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

the following is an indicator of the gloom in the oil industry .....

The upstream industry's biggest tradeshow is less than two months away, and OTC 2016 chatter is picking up in Houston. With the downturn deepening in its second year, the complexion of OTC is changing. For the first time in many years, there is still exhibit space available indoors at the NRG Arena this close to the event.
During the boom, I recall being told "good luck if you haven't booked your hotel room for the May conference by early-February." This week, we checked availability at 15 of the Houston hotels recommended by OTC organizers. Although room rates still surge an average of 80% the week of OTC, only 1 of the 15 hotels we called was sold-out during show-week. Several hotels had 30-50% of their rooms still unbooked for OTC week.
Most of these hotels were completely booked for last year's event, when hopes of a V-shaped recovery still lingered at showtime. Even so, 2015 OTC attendance still fell 13%. This year, our channel checks suggest OTC attendance will likely decline a further 20%+.

This old favourite's been creeping up. http://www.moneyam.com/InvestorsRoom/posts.php?tid=10264#lastread

Three hours to the ECB statement. Hopefully that will get things going again.....one way or the other. Rate cut expected.

The European Central Bank cut interest rates and expanded its asset-purchase program to €80 billion ($88 billion) a month in a bid to boost inflation and reinvigorate a stuttering eurozone economy.

The central bank cut its deposit rate to minus 0.4% and its main interest rate to zero.

the markets initially greeted the news with some glee, but look to be having 2nd thoughts

meanwhile, cash DOW is still +100 but i wonder how that market will recewive the news when it opens

What's Queenykins got to say on the subject?

.. Well?

there's a surprise ..... markets are all over the place

Very nervous markets.

These emergency measures have been in place since 2009 (USA &UK) now MD is ramping up the euro version, together with low or negative interest rates the central _ankers are creating huge bubbles which at some point will pop, no prizes for guessing who will pick up the tab.
2517

Well don't look at me.

Sorry Stan but you WILL be included, nice to share ain't it.
2517

as they say, a problem shared is a problem doubled

Nop! I've given enough it's all yours.

Ah Alf, a very generous person.. he can pay my wack.

Gold's up.

By having low or negative interest rates the central bankers reason that people will spend money, however the opposite is happening, just look at Japan. What the CB's are really engineering is a depression.
With that in mind we are told if we LEAVE the EU inflation will return to the UK, bring it on I say.
2517

and that tells you quite a bit
the markets reflection will be what has been known (or at least i have been saying) for ages, that eurozone economies are shot to pieces and the chinese gdp numbers are lies ...... though their steel and similar factories may still be churning at almost full pelt, no one wants the end-product so its just dumped

Market don't like Draghi. So no surprise they fluctuate.
Why Euro is up then?

I think the DOW'S on a , you dare trade me and i'll do the unexpected .