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, on a steady up day you often see a dip into the close as everybody closes their longs.

What was that you were saying about not today, Skinners?

:o)

Hils - the fat finger spike doesn't count :-)

Closed +21.

Break time whilst it decides on direction... Nice flag..

Ten minutes and counting....

UK Osborne: Will Found Alan Turing Institute For Big Data, Algorithm Research

£15k ISA allowance from 1st July and cash/shares interchangeable.

"BUDGET
13:24: A big reform of the regime for Isas - the highly popular individual savings accounts. Cash and stocks and shares ISAs will be merged into one New ISA. The annual limit for saving in an Isa will be raised to £15,000."

Long @6,590.6

Long LGEN @211.70

UK Osborne: No Obligation To Buy An Annuity With Pension Fund

Irony - my SIPP is with HL. (up nearly a quid on the combined pension/ISA news) and in my SIPP, I have AV. RSL & LGEN.

I've never bothered with a pension as the annuity system I always had my doubts about. Now however, the system appears to be more attractive.

The writing has been on the wall for a while for annuities - I just wish I'd known it was this budget that he was going to announce their ultimate demise.

All tax restrictions on pensioners' access to their pension pots to be removed, ending the requirement to buy an annuity

Note "to be removed"....

FTSE didn't like the budget much .

Shortie - hence my post 14866.

I would think that the companies involved may get a fillip from the increased hybrid ISA, but it must shadow into insignificance in comparison to their annuity business - especially where the holder dies.

BTW - I never intended taking an annuity - I've been in draw down for some years, so despite the decimation to the share prices of AV, RSL & LGEN, the news is excellent for me.

Banks and insurers worst hit I'd have thought... More into the pound right now Jimmy.

LGEN Coming back a bit now.

Apart from a quick short of William Hill which went well ,i did crap on everything today ,even had a go at a long on the FTSE and am holding a 20 pt loss at the moment.