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

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

Well done Skinny, you must be following the same patterns as me... I did wonder if you were long also when I posted the position earlier... Sods law it was only a few pints a point otherwise it could have been lovely.. Seams to have run out of momentum at the moment, sideways I'm guessing in a 20-30pt range... Not sure if any news is due..

Nothing more of note today - US Crude Oil Inventories @4pm - next economic news of note tomorrow 1:30.

Cynic - I've no interest in the DOW at the moment, no clear indicators for me to take a position. Dollar money supply to dollar strength is crazy right now, I'd be staying clear of the DOW, you can bet yer cap as soon as the buyers return they'll be stopped out the market.

Sod law Skinny FTSE now 6200 or there abouts.. Oh well!!

Yes - maybe a move to 6220/6240.

Around my support points as posted.