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

Unlucky storeysj, When things start to go pear shaped I often open up a hedging position and nearly did so this afternoon but fortunately left it a while. Oil is so volatile at the moment it will probably be at 106 before you know it. I have closed one short out from 104.25 at a 100 point profit after seeing a 170 point loss, whilst the brent short at 100.57 is still looking a bit pasty.

i know the feeling it has been crazy today. Managed to close two of my shorts and got within 12 points of closing another 2. Even recovered my whipsaw loss and made money but it has been one hell off an effort as prices have swung nearly 2 dollars in less than a minute 3 times already. Makes indices look childs play

There is a rumour circulating the city that the jobs number will be so made the Fed may be planning an emergency rate cut today. Something to consider before you take your positions on the dow. If this is off the mark please dont shoot the messenger

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Recent market turmoil shouldn't lead to expectations the Federal Reserve will repeat the emergency inter-meeting rate cut it undertook in January, Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher said in a television interview Friday. `"I would discourage you from thinking that simply because of a significant action in the credit markets, like we had yesterday, that suddenly we're going to have an Open Market Committee meeting, and that suddenly we're going to move Fed funds rates in response," Fisher told Bloomberg Television at a conference in Paris. "It doesn't work that way." Fisher was the only member of the rate-setting committee to vote against the half-point cut in January.

anyone know of a site which can relay information as soon as it happens? we are all awaiting NFP info at 13:30 but dont think the site i use can relay the info until way past the event...

If your in an office cnbc webcast. It costs 31 quid a year.

Quite frustrated at my lack of actions, but have one position running badly against me which is affecting my thinking on any other trades, have called a couple of good ones last couple of days, but taken no action because of the position i find myself in... I very nearly shorted wall street at 12070 less than an hour ago...

Payrolls plunge by 63,000 largest monthly decline in 5 years... Is this the start of a massive sell off, or will it be shrugged off, this on top of fresh credit concerns yesterday, outlook is bleak.

Dow now at 11,936 and looking negative. today

ran a FTSE short from last last night .... got very scary just before US figures with FTSE jumping up and down faster than Zebedee .... cashed in as 5667 as i believe there is perceived support at 5675 ..... makes up for my stupidity yesterday where i forgot basics and failed to cash in a decent profit on Dow.

am quite tempted to short Dow now (about 11940) with a stop at say 12025 just in case the market takes it into its head that the next big rate cut is not only just round the corner but is a "good thing"

there has to be central bank intervention going on . Cant think of any other explanation that would push the eur / $ rate down so quickly

Should bode well for crude shorts though!

Market being very resiliant, tough call, but monitoring equities in the wider market, no sign of panic, so Bear market or still correction in overall Bull market, time will tell, but convinced market will be back towards highs by year end...

When the hell is the price of oil going to come back to sensible level? i fear the US is heading for stagflation, and then worse - hyperinflation

its not doing anything. I have made a small fortune today trading between 30 point ranges. It takes intense concentration and constant vigilence but pays off. i wouldnt be surprised if it rose a little further then sold off in the last hour tracking the stronger $

The demand in the far east is outstripping any possible savings by ourselves penny pinching by not driving so much...not enough to go around....Saudi reserves declining etc...apart from the BG. discoveries in Brazil and possibly later the Falklands, no big discoveries....so here we are...like I said before : 2 worlds of Oil and Gas stocks going ballistic and the rest slumping...this could lead to nationalisation of certain Oil stocks in risky countries !

think i'll go hang myself! .... def a case of, "When Cynic decides to sell, it means buy and vice versa" .... hey ho! ..... i've had 6 positive weeks on the trot, so a reversal had to happen sooner or later .... just infuriating to do so primarily through lack of discipline

is anyone trading on IG ? They have kicked me out of the system and won't let me back in. Being a of the cynical time i think it was because i was making too much money today or do they have system problems

i have traded on IG for several years and still do ..... IG are delighted if you make money ..... that part makes no odds to them at all for they make their money on volume of trade and the commission .... give them a ring

I did so panic over. Ive traded about 50 times on oil today and the thing fell over. Fortunately up again. Thank goodness its Friday as I am knackered. Not looking good for the FTSE on Monday unless the dow turns around. The fear was if large selling volume comes at the end of the day we could be in unchartered territory.