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

US is full of powerful lobbies, from guns to truckers to LNG to helium

On the economic front, investors will consider the latest monthly retail sales figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. Those numbers will be out at 8:30 a.m. ET.
given that cash dow is now +90, i guess those were pretty healthy, albeit that the plunge of last week may trigger a bounce of its own accord

this won't hurt either ....

Citigroup reported net income of $3.9bn in the first quarter, beating analyst estimates as its executives face their first public grilling over why the bank failed the Federal Reserve’s stress tests last month.
The bank’s net income grew 3 per cent from the same quarter a year ago when it reported $3.8bn. Analysts had estimated the bank would earn $3.6bn.

Off topic but I'm loving the Concha thread right now...

dow long
out 16118 (+85) but shall watch to see how market progesses during the day for perhaps another foray

DOW can't even give us a lift .

April 14 (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales recorded their largest gain in 1-1/2 years in March, in the latest sign the economy was emerging from its weather-induced slumber and on track to accelerate in the second quarter. The Commerce Department said on Monday retail sales increased 1.1 percent last month, the biggest rise since September 2012, as receipts rose in nearly all categories. Retail sales, which account for a third of consumer spending, had risen by a revised 0.7 percent in February. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales, advancing 0.8 percent last month after a previously reported 0.3 percent gain in February. Retail sales added to employment data in suggesting the economy found momentum at the end of the first quarter after an unusually cold and snowy winter disrupted economic activity at the end of 2013 and the beginning of this year. So-called core sales, which strip out automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services, and correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product, increased 0.8 percent in March. That followed a revised 0.4 percent rise in February. Core retail sales had previously been reported to have increased 0.3 percent in February. Despite the two consecutive months of gains, a drop in core sales in January suggests consumer spending will slow down substantially from the fourth quarter's brisk 3.3 percent pace. Retail sales last month were buoyed by a 3.1 percent surge in receipts at automobile and parts dealers. That was the biggest advance since September 2012. Excluding autos, retail sales were up 0.7 percent, the biggest increase in a year, after rising 0.3 percent in February. Sales at building materials and garden equipment stores increased 1.8 percent, the largest rise in eight months. Receipts at electronics and appliance stores, however, fell 1.6 percent. There were also declines in sales at gasoline stations, which fell 1.3 percent. Excluding gasoline, retail sales rose a solid 1.4 percent, the biggest rise in four years. Sales at furniture stores increased 1.0 percent. Receipts at clothing stores climbed 1.0 percent as well. There were also gains in receipts at sporting goods shops, restaurants and nonstore retailers.

Just closed my 3 FTSE positions @6575.8 -15.9 -6 and +63.8.

Well done Skinny..

Thanks Shortie - very, very messy and not very pretty!

Sounds like the wife..! :-)

bought back into dow (long) at 16125 ..... bit more than i got out at before and hadn't the courage to re-dabble when it dipped ..... am sure i'll close before the end of the evening, as far too scary o'night at the moment

:-)

decided i had better things to do this evening, so just closed dow long at 16162 (+37)

Looking at this I'll leave it alone for now.

i certainly don't trust this market to stay buoyant, for ukraine is far too volatile and dangerous by half

The Ukraine and Russia have always been dangerous though. FTSE, DAX, CAC all finished above support today, if it extends tomorrow then the buying could be back on.

dow may have a further 50 points or so to rise before it hits anything serious, but i am still happy to have banked a couple of respectable profits today

ukraine/russia was all quiet if not exactly cordial until a few weeks ago when putin decided to play macho-man yet again
what happens next is anyone's guess - and markets don't like that

not so dumb ..... dow well off highs

all slowly glugging south ..... another day to sit on hands