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

btw Im really surprised by someone like art cashin making call earlier for s&p support at 1845 quoting some technicians...there isn't anything at 1845 even before price got there..how on earth they got these numbers calls..i could get their paychecks just for saying that there is nothing there..

DOW has touched 15,855 and the FTSE futures @6151 this evening!

ah well, that's one modest crumb rescued from the carnage and with luck, there'll be another before close
good to see recovery taking dow quite nicely above 16,000 once again and cash ftse also looking commensurately healthier, but let's see if it holds into the close before breathing a slight sigh of relief

and a much juicier crumb tucked away, even if not crumpet-sized

16,000 now looks quite secure (currently 16,160) so now to sit back
ftse cash = 6250, so also a much healthier position

a brief flurry of excitement this morning that has quickly fizzled out

good example is HG+HC Index .... initially that was +150 and more, but is now back to level

I debated on getting out of my small long when it went back to break even but decided to hold.

The 2hr looks like we'll see a sideways to positive movement currently and I still expect some short term support at these levels form previous charting.

goldfinger says
Wondering if we have all underestimated this Ebola and its effects on the World Economy.


personally, i do not think ebola will get out of hand, certainly outside africa, where handling dead bodies - the major source of infection - is more sophisticated
however, the markets are currently scared witless about anything and everything, and i fear that Wall Street will do little to calm the mood later

The overnight low @6151 has just been breached - so maybe a bit of a bounce?

shortie is probably filling his bank account handsomely as he's pretty good at playing these horrid markets and has nimble fingers, i shall stay like a rabbit in the headlights on the sidelines!

Not so sure cynic.

We the World didnt pay enough attention in the first few months of the disease, just how many people have gone forth and spread it without knowing, I think it takes 3 weeks to show up in a person, then death what within 18 hours, very nasty.

Airlines and fast travel now means something like this can spread very quickly, the World is a much smaller place. Whooooooooooooooooosh.

Just added again to my FLYB short. Well in the money.

What about Australia? It is 5200 now.

6100 another small long.... I figure I'll be ok, I'm pretty anti sociable at the best of times!!

The biggest risk to a mass outbreak would be if it got into the schools, kids would spread Ebola very quickly..

Increased insurance costs will likely negate any fall in oil prices and for those carriers which have already hedged............wow they are in for one hell of a shock come results.

Good point Shortie. Kids easily spread illness.

sticky - read up the FACTS on ebola and how it's spread and how one can get infected, rather than listening to popular misconceptions ..... it really is not that easy to catch, any more than is Aids

6100 closed 6170 for +70pts

Well done Shortie, I recently closed for +63 @6168 - whore's drawers atm.

have a look at the dow then ...... that's just crazy :-)
just banked another +35 crumb (long), for which i am very thankful
~16070 seems to be the upper limit for now