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

These two may put a damper on things after 09.30 hrs wed:
"UK Feb BSA mortgage lending data (0930 BST) UK Feb consumer credit/mortgage lending data from BoE (0930 BST) "
But it's almost impossible to tell in advance if the figures are already factored in & whether they are better or worse than expected.
I am hoping to sell a few stocks at a small profit before that time, just in case.
Most 'Experts' seem to think the U.S. is now in the early stages of recession, so today's bounce may be just a blip on the downward trend.

This from Reuters today:

"European shares are seen tracking stellar rallies in Asia and the United States.
U.S. stocks shot up on Tuesday after strong demand for a Lehman Brothers share offering quelled fears it was headed toward a fate similar to Bear Stearns and raised optimism that the worst of the credit crisis may be over."

Maggie: If at all possible I try and close down all my positions in the evening, however good or bad, so I don't have to lie in bed worrying about it - just such an awful feeling. Hope things go better for you today!

Toya Know that's the more senisble thing to do but hate to take the loss incase it turns and goes my way! Need to learn to cut losses. Still got my short but away from computer today to resisting doing anything else. Hope I'll be in profit this PM so market needs to fall.

OOps sensible!

no direction today, ftse seems to be trading a tight range between 5800 and 5900, I will try scalp today, but favour shorting from 5870 range.

Can't see UK Feb BSA mortgage lending data (0930 BST) yet, may wait for this first.

Hi Maggie - I am in same boat - set my stop loss to make sure I did not get stopped out whilst away from PC today and still nursing a large loss - wiped out all the gains I made this week. I will hold a little longer to see if market falls back - may have a better chance tomorrow to recover losses - but I need to get back down to 5820 level - tall order. Only just got in so releived to see that it did not power further ahead - although looks like it dropped some at one stage today.

A hard way to learn how to play the indexes.

Hi Bhunt - Have also just got in, bit gutted as I was sure it would drop back today but like yourself going to hang on in there I need around 5835 which we just missed today. PS It's not a loss til you cash it in you haven't wiped anything yet so fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Hope you'll be ok Maggie and bh. I was lucky in that I went 'long' on the ftse this morning, panicked while watching it go down, but then was relieved when it recovered before I went out. Set my 'sell' limit just below 5900 and made a good profit while enjoying a good lunch - wish life could always be thus! Now reluctant to risk losing it all on the Dow, so may not do any more today.

Dow is directionless today and trading very tightly ..... currently determined to stay above 12600 though struggling to break and stay above 12650

Hi Toya I also enjoyed a good lunch but the afters aren't quite so palatable. Nevermind there's always tomorrow. Haven't traded the Dow yet and don'y think tonight's the time.

If you look at a minute-by-minute candle chart, the Dow looks to be in a downward trend since 16:00 today. It just seems to have broken out of that channel so perhaps it might go up now?? Who knows - not sure I want to scare myself tonight!

PTH seems to have gone awol! He's a wizz with charts

Well, couldn't resist it. Bought a couple of mini-contracts and will close them as soon as in profit - assuming they get there!

Sorry chaps and chapesses, nursing a hefty loss from some pretty reckless, stupid kamikazee trading yesterday, where all common sense and discipline was lobbed out of the window (nearly to be followed by the laptop) so contenting myself with some additional golf and football therapy.

Toya, didn't receive your email by the way.

Morning pth - don't know where in the ether it ended up then. I'll try again. Sorry to hear you're as daft as I am at times, trading recklessly!

Maggie: glad you had a good lunch - I was so busy watching the dow after my last post that I didn't check back in here; made a little profit so quite pleased overall.

would have been nice to be prescient and to have held Dow position o'night tho!

Well done Toya, hope we're on the way down today.

Looks like we are Maggie! I took a small profit during a little bounce earlier - always get it wrong when I choose to go short so trying not to be tempted, though would have worked well for a change

I prefer to go short as I never seem to get the long right in fact I'm not really getting much right anyway. Do think the warnings re banks and shortage of mortages will send ftse lower how low is anyone's guess.

I just trade in little steps when I can - so have made a small profit today and will adjourn to the gym before I go and lose it all in a flash of greed!