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

take comfort from the fact that this crimea situation has far from run its course

Thats good cynic ,lets have a war so we can short the FTSE :))

Drag on to winter with Russia cutting the gas supply?

I decided to go against the market on the FTSE so no real surprise, Expect the FTSE to be well sold into this week.

i think it's certain that it won't come to a war overtly involving outsiders, but severe unrest in ukraine has to be strong possibility ...... the russian reaction to that is predictable, but it's how the rest of the world deals with it that is likely to have far-reaching consequences as years pass by

Be better when Putins gone ,likes to play the tough guy.
We need Maggie to put him in his place .

Did you hold the short Shortie or stop out ?

I'm short Jimmy, very rarely do I use a stop.

So you'll stay short overnight .

Short Wall st also, 16233

Maybe Jimmy, it could come good yet or I might take a loss.

It's come off a bit now ,i'm surprised the markets up so much .

Wall St closed +8

Im suprised its up at all jimmy.

Sanctions against the Ruskys, what and theyl just sit back and accept them.

Germans for a start are on a hiding to none.

This could de-rail the whole Euro and US recovery.

Mind boggling why we are up!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to sign up and get my uniform !

Lets not for get China also, looking at highs I think we're trying to test old resistence at 6600 before fall back to 6400 ish to come later in the week. Note BoE minutes are due as well as budget and unemployment figures. If the minutes show the bank is mulling a rise in rates and unemployment supports the move then the pound will Strenghten and should cause a market sell off.... Thats the plan anyway IMO..

Ill hold your coat jimmy.

i topped up my own dow short position at 16246 but shall let that run as i would not be at all surprised to see a reality check setting in ..... mind you, my positions are very small beer compared (i suspect) to shortie's

All my bets are proportionate to my portfolio size, expected time traded and risk... :-)
Hence my earlier Wall St bet which if it was smaller would have been left to run..

16250 gone short