-dividend date 9 October 2013
Record date 11 October 2013
Deadline for receipt of DRIP mandate forms 11 October 2013
Dividend payment date 25 October 2013

I like the look of your TATE chart, think I'll have a look.

Here's what I'm referring to in a piccie.

Thanks Hils, Shortie.

Thanks Hilary, I've closed out the GBP/USD position taking a profit. I noticed the trend line upwards but it looks like its going to reverse from below and my own view was the run was overdone.



GJ has my attention as its up against support right now, 156.55, doubt I'll trade it though either way..

Will the trendline be maintained with the taking out of 15000

Up or down, think I'll be on the fence for this afternoons session.

Should have stayed short, live and learn with a profit though so not all bad!

I think either - cable / indexes are reasonably risky over the weekend - any thoughts?

That'll depend upon the size of your cahunas, Skinners.

:o)

It was of course rhetoric and should have ended with 'discuss'! :-)

Well Sterling is off highs and 6390 has yet to be taken out so don't expect much movement. Wall St the same unless news breaks.

Been watching currency and commodities mainly today, energy markets are interesting.