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 didn't doubt your word but merely observed that there wasn't much movement to make much money

Not from an equity point of view no... 9170.5 gone short opn the DAX

Wondering if I should double up... or down as is the case.

I've just gone on the DOW @15,931.


on edit - closed +11

Not a good day on the DAX

skinny - gone where on the dow :-) ..... i'm certainly happy to stick with my short dow and s+p

Good spot - short! :-)

will the taper be just another storm in a teacup to create volatility and be quickly forgotten?

yes, but the markets will almost certainly initially react badly .... however, sober consideration should realise that the tapering is in response to the economy improving (even if fawlty and his pals would say it's bunkum)

I don't think Tapering is a response to the economy improving at all. It could well be a response to the dollar weakening. Hyman Minsky stressed that the FED should be a lender of last resort, rather than the owner of much debt which should reside in the private markets. When money supply starts to fall and is absorbed into the private sector and unemployment remains steady then you could argue that the economy in the US has begun to turn. At present growth is artificial rather than organic and requires its quick fix of monthly liquidity to keep it there..

11:04 EST - Odds are pretty even for the Fed to announce tapering today, but ED&F Man Capital Markets' Tom DiGaloma remains in the no-taper camp. He points to thin liquidity during the holiday season, saying "the year is over and I just don't see [that] bringing this type of action at year's end, how that really helps anybody." He said he puts the probability of tapering today at 20%, January at 40% and March at 80%. If the Fed holds off today, DiGaloma sees stocks finishing the year strong, while risk assets such as credit and mortgage bonds march higher.

cynic hope you closed your short dow up 100+, taper reduced by $10b.... storm in a teacup.

LOL

no, i've left all running ..... i'll only start to get concerned if there's momentum through 16125
meanwhile, i've plenty of stuff long on this side, not least HG+HC and C+M indices which are likely to react strongly tomorrow

==============

but not very comfortable for all that
hey ho - rough with smooth etc

Dow closes up 293 @16167, FTSE cash +81.

Cyners I did warn you.

Hopefully drag the FTSE up tomorrow .