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

Short on Wall St all day from 12572, closed at 12267 and shorted again at 12286 rolling over to Monday. 12300 again, will it be the tractor beam level next week again.

Mr E .... what a very clever chap you are, starting your short at the very peak and even picking your bottom (so to speak!) and managing yet again to choose the top of the short-term bounce to reopen ...... house in the caribbean now under construction perhaps?

i was out last night splitting my sides to bobby davro in very non-pc mode, so was unable to monitor .... however, as i left a stop on my own Dow short at 12220, i note that was not hit and after hours sees the Dow (allegedly!) back at 12300 ..... that is but marginal comfort and i am glad i took quite a lot of money off the table during the week.

Cynic, I'd call it luck more than anything else.. Have only achieved to claw back losses earlier in the week when Wall St was going up and I was shorting all the way might I add to 12650.. No house under construction I'm affraid, I only play small bets as can't afford to risk more. Got caught out with the YEN as the rise at the beginning of the week + rise in Wall St forced me to sell the YEN as I couldn't cover both, as soon as I closed the bet if fell, bet theres a few people posting here that know that feeling.! Have a look at the chart below and set to either 1 minute or 5 minute and you'll see how quickly and the range the DOW was moving.

http://www.selftrade.co.uk/historical-charts.php?symbole=$INDU

for myself, have just closed Dow short as 12200 is likely to prove some support and suspect indicated opening (further - 60/70) may well be overcooked

If you look at the forward diary for this week, there is a huge amount of economic data due out from the U.S. on wed & thurs. Obviously it depends on whether this data is good or bad, but shorting the DOW all this week would seem to be on the cards, imo. Maybe the FTSE will follow suit, particularly as a few big companies going ex-divi this week.

nothing falls in a straight line either! .... as always, if trading indices, always dangerous if you are unable to monitor constantly

Think I'll leave the short running, 12185 I think we'll see it finishing at with a small gain maybe being made in Tuesdays trading... Fridays candle was engulfing so going by this will look to close the position upon a short candle with a small wick... Each to their own, you pay your money and take your chance... Good luck

Interesting article on commodities boom. Just wonder if today or tomorrow could herald a major correction in oil with OPEC meeting today. Buy on the rumour sell on the fact re. whether production will be cut stay the same or increased.
thttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/03/04/cccomms104.xml

ive been short on oil from 96 dollars on brent and 101 on crude. If its anything like last week it will probably go up until around 7pm uk then reverse in the last hour of trading. Im then expecting it to continue its decline tomorrow. Trading very flat in an 80 point range today

Quite amazing that drop last night! I have been shorting brent a lot recently for short term gains as it has been a counter trend strategy. If DOW really tanks through 12000 that may send oil down as a recession would be deflationry. We shall see

str* ..... the two will move independently .... onre very good reason for the high $ price of oil is purely down to $ weakness.

as i write, Dow indications are looking very unhappyat -115 or thereabouts ..... i dare say this may be a partial reflection of Intel's downbeat forecast after market close yesterday, but also a fear factor of what today's economic figures may bring
...... at this stage, have done nothing either to take more money off the table or to take any position in indices

Anyone playing the GBP/CHF pair at the moment? I have just opened a June future going long at 20456. With the double bottom formation I am looking for a return in the long term back to 23000. Just wondering if anyone else is playing, thinking of doing so or has the opionion that the bottom is lower?

Dow looking horrid ...... 11960 could well be next stop, though that is only about 120 points away .... for myself, had expected a rally from +/-12150 - Silly Billy!

i know i sound sick enoying the decline but im short stocks end of march and long stocks september so hopefully chickens coming home to roost. Even making money on oil ( with hedging) so i am either very drunk (which I am as its 1 am singapore) or mkt is doing what its siupposed too. Thank goodness for chartists

did not realise you were based there ..... way past your bedtime! ..... we do loads of biz from our office also based in Sing

Cynic I work at least 19 over 3 mkts.I used to work for merrills in london but couldn't get a job at current salary so went independent. You know I aspire to be you. Even when I was right I was wrong, (i.e WPP), although two days have been good. Happy Tradiing

Cynic I work at least 19 over 3 mkts.I used to work for merrills in london but couldn't get a job at current salary so went independent. You know I aspire to be you. Even when I was right I was wrong, (i.e WPP), although two days have been good. Happy Tradiing

Sorry that should have been 19 hours but I have had three bottles of wine so please excuse me as 2am

That's a lot of wine. Glad to hear your positions have at last come good. I've still got a FTSE short from 5610 since when Kerviel played his trump cards!

Falcothou..Agreed but in mkts like this 3 bottles of wind is good. especially if your a newcastle fan Wine its good. (Cynic to suceed keegan)...Before you giggle its no less likley than the European bank dropping interset rates in the next month