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

CD,

Look back over August and question why your decisions were right, or wrong, or if your trading approach could be modified. Such as stop losses too wide or too close or SBs are too large against your pot.

Also, if not doing so, consider SBs for hedging against portfolio in periods like August.

PS, if you remember hesitating before what subsequently turned out to be a "wrong" decision, try to work out why you hesitated and why you ignored your own warnings system!

I made mess of August. Start again today. Thanks for the advice.

unbelievable market massacre this morning
when Dow closed last night, it was down, but nothing silly and cash FTSE was showing about -20 or perhaps -30

DOW
cash now showing down >400 at 16,083 .... and still falling like a brick
no obvious reason to jump back in but there may be quick money to make with nimble fingers and alert brain

DOW
been fidle-faddling about for a while, and now heading south once more - currently 16,140

exciting times or what?! :-)

gla

sort of, but difficult to read ..... had a very small foray earlier and banked 50 points and have just had a similar flutter at 16110

You'll be holding that overnight then i presume if it doesn't bounce

More large moves. Not ventured back in yet.

no jimmy, i prudently but, as it happens wrongly, closed that very small long just before lights out with a 20 point loss

FTSE
at 6075 or thereabouts, a bounce from here is a reasonable view
however, such is the chaotic and pretty bearish mood of the markets in general, that great care is needed

bollocks .... i was otherwise occupied and missed a golden opportunity

.

all rocketing away BUT FTSE currently baulking at the important 6200 level

Wonder if you'v not missed the boat today ?

possibly, but i rarely trade FTSE
am currently back in DOW long

exited dow last night with paltry profit - got too greedy - but thankful that i did

meanwhile
FTSE looking very shaky as 6100 is now being challenged south
the brave may want to dip a toe

Markets are mad a pure gamble now days ,however when you see the FTSE / DOW get hammered it seems to be worth going long ,i did FTSE at 5998 the other night ,so i'm only in if they look oversold .
Stock trades now looking to nick a few points here and there.

and conversely jimmy, don't you fancy going short when they rise sharply, or is it that you think they are generally too low and it's less of a gamble going long?
I must say, I have been doing similarly and tending to go long after big drops but I have had a few successful shorts as well - very easy to get whipsawed though!!