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

FTSE has already tumbled and closed through an important support at 6,260 and DOW is also now close to tempting fate
in the latter case, watch for a move below 17,910

DOW
watch for that key level of 17,910 to hold or collapse
it's bounced from there a couple of times recently

DOW
already down through 17,910 but so far by not a great deal

however
DAX
9885 is the apparent number to watch here
it's certainly being threatened, and if that goes too, then hold on to your hats all round

Got small short runnıng from last nıght on Dow.

DAX
worth looking at the 10-minute chart
there seems no enthusiasm for a bounce off this critical level, but then it hasn't collapsed south either

Asıa markets down thıs mornıng quıte a bıt.

if DOW bombs this afternoon, then FTSE may get dragged below the critical 6,050 level
keep a sharp eye on this as it's already pretty close

DAX
booked another decent dinner with today's banked profit :-)

DOW
short position left running

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

since the above - and yes it happens that i did book my DAX profit too early - i note in particular that FTSE (post close) has crashed down through 6,050 support

US retail sales stronger than expected in May
+0.5% vs expected +0.3% and +1.3% prior


but no effect cash DOW
wait for opening bell

have banked profit on 50% DOW short
still running shorts (also) in FTSE, DAX and GKP

watch out chaps ......

DOW
just broken south of key 17,660 mark
if that remains the case through to the close, then tin hats or more

to plagiarise a very old tv lager advert ..... follow the bear :-))

banked profits on both FTSE and DAX positions, and leaving DOW to run at least for now
that index is at a very critical point and may even close that later on

bears look that they may be taking a breather

while you guys have been asleep at the wheel .......

i sold the last of my DOW short at a very small loss this morning and have been long DAX - and very profitably even if i say so myself

have now sold 50% of that, but it is no time to get greedy, so not sure for how much longer to hold balance
having burst north through one resistance at ~9635, the next is said to be at ~9750, but not sure that i'll hang on that long

Late sell off agaın ın US.

i was playing golf yesterday ..... any particular reason for yesterday's late sell-off?
am currently neutral on indices

Take your pick.....could be China, Japan, Russia, or the US to blame, but this seems to be the most likely culprit:
"Stocks slumped with oil and industrial metals after central bank meetings in the U.S. and Japan spurred concern the global economy is losing momentum. The yen soared after the Bank of Japan refrained from easing monetary policy, rallying with gold and sovereign bonds."
Though I think Janet Yellen statement also contributed!

have made a bit today by shorting DAX and DOW, but am now out, or at least for the time being

levels on both the above, and also FTSE have either bounced off critical levels or are close to them

hard south is still the likely call going forward, but we all know how horribly wrong these racing certainties can prove

Approx 2% jump in the FTSE expected due to increased 'IN' optimism.