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

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!!

Yes splat that's exactly my thinking with the FTSE ,at some point it will just carry on up and it will be at what point do you close a short .
Plus i shouldn't try and be too clever with indices they usually come back and bite me ,just try and trade what looks like the obvious .

Mayhem alert !!!!!!!

yet another stomach-churning weeks draws to a close
FTSE has held up over 6,000 which is certainly good news
meanwhile DOW is just about holding above 16,100 which is neither here nor there as 16,000 is much more important

Didn't fancy being long over the weekend ,however could be good for a bounce next week .

actually the key number for FTSE was 6100, so not quite as sanguine as i was
i don't hold

would feel cheerier if DOW shunts (significantly) north rather than even further south before closing

Why ? let it tank then you just know the bounce is coming ..

Anything below 6000 on the FTSE and i'm tempted .

you may get your wish the way things are heading at the moment
one of the major probs, is that even if you are glued to the screen, judging direction is currently very difficult indeed