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

Bit of a pasting for FTSE 100 Today

No complaints here, still holding all my shorts..

Cut too early

DOW at all time high and good recent substantial gains in FTSE.

City and Institutional traders will be looking to take profits and crash the indexes also closing out for the quarter. Greece and post 2014 Q4 retail earnings could be the excuse they are looking for. There is more profit in 'saw tooth' index volatility than in straight lines indexes. (Cue shorters).

Probably crash will happen once bulk of traders and MMs are back early Jan 2015.

Cash is king ATM.

DYOR

HAb

absolutely shortie, though my current dow short was new late last week
Dow now starting to crumble, so may extend the position

:-)

Hab,

I see no evidence that City and Institutional traders will be looking to take profits and crash the indexes closing out for the quarter... Honestly this statement is just madness, to further suggest that retail earnings and Greece would be an excuse to sell is also just crazy. Every large investor balances their risk, some investors may reduce holdings in certain places as risk weighs but wouldn't just sell out to crash an index on the basis of cost. You also state that "There is more profit in 'saw tooth' index volatility than in straight line indexes.... You state the obvious here, but fail to note the increased risk of trading one over the other. As for "Cash is King" well hasn't it always been!!

DYOR and think about it..!

100 points down on FTSE 100. Santa certainly shot off early this year.

Retail earnings off to a good start with NEXT today.

Have to say Shortie and Hab have both good points.

Historicaly the market goes tits up the first week of Jan ie from around the 7th. When big boys are back.

BUT this year the big boys are back next monday after 2 weeks off..........so be carefull.

I'm done for today .. Happy and prosperous New Year to all

Everyone is done for the day!!!
"The UK market closed at 12.30pm and is next open for trade on Friday."

Yep, Happy New Year all, enjoy!! I have a few charts to analyse before I head home...

hi shortie; guess like me your enjoying today's dow performance :-)

Happy New Year to all Traders from my Lair.

Plenty of movement this morning.

Hi Cynic, I'm just short on the FTSE and Dax right now... Very nice and shiny blue!

Dax closed, nice start to the new year..

HNY shortie ..... i banked most of my dow short juicy profit before closedown on NYE, but the remainder are very nicely in the money

HNY Cynic also... Just want to see some of those short term support numbers get eroded now to confirm a short position. Euro also looking good, a run to 1.32 I think we could see so I'm hoping to play that also.

+206 points today. Had enough now..

well done m8 .... that should see you right for a fortnight in the caribbean next month

==============

i see dow has suddenly turned south again, so my remaining dow shorts now showing +130 (profit!), but i think i'll leave those running

you bet with much bigger numbers than me - and you're also much more clever :-)

Should have left the last Dax position but I can't be bothered to watch the timings anymore... I've just pulled out of buying a house following survey and builders quotes so have already spent most of today's earnings anyway and what with Christmas I'll be more likely to enjoy a fortnight on the Isle of Wight with what's left... Oh well, lets see what next week brings.