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

that's a washing powder isn't it?

pt - did you buy the dow on the bounce?

I'm afraid not

PTH Correct it was but also, only my opinion just remembered should be OIMO. First time shorting Ftse with real money nearly the last!!!!!!!!!!!!

The ftse is just going completely loopy at the moment - so glad I closed my positions earlier.

Well I made money on the FTSE - then gave it all up on the Dow - when will I learn to stop

sorry to be the harbinger of gloom, but Dow now looking very sick which does not augur well for the morning

Does for me... Got a Wall St April future short and Wall St Rolling Bet also going short, the sicker the better. Intrestingly -8.75% FTSE 100 1yr, Nikkei -27.41% 1yr, FTSE 250 -13.84% 1yr & DOW -0.72% 1yr.... So over a 1yr benchmark the DOW is holding up very well compared to other indicies, too well I think...

Dow .... from Signalwatch today ...... If 12,400 cannot be crossed with confidence, look for the index to test 12,100 soon.

several hours still to go, but little sign of any upward movement at all ..... not much sign of any movement in either direction for that matter

Indeed Richard................yawn :-O

well I have been shorting Ftse - with moderate success - but out atm. I am thinking of shorting again if it gets above 5710, dependent on what is happening with Dow.

Reaction to news on spending and income seems muted

Off topic...we haven't had any oil and gas companies being taken over lately....might be one in the majors sights....possible targets JKX...DGO..PMO..and sorts ?

I have only just noticed that the spread on the FTSE index is 6 points - I am sure it used to be 4 points - or does this only happen after the market has closed ??

Spread is 6 after close and 4 during hours, applies to all indicies I believe but can't be sure as only trade uk and us indicies at present.

Thanks - although I notice that DOW is always 6 points both inside and outside of trading hours

DOW just bounced off one of my support lines at 12250, no doubt it will have another go quite soon; question is will it hold? Most analysts seem to think there is further to fall?

Edit: No position for me until it falls through.

Incidentally, since 3 o'clock the DOW has been in a perfect channel (down obviously) the next rally should falter at 12280 ish

IG Have a spread of 6 and a spread of 10 does anyone know why the difference?

4 on the DOW at the moment, will switch to 6 after the close. They also widen the spread at times of high impact news.

Right on the button, will it hold?