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

FTSE
not happy to see 6400 being challenged again on the way south

Out for 27 points .

reuters at 16:28
WASHINGTON, Nov 4 (Reuters) – Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen on Wednesday pointed to a December interest rate "liftoff" but a slow path of increases from then on as the central bank continues to nurture an economic recovery.

"What the committee has been expecting is that the economy will continue to grow at a pace that is sufficient to generate further improvements in the labor market and to return inflation to our 2 percent target over the medium term," Yellen said during the question and answer session of a congressional hearing on financial regulation. "If the incoming information supports that expectation then our statement indicates that December would be a live possibility." The economy, she said, is "performing well," but the Fed would still take a gradualist approach to raising rates once the first step is taken.

"The whole path matters," Yellen said.

Her remarks are the first since a Fed policy meeting last week in which the central bank gave a stronger-than-expected hint that it will hike rates next month. That would be its first hike in a decade, and an important sign that the Fed feels the economy is returning to normal after the worst downturn since the Great Depression.

Her comments pushed bond yields higher and also caused investors to reset their expectations of a December rate hike above 60 percent – a sign that markets are finally taking the Fed's language seriously.

above probably explains dow weakness

Nice trade jimmy, I don't trade it but wouldn't be surprised both indexes back up again.

Well done Janet, why she just doesn't keep her mouth shut is beyond me.

Xmas rally Chris ??

I think she kind of has to make a statement every now and then Chris i just wish she would phone me first :)

Who knows jimmy :0)

a US rate rise is actually no bad thing for it implies confidence that the US economy is growing

Just do it. Raise rates

.

Could bad news be good news (crazy yanks). And no US interest rate rise Dec. ?

Reuters:-

Stocks | Thu Nov 5, 2015 1:59pm GMT
U.S. jobless claims post largest increase since February
WASHINGTON

In and out of FTSE / DOW all day ,been heavily down and moderately up ,came out with tiny profit ,almost made myself dizzy ..
Bottled it in the end could have had a decent outcome on the DOW.

Picked up a few stocks though for trade .

been out since midday, but i note DOW must have hit 17,768 or thereabouts which was allegedly a good support .... has certainly bounced since

any reason for the sudden dump, or is iut just "silliness"? ....... haven't had a chance to check for myself

.

anyway, took my life in my hands and quickly jumped into long DOW at 17,804.4 which so far looks an ok move

US jobless figure drops to 5%. Payrolls rise 271k.
US market now much more confident of a Dec interest rate rise.

at which point DOW dumps .... all a bit silly given that december rate rise was already telegraphed
imo, it's pretty good news in that it shows that the us economy is strengthening, which is sorely needed ...... it also suits me that $ has strengthened considerably vs £

anyway, slightly late, but doubt if i'ld have had quick enough fingers anyway, have gone long DOW at 17,816.7

Yes, but US exporters not so happy as $ strengthens.

that as may be, but the economy is adding significant numbers of jobs, and companies don't do that for a laugh
also, the more in work, the more disposable income so the greater consumption