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

Here's the daily and my positions, think I'll just hold and ride it out for abit.

Zurich Classic, here's my fantasy team

After-hours buzz: Microsoft, Starbucks, Visa & More
Kate Gibson | @CNBCKateGibson
1 Hour Ago
CNBC.com






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Check out which companies are making headlines after the bell Thursday:

Amazon.com - The online retailer posted first-quarter earnings per share of 23 cents on $19.74 billion in revenue, compared to estimates calling for EPS of 23 cents on $19.43 billion. Its shares jumped in after-hours trading.

Read MoreAmazon shares climb after revenue tops expectations

Las Vegas Sands - The casino operator reported first-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 97 cents on $4.01 billion in revenue, versus estimates of EPS of 94 cents on $3.91 billion in sales. Its shares climbed in after-hours trading.

Microsoft - The software company reported third-quarter earnings per share of 68 cents on $20.40 billion in revenue. Analysts expected EPS of 63 cents on $20.39 billion in sales. Its shares rose in after-hours trade.

Read MoreMicrosoft earnings dip on slight decline in revenue

Pandora Media - The online radio provider reported a first-quarter earnings per share loss of 13 cents, excluding items, on $180 million in revenue, versus expectations of a loss of 14 cents per share on $175 million in sales. Its shares declined in after-hours trade.

Starbucks - The coffee retailer reported second-quarter earnings per share of 56 cents, excluding items, on $3.87 billion in revenue, versus expectations of EPS of 56 cents on $3.95 billion in sales. Its shares edged higher in after-hours trade.

Read MoreStarbucks earnings in line, but revenue trails

Visa - The card payment processor tallied second-quarter earnings per share of $2.20, excluding items, on $3.16 billion in revenue, versus expectations of EPS of $2.18 on $3.19 billion in sales. Its shares declined in after-hours trade.

—By CNBC's Kate Gibson.

I'm still holding my FTSE short and have gone long on RBS & WMH this morning.

I've shorted GBP/USD @ 1.68167 bringing my average on the 3 positions now to 1.67904.... Can't smell any burning yet, might have a dabble on the FTSE later if it gets back to 6700.

Peter Schiff: Reckless Fed may push gold to $5,000

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Peter Schiff, chief executive officer of Euro Pacific Capital, has been known to make forecasts outside the mainstream, and his long-running belief that gold has the potential to hit $5,000 an ounce is no exception. Prices, after all, are struggling to get a grip on $1,300.

1.68167 closed for a small profit, have a good weekend guys

Well done Shortie.

U.S. readies more sanctions as Ukraine costs rise for Moscow

Thanks Skinny. Looks like golds ticking up also.

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FTSE / DOW

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Tempted to short the Yen this morning.

GBP/JPY 172.323 gone short

Hourly Wall St, maybe a good short.

Well I'm long USD/JPY (OK so far), long AUD/CHF - not looking so clever, although I had another smaller limit long closed out profitably overnight.

Cashed the Yen in for a small gain, just have two GBP/USD positions left. Also short Wall St 16435

MOSCOW/LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) - The United States added Igor Sechin, the head of Russian state-controlled energy company Rosneft ROSN.MM , to its Ukraine-related sanctions list on Monday. Sechin, who was included on the list posted on the U.S. Treasury Department's website, is a powerful ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and is the most senior energy executive to be targeted by U.S. sanctions so far. The sanctions did not name Rosneft itself but shares in the company fell after the announcement. At 1455 GMT, Rosneft's shares were down 1.9 percent on the Moscow stock exchange, compared with a 0.9 percent rise in the Micex index. Shares in British oil major BP BP.L traded down 1.5 percent following the U.S. government's decision. BP holds a 19.75 percent stake in Rosneft. Seven Russian officials and 17 companies were included in the latest list of sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. Rosneft jumped to the top of the global production league last year with its $55 billion acquisition of rival TNK-BP. Full list of sanctions here: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20140428.aspx

Stopped out of AUD/CHF, closed out USD/JPY by limit for a nice profit. Profitable day, but only just. Looking for another USD/JPY position to run tomorrow, probably long but I'm expecting a slight pullback first.