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

Shortie,

I'm not really sure that I understand what you mean exactly by 'a course to get you into MetaTrader'.

If you're talking about using the client terminal, then its basic operation isn't too dissimilar to any other charting package. Its difference is that its a desktop application which you need to download and physically install on your machine, whereas much of the stuff you see nowadays tends to be Java-based and viewable in any browser.

The client terminal is free to download and use. Your broker pays MetaQuotes for a licence to use MT Server (which is what your client terminal connects to on the other end of the interweb), so there's nothing to stop you downloading a copy of the client terminal, setting up a demo account with a broker, and spending a bit of time familiarising yourself with opening chart windows, adding indicators to charts and figuring what buttons you need to click to open trades and adjust your SLs. Inside the terminal you'll see a Help tab from where you can download a user manual. I don't know what it says though, because I've never looked at it. Fwiw, I believe it's best to go as far as you can with any new software without looking at the manual, and then open it only once you get stuck - you're more likely to learn faster that way.

If you're looking to open a live account, then you really should be looking at a raw spread ECN broker rather than a Mickey Mouse bucket shop with fixed spreads. I won't go into detail and explain why here, but there are very valid reasons for this which I'll be happy to explain another time if you're interested.

Going back to your question about a course, the only thing I can imagine is that you're referring to understanding MetaQuotes Language which is the coding language for writing your own scripts, indicators and EAs. If so, then you almost certainly don't need to worry about that at this stage, and I'd only consider looking into it further once you've played with the client terminal for a bit and feel that it's something you want to make use of. That said, it's quite important to understand how scripts, indicators and EAs differ from each other and also where they reside on your machine and how to attach them to a chart window. But you don't need to know MQL to do that.

Also, I'd look at cTrader and LMAX. Try sticking them into Google if you've never heard of them.

Shortie.........here try this...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12P7aaZBXJU&feature=youtu.be&a

Anyone thinking Indeces going for a blow off top before plunging?

I think ultimately higher.

skinny :O)

FTSE shorts closed.

Oh!

No indicie positions remaining, FTSE upside target 6750 to support bullish view, downside needs to close the week below 6650 to support bearish view.. No clear direction at the moment. EUR/GBP short opened 0.82167

0.82116 EUR/GBP short closed.

glad i'm short dow ...... shame much of that is at lower levels

Easy charting, a no brainer

Right I'm off, have a good weekend all.

Just as the fun is about to start - keep dry!

6714.3 gone short

Short 6,724.7

Show off..! lol

I'm hoping for a drift down this afternoon, with the US being shut.

London Shares Outperform Peers as China Data Boost Miners

Market News: FTSE 100 6,725.32 +61.70 +0.93% FTSE 250 16,183.95 +73.33 +0.46% FTSE AIM All-Share 879.14 +3.68 +0.42% London Stocks Outperform Peers as China Data Boosts Miners 1047 GMT [Dow Jones] UK's FTSE 100 index is up 0.9% at 6726.31, outperforming European peers, as Chinese economic data acts as a fillip. Over the weekend, data from the PBOC showed Chinese bank lending posted a higher-than-expected jump in January. Miners get a boost with Anglo American up 1.6% and BHP Billiton 1.3% higher. Shares in RSA Insurance top the blue-chip index, rising 3.7%, after Canaccord Genuity raises its recommendation on the stock. Property developer Hammerson follows close behind, 3% higher, after pleasing with FY results. Peers Persimmon, British Land and Land Securities also get a lift, with each stock tacking on around 1.7%. Randgold Resources adds 2.2%. Citigroup upgrades its recommendation on the stock to "neutral" following the recent recovery in gold prices. US stock markets are closed for Presidents Day. Top News: U.K. House Prices Rise Again in February -- Rightmove U.K. house prices accelerated further in February, a survey showed Monday, as demand continues to outpace supply, a trend that looks set to continue for some time. Companies News: AngloGold Ashanti Chairman Tito Mboweni Steps Down Gold mining company AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. said Tito Mboweni has stepped down from his role as chairman with immediate effect and has been replaced by Sipho Pityana, who was elected unanimously by the board. Hammerson FY Profit Rises on Strong Retail Property Demand Hammerson PLC (HMSO.LN), which provides property investment and development services, Monday posted a rise in full year profit on strong demand for retail property. Fidessa 2013 Pretax Profit +3%, Improvements in All Markets Fidessa Group PLC (FDSA.LN), a global provider of trading, investment and information solutions for the financial community, Monday reports a 3% rise in 2013 pretax profit with improving conditions in all customer markets, but said it expects only modest constant currency growth in 2014. DCC PLC Lowers FY14 Operating Profit, Adjusted EPS Guidance DCC PLC (DCC.LN), an international sales, marketing, distribution and business support services group, said Monday that it now expects growth in both operating profit and adjusted earnings per share for the year to March 31, to be in the range of 7% to 10% ahead of the prior year. Capita Signs Scottish Contract Worth Up to GBP325M Over 9 Years Outsourced service provider Capita PLC (CPI.LN) said Monday that it has signed a contract to deliver a single public services network for the use of all public service organizations within Scotland, with a value up to 325 million pounds over 9 years. Oxford Biomedica and Sanofi Amend Terms for Ocular License Oxford Biomedica PLC (OXB.LN), a biopharmaceutical company, announced on Monday that it has concluded the terms of the development and commercialization license agreement with its partner Sanofi to develop the gene-based medicines for the treatment of ocular diseases, StarGen and UshStat. Electronic Data Processing Says Activity Levels Similar to Last Year Electronic Data Processing PLC (EDP.LN), an IT solution provider, said on Monday that trading conditions and activity levels remain broadly similar to those experienced in the previous financial year. Market Talk: Citi Upgrades Randgold as Gold Stabilises 0812 GMT [Dow Jones] Gold has had a very good February, better than Citigroup expected, in fact. Analysts at Citi say they have been bearish on gold shares for the past year. But as gold prices have come back, so have valuation levels. In certain cases, Citi reckons there is better value on offer, such as with Randgold Resources (RRS.LN). Randgold, it says, is a gold group that should continue to do well, even if gold remains stuck in a $1250-$1350/oz range for 2014 and 2015. With the price of gold having stabilised recently and given the potential upside to earnings estimates on Randgold, Citi upgrades its recommendation on the stock to neutral from sell and raises the target price to 4897p from 3544p. Shares top the FTSE 100, up 2.8% to 4906p. Round 1 of Anglo American Re-Rating Completed, Says SocGen 0800 GMT [Dow Jones] Societe Generale downgrades its recommendation on Anglo American (AAL.LN) to hold from buy as it reckons that FY14-15 should be tougher for the miner than the French bank had initially anticipated, as headwinds continue to weigh on Anglo American's key earnings contributors and owing to limited contribution from Anglo American's 'Driving Value' program. Investors are likely to be unimpressed by the poor free cash flow generation that Anglo American is likely to exhibit in FY14 and FY15, adds SocGen. Analysts argue that net debt could culminate at $16B in FY15 (above FY13 level of $10.7B), at a time when other diversified miners are deleveraging. SocGen also sees limited upside to the share price following the strong run over the last three months. SocGen maintains a target price of 1,600p. Shares closed Friday at 1,520p.