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

S&P
currently on decent support line at 2095, so worth keeping an eye on that to determine where we may be headed tomorrow


FTSE
if that comes under pressure and breaks down with impetus through 6340, then further south could be on the cards

Dow finished down 114pts is this the start of the market downturn for the summer? to early to tell of course.

Following on from last night's dip over there.

Yep, though seems like just a 'down day' rather than the abyss.

FTSE
be aware that 6340 has been broken sharply

S&P
this is also below a decent support at 2095

for me at least, some interesting results and trading statements next week ......

tuesday - BOO and WTB ....... don't hold either but shall look with interest
also BATS

wednesday - ANTO

thursday - TW. and WPP
also agm for AFC, ARM, TLW

Dow below 18000, for how long I am not sure. Hope everyone had a decent week.

Off down the Battle Cruiser.

Dow finishes up.. just.

WTB
finals due tomorrow
watch for fallout as it may present a buying opportunity ...... sp currently close to 25/50 dma levels (3855)


=================

BOO
finals due tomorrow, but though sp has had a very good run, i reckon the numbers are likley to be good, so selling ahead could be dangerous

=================

BATS
trading statement due tomorrow
am hoping for good things, but have no feeling as to what will happen to sp

A nice little reverse as the Dow starts up for me.

going long either DOW or FTSE looks a brave move

Another nothing day on either market.

What has spooked early on wıth Dow futures?

Take your pick from this lot CD, Oil still on the up though.

FTSE set to retreat on open.

StockMarketWire.com

The FTSE 100 is set to surrender a chunk of yesterday's gains, according to financial websites, as the Nikkei flopped after BoJ held off on further stimulus and left rates unchanged, while the Fed issued a dovish statement but also kept interest rates on hold.

US & ASIA

In the US last night, the Dow gained 51.23 points to close at 18,041.55, while the Nasdaq fell 25.14 points to 4,863.14 and the S&P 500 inched 3.45 points higher to reach a new high for the year of 2,095.15.

In Asia today, the Nikkei was recently down 513.54 points at 16,776.95, while the Hang Seng had gained 84.39 points at 21,445.99.

WTI crude oil traded at $45.16 a barrel and Brent at $46.99.

Gold settled at $1,250.73 an ounce.

DOW
opened a small short last night which was at b/e at close so left it running ..... big smile


GOLD stocks are surprisingly muted

Interesting to note that near the end of Feb bounced off 25DAM crossed above 50DMA and since then has remained above 50DMA creating higher highs and higher lows.

Big fall overnight, but again so far intraday has failed to go below 50DMA.

Can it last? Answers on a post card :0)

DOW
currently standing still at about the o'night lows
the following is likely to galavanise one way or another ......

The Commerce Department is due to release its first estimate of U.S. first-quarter growth at 8:30 a.m. in Washington this morning. Expectations are for annualized 0.6 percent growth in the January-March period, which would be the economy's third successive awful start to the year. Initial jobless claims data, also due at 8:30 a.m., will be worth watching as the recent numbers there have been setting lows not seen since the early 1970s.

Dow down, hoping that continues and the Ft100 follows on tomorrow.

Finished -210.79 -1.17% excellent.