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

Looking for a possible DOW short at 12595 ?!

Peter .... sitting on hands today is prob best move

Richard think you were probably right, I think the world has gawn mad!

Good money to be made today if you read the swings right, lots to be lost if you read them wrong. I dont understand these at the moment - but I have not traded today - still have my short to try and recover

Couldn't read FTSE today so no trades, tomorrow is bound to be an excellent day, because I'm playing golf so unable to trade.

DOW seems to making an assault on 12700 level now, if it hits it and falls back past 12700 level, it could be a short opportunity. Would be interested if I have read this correctly, from someone with better charting skills than me.

Non farm payrolls tomorrow I believe, so may be building up for that

Glad I'm shorting on a May Future, plenty of time for a fall

Last day of the financial year - so may well be some positioning going on too.

Wouldn't surprise me, some very good yields to be had at the moment, some stocks going ex div then up in value allowing for a small equity profit and also dividend.

Would I be right in thinking Non-Farm Payroll data due at 12:30 our time? Be ready for some significant movements around that time if so!

can't see a note on CNN yet, but may be 13:30 (hour before opening bell) now that clocks have moved

1230 our time according to moneyam forex thread

Probably right then, as I read the same time on Reuters. Gives me time to go to the gym this morning then

Guys - that's 12:30 GMT.
13:30 our time.

Pay attention Falcothou ;)

Evidently can't tell the difference between my GMT's and G&T's !

G&T and GMT coincide at about 18:00 BST

LOL

Well, if they'd just given the EDT then we'd have known it was 13:30 here!

figures clearly not good, but seemingly not disastrous ...... Dow was showing +72 now less than half that

Non-Farm: -80K, unemployment 5.1%, according to CNBC (Economy Loses 80,000 Jobs, Worse Than Expected) ....

Strawbs.