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

.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.

I get the impression the FED will do just about anything to get the Pamplona feeling including being slightly economical with the truth!

http://www.iii.co.uk/articles/articledisplay.jsp?section=ShareTips&article_id=9915752&catEnforce=More&campaign=tips0001&link=tips0001_sellFTSE_259_197&cp_c=4fnjpm

I think it has been a bit rosy for a while now, and i feel the FTSE is well ahead of itself, always difficult to do the opposite of what your mind tells you, but its like when it was all doom and gloom, it never only goes one way, as it was oversold @5400, it is just as likely now overbought @6200...

Thanks for link Big T will be able to sleep this WE with the short still running!

Something for the weekend
http://www.financialsense.com/fsu/editorials/amerman/2008/0502.html

Careful Maggie - there is a bit of a feel good factor starting to come through with some commentators starting to say the banks & Building societies have bottomed. Watch what happens with the dow tomorrow - that will be a pretty good indicator. Me - I am too chicken to keep a position open at the moment as I feel it could go either way - am only playing short term trades and trend betting