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

what were US jobless figures like?

First 2 resistance points on the DOW 16,498.59 & 16,553.83.

it's certainly struggling badly to jump over that first hurdle

Unemployment claims were better than expected - down 6K @ 289K. Sorry bit late with that cynic, as just got back from 'Home Bargains'

Sorry that should have been down 16K.

long dow again at 16431, but as i'm out this evening, have set the limit at 16485 which is a level that was being hit regularly earlier this afternoon

.

Dow down around 100 pts since lat night. Hope your stop was reasonably tight Cynic!

thank goodness i closed before i went to bed last night for a relatively modest loss

8938 gone long on the DAX

8951.3 position closed

Just had my first DAX trade in a while for +30.

I'm long FTSE 6566
From earlier i should add .

The DOW is currently on offer @16400 /403. (close @16,368.27)

on edit :- Well it was!!

having fiddle-faddled about this morning, i've recovered pretty much all of what i lost on dow last night

i've now closed out that last long position, and am contemplating shorting on the basis that there may well be a hangover from last night

took a very small position and already out again with a modest 21pt profit, but better than a poke in the eye as they say

Long DAX @8990.3

Closed @9007.0 +16.7

edited! :-)

I've been long & short the dow all day, currently long, some losses but profitable overall. Currently long from 16398

just been cycling for an hour or so and confess i wasn't brave enough to go long before i left so have missed out on this little gallop for freedom ..... still, better that than if it had gone tits up