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

.....and presumably towards the end of March, investors will be doing the same in order to get their tax gains/losses sorted for the year.

impossible to judge anything at the moment

however, everything tells me that world economies remain in a horrible mess, so i'm definitely bearish for the rest of the year though there will inevitably be upward spikes too

CHINA
i find the most worrying thing about china is that it continues to churn out millions or even billions of $ of heavy goods (steel and suchlike) that no one actually wants - so they dump it

in the meantime, though published manufacturing figures are a bit weaker, i'ld bet in real terms (you want; i produce) it's an awful lot lower

Fed’s Dudley sounds warning on US economy
Key policymaker warns of increased risks to growth and inflation


China data signal deepening slowdown
Factory and services activity at lowest level since aftermath of global financial crisis

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so in the light of the above, the markets surge - of course!

Of course , wait for some good news for the market to dive.

What's got in to the DOW?

very good construction figures or somesuch ...... but like you, i remain gobsmacked

after last night's rocket-surge, today looks to be quiet with perhaps some retrenchment
pays yer money etc

I still don't get where the rise is coming from .

from down there to up here :-))

Very funny , you could have told me a week ago .

wish i'd known myself ....... as already posted, it has to be totally nuts

Just found this...... is this you cynic......

What is a Cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing - Oscar Wilde. ;))

you mean, am i oscar wilde?
long dead if i am :-))

how are you dear boy?
got a brand new combine harvester yet?

btw, have you ever been to a pub called Tucker's Grave?
it's at Faulkland near Radstock

No, not explored that area much..... if the pub is good will get down that way sometime. Foodie pub or real ale or both? We're all fine and no, no combine for me. ;))

Markets performing as usual at the moment I see, taken a small short for my sins.

FTSE
it certainly looks like a down day in prospect
from memory, 6120 is the key level here, and currently just hovering above it

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BB - Tucker's Grave is a very interesting and strange pub ...... there are only 10 of its kind left in the country ..... check it out on the web
most assuredly it's not a foody pub!

This market still seems to have momentum.

Get the feeling the Dow is going down and of course the FT "usually" follows, some bad news from Brazil was noted on the Radio about an hour ago did anyone else here about it as well.

Don't tell me , the Brazilians have set sail for Britain .