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

18000

2% from all tıme hıgh.

the markets say otherwise, but pundits for some time have been saying along the lines of the following ......

Time to ‘Sell in May’ as Brexit looms and storm clouds gather over FTSE 100
Investors are best advised to keep their cash in the market for the long term as the bulk of returns come from dividend income reinvested.

However the advice from The Telegraph today as Quester Editor John Ficenic is that this summer you should sell in May as Brexit risk looms and the credit cycle turns.

The old adage goes that investors should “Sell in May and go away; don’t come back till St Ledger’s Day” to avoid the turbulent summer trading when volumes are low and negative news can result in a wild moves.

This year should be an absolute corker because just as bankers head for the beach, the UK will go to the polls to decide whether to stay in Europe. The International Monetary Fund has said a vote to leave could pose a threat to the global economy.

The FTSE 100 has struggled to make any headway this year inching ahead just 1pc, and is still down 10pc from an all-time high of 7,104 last year.

The “price to earnings ratio” or P/E – a popular way of measuring relative valuation in stock markets – now stands at 17 times. The long run average P/E for the FTSE 100 is 15. So, shares are already looking expensive and don’t price in the risk.

Gold testing 1250 again.

Almost there for a new hıgh on the Dow. An amazıng turnaround sınce Feb 11th.

Can't keep going like this can it ?

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DEFYING GRAVITY
everything still feels wrong with these markets
i don't think there's a pundit anywhere who disagrees but for now the markets have blinkers

i am virtually out of trading stocks and my sipp now has a good proportion of high quality, high yield stocks - eg BATS, IMPS and BVS

though the markets continue their merry way, i want to sleep at night!

Yes, I agree, though I still think it's worth being in a few stocks (Gold, diamonds, miners) as they are still going up. The nearer we get to May/June I will try and reduce my risk (Low Beta stocks).

I also agree, nothing much except daily bad news and the market go's up. Reckon they are trying to suck people in the market only for it to drop like a stone around May time and the rest of the summer.

I think the DOW/FTSE is a short for May June ,if it doesn't take you out first on the way up .

everything says it should be, but that has so for at least the last month or so

i think when it falls, it will do so sharply and with virtually no warning

FTSE must be the better bet to short if only because of the referendum, but best closed before the day for obvious reasons

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as an observation ......
in recent weeks, any sharp fall has seen an almost instant recovery, DOW being the easiest example

unless i'm much mistaken, that has given rise to higher lows and higher highs, which is always bullish ..... or at least it is until sentiment turns

...Exciting isn't it?

yes, but impossible to read

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FTSE
6,440 may be an interesting level at which to short

Generally yes but not all the time and as we think "if and when" it go's south we are ready to jump on for the ride.

Dow still going up.

.

Looks like we might be carrying on upwards .

This is all a bit bizarre. Most of my screen is blue.......I am expecting a big correction soon, though happy to see profits increase atm.

In that case if your individual shares are in profit sell, take the profit and wait (with capital+profit in tact) for the slump then short the index and then whalla!..bobs your auntie.

Is that what you'v done Stan ?