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

I definitely had stops in place - but not limits - thanks for advice

Cynic, do you think euro/ rate was anticipating 50 point cut? It would be very lucky to be at the top of a huge reversal!

Bhunt, have watched it all day did not drop enough to take my long running short out, so if it's your long running short you couldn't have got out in credit. Did come very close though Maybe tomorrow:o)

UK Feb Construction Orders -5%, SVS now under 3 and looking overweight.. UK Feb GDP 0.5%.. ECB keeps rate at 4% Cynic I expect to see EUR strengthen further againt GBP

Thanks Maggie - just had myself a quick run on the dow and made some money - but came out too early - never mind - it cheered me up

Haven't tried the dow yet too scary

/
currencies go in cycles ..... i never predicted that would now strengthen in a straight line to say 1.45, but my own view, sahred by some but certainly not necessarily even the majority, is that is oversold and is overstrong ..... in this very brief window, i have proved right, but as they, "That am peanuts!" ..... unless things go badly wrong, i may well hold this position for some time .... or, as is my wont, try to be smart arse by taking a profit in the hope of buying again a bit cheaper

/Euro
I had thought the same as Explosive, and for the same reason. But Cynic did get it right yesterday, though the Euro has strengthened overnight. I wouldn't be surprised if it went back to 80p+

interesting to see whether or not i shall prove to be the smartarse and thus make your arse smart!

how do these indices work ? Appreciating the volitility that has occurred since ive been away for 4 weeks, but the FTSE is higher than when i left however the vast majority of my holdings including about another 30 on my watchlist appear to have fallen by more than 10% - 15%. Well if nothing else At least the snow was good

Have wondered about that myself sj everything seems to be falling but the Ftse is rising?

Miners

firstly, i would hazrd a guess that your portfolio has a preponderance of minnows, or AIM-listed at best - these are always likely to be mosre volatile and/or clobbered in a weak market.

secondly, the FTSE is heavily overweighted with (real!) oilies and miners and financials - financials have recovered well of late and of course oils and miners remain stratospheric

Cynic's right..at the moment you can't go wrong with mid-weight oilies at the moment..(as long as they are producing) !

A large reversal on all main indices has just happened. Any ideas !

GE results miss estimates

From another thread , General Electric Co earning lower than anticipated ?

minus 57 now..was plus 38 this morning...crikey !

GE figures were horrid .... big Q is whether or not 12450/12500 can be held

.........have just started to use spread bets instead of CFD's - thanks to your advice here last week.

So much simpler and I am not getting clobbered with fees either - so thank you to those who pointed me in the right direction.

And with my maiden bet - I caught the downswing in the FTSE and exited almost at the bottom - so am feeling quite chuffed with myself - for a change

Now who can I give it back to ?? MMmmmmm