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

GDP figures due at 09:30 this morning - should certainly have an effect on the FTSE one way or the other!

Well, looks like a rather mixed reaction, as FTSE hasn't done anything very much since the release:

Click here for GDP info

FTSE seems to be waking up now, back to 6080 level

If trading today look out for announcement at 1100 GMT from Land Registry March House Price Index for England and Wales. See last February release below.

House prices in England and Wales remained static during February, with no monthly price change, according to the latest figures from Land Registry. The average house price stands at 185,616.

won't buy you much round this area!

Would buy a four bedroom house with pool here, and I would expect change?

Narrow trading range on FTSE today, trying to make up my mind as to trade or not. It depends on DOW, can't see it going much sub 12900, it may even push to 13000. So I would be inclined to go long, but not sure so sidelined today.

.25% as expected, presumably a boost to commods

traded all day (because the day job got rained off!) within narrow bands and ended the day up 10 - then shorted the FTSE for an hour this evening and ended up making 100.

There must be a morale there. Am contemplating going short on the FTSE for a longer term bet (ie over next month) - any comments from you more experienced guys

The major economic indicators due on Friday are April non-farm payrolls at
8:30 a.m. EDT (that's 13:30 UK time) and March factory orders at 10 a.m. EDT (15:00 UK time).

bhunt: it's difficult to advise, but I find trading within very narrow bands can be a bit of a time-waster for me, though I believe more experienced folk can profit by it. It can pay to keep an eye on times when key information is due to be published. And if you can make 100 in an hour then keep doing it!!

Other than that: I'm still waiting for the Dow to retrench somewhat, having been so convinced last night that it would surely bounce off the 13000 line and fall back.

.and the FTSE continues its rise. Must be all this talk that the crunch has been overdone.

Am sitting on my hands todays as I am babysitting the grandchildren - so dont have time to watch the indices all day.

Thanks for your input Toya

i am told that 13050 may be an important resistance, so am holding my breath (and Dow short!) that that is so

I find watching Bloomberg TV quite helpful after the close to get the results and comment. The mood yesterday seemed to be a shift from commodities and euro to dollars, financials and techs.. There has been a huge rise this week so it being a Friday could see a big sell off post announcement, at least I hope so!

Balls! The gamble didn't pay off!

Double balls!!

Cynic: I hope you're not still holding your breath or I fear you may have expired by now as the Dow has hit almost 100 points above that! I had to cut my losses and have gone long.

I went short on the FTSE at 6200 - still in the red - but hopeful that it will come back as the evening wears on.

Dow as usual volatile - up 110 at one stage - now just 40 +

Out at 6185 - will pay for a night out tonight

Have a good bank holiday all

I have just started work which keeps me away from a screen all day, set a sell order on FTSE @6200 last night, general consensus is that this is a just a bear rally, with earnings beginning to be stretched in the slowdown, how long can it keep going up? I'm looking longer term and expecting another down-leg soon...

Some beligerant insight into this Bear market
http://market-ticker.denninger.net/

Good link Falcothou........Very informative, just incase anyone feels too bullish with this rally, it would be worth reading.