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

By Alistair Strang | Mon, 21st August 2017 - 09:38

How the FTSE 100 can rally to 7,600

Our Friday outlook was to prove devastatingly accurate, the FTSE 100 (UKX) bottoming at 7,302.47 while our target was 7,301.78. Pretty close by any standards and, aside from blowing our trumpet, we're taking some assurance from our drop target not actually being worsened.

Even though it was pretty damned close and, again, goes some way to explaining why our two FTSE columns are consistently our "best read" despite never mentioning Bruce Forsyth…

The FTSE closed the week at 7,325 points, needing to better 7,407 currently to exceed the immediate market downtrend and enter a zone where growth to 7,500 points becomes a viable ambition, perhaps even 7,596 points if Viagra is involved.

If triggered, the stop can be around the 7,370 point at its very tightest, though recent swings almost demand it be placed just below the 7,300 level.

Of course, there's always the risk the market will use the recent death of someone who was old to generate some near-term hysterics, though if we shelf our cynical nature the visuals suggest that as the market has once again explored the "holiday floor" of 7,300, it should really bounce.

The fly in the ointment is fairly important as "the computer" has a big picture warning flag at 7,305, this being a level which really should not have been broken. But it was broken, briefly, on Friday!

Near-term movements below 7,300, therefore, suggest 7,185 is possible with secondary, if broken, at 7,020 points. Unfortunately, as with the upward potentials, a 100-point stop is probably the sanest possible.

Off to a bad start after Holiday.

Yes but some possible short term bargains in the Oil sector.

Stan, you are certainly on the ball!! Quite a few US rigs shut down due to the hurricane it seems.

Yes Harry a short term opportunity does present itself, won't last long though as the refineries down there are well used to these situations and shut down and open up again when the danger is over.

Anybody know the epic for SP500?

IUSA as far as i can determine

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everything rather turned on its head this morning with the korean loony holding centre stage

shame i closed and reversed my DAX short yesterday, but i would expect that to come right in at least the reasonably near future
i certainly do not think that now is the time to go short, and indeed shall be having a look to see if or when it is worth extending that long position

Slightly o/t but this could be serious:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41081629

Dead hyperlink Stan.

good to see that DAX has clawed its way back to a reasonably comfortable 11,940
if DOW does not catch fright later in the session, there may be a decent recovery in the morning

Thanks Harry corrected now.

Massive turnaround.

Hopefully continued tomorrow as it's also ex divi eve.

DAX
banked a respectable profit on half before bedtime ...... other 50% still showing a modest loss, but would expect that to recover sufficiently too

Steady as she goes as far as the oil/refineries situation in gun nutter land is concerned. Lots of ex-divis tomorrow but not sure how much it's worth off the index.

DAX
closed last open long at 12,179
i had hoped for 12,195 but index fell off just before that limit was hit
as 12,200 has faild yet again, am tempted to short as next move

DAX
interesting to note that yet again 12,200 has proved too great a hurdle, though there was a feeble effort at breaching it early in the day