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

Stock futures dip; Iraq, sentiment data in focus

I've also taken some profits on todays dip. Currently average on DOW 16649.7, on DAX 9897.8 and 6736 on FTSE... Closed Nikkei at lunchtime slightly down.

my average is now 16637, but of course it was higher than that before banking that nice profit

Short @6790.3 - because I feel exposed not having a short!

Think I'll wait for 68...

Have taken another position in Wall St now average 16699.8, so much for a crash...

Also I was surpirsed by the Syria comment in the below statement...
US President Barack Obama said he did not "rule out anything because we do have a stake in making sure these jihadists are not getting a permanent foothold in Iraq, or Syria for that matter".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-27834462
I'm sure the weapons manufactures are getting ready for global orderbook.

Just closed my FTSE short @6,749.5 +40.8.

Short @6,752.2

I'm averaging 6736 on the FTSE, not traded it today. Been playing the DAX mainly, took a nice profit this morning and am currently short 9908. Watching Wall St... also.. Are you still long GBP/EUR?

Short you mean? Yes.

I can't decide whether to add to my FTSE short overnight based on the Middle East.

Your short GBP/EUR? That's a brave call..

I don't expect the middle east will rock the markets, the yanks have already said they're not putting troops on the ground and have sent an aircraft carrier. We're pretty much out of it as we haven't the navel hardware to get involved..

As I said in post 15838 - I may be tempting fate!

Small stake and based on the £/€ hitting a 12 month high after Carney speech.

Post 15863 should have read 6,772.2 - closed @6,756.3 and re-opened @6,765.

Any idea what the FTSE divi payment tonight is?

1.3 points.

Cheers Skinny, thought I'd better check I wasn't in for the big Kuhuna...

Closed +18 for now.

I averaged my DAX upto 9956 yesterday evening. Tempted to take the profit but know I should risk losing it and let the position run.

I have minimal exposure to the FTSE averaging 6732.5 so again will let it run.

Small short @6,756.0