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

trading is so thin that almost anything could happen ..... accordingly have very happily closed my little dow long for +65

Shortie - I wouldn't bet on it just yet, those crazy yanks look determined even on low volume to go for a blow off top. I admit I am useless at trading the indices so I steer clear of even attempting to trade them. Good luck!

Well I decided this morning to take a good position short.. Numbers out later and OPEC have said they'll pump even if prices fall to rock bottom prices...

DOW being set up for new year crash. Even with low oil $, fundamentals would not support DOW continued rise. The indices will still all probably crash Q1 - 2015.

Shut down over Xmas & New Year could be a risky time for the 'West', given all the Geopolitical tension around the World.

Longs bets turning to shorts as an insurance policy. Also still lots of Oil $ hedges to unwind in the market & close out.

DYOR

HAb

i am very undecided so am currently sitting on my hands

You sure it's your hands your sitting on......... with those old folgies christmas party places you never can tell...... lol. All packed up and ready for the off tomorrow morn. 21 degrees here we come......... YYYeeeeeaaaa hhhhaaaaa. :))

I wouldn't support that long bets ever turn to shorts as an insurance policy. If you want an insurance policy then you either hedge any downside risk if you believe the market has further to climb or move your money over the period.

I think the DOW will go a lot higher ........................... over the next 10 days or so.

The Yanks have a lot of pride.

No let up. 1000 points in a week.

why here so wrong...

ha ha well done everyone - cynic saw stan's picture 17218 - get a refund from your trainer - he saw you coming :-)
well done everyone
great stuff atm - russia / oil / usa / opec / banks et cetera - purrrrrrrrrfect
atb

nearly forgot the red bear is cornered........................without food

DOW 19,000 anybody.........????

today is looking to be very quiet as everything winds down
however, the last knockings of the year tend to be pretty lively but at some time, and possibly soon, there will be another big lurch south
nothing goes in one direction in a straight line

No shit cyners :0)

i'ld like to have a little dabble at dow today, but shall wait until i get back from my walk

meanwhile, shall try to think what stocks (sectors) are likely to benefit in 2015
advertising (WPP) is an obvious candidate ..... already hold in my sipp but may also have some separately
some of the medium oilies - say AFR, TLW and PMO - could easily be t/o targets and are not unattractive anyway at their current low prices

7th of January for a week is traditionaly the time the market sells off.....but just for one week then comes back strong the week after.

I'm staying short, have more than enough cover should the rally continue anyway..

Does anyone use tradingfloor.com