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

out at 6090 - got that wrong

Good call cynic - well done

Bhunt - me too!

Dow a good call so far, but we all know how treacherous it can be ..... shall be watching carefully, with a view in any case of getting out at about 12700

sold 50% at 12595

NEWSU.S. economic growth in the first quarter is revised higher to 0.9% from a previous reading of 0.6%.

now don't get too excited everyone - lol!

on a more serious note, am seriously considering shorting crude as while i doubt we shall see sub $100 for a very long time (if at all within next 12 months), i cannot believe oil will climb much further before everyone bails out.

that will be bad news for oilies, especially the mini-minnow E&Ps, but good news for many other businesses

What kind of level are you shorting to, Cynic? Tricky to pick a support level, unless you are going to sit there with your finger poised over the keyboard for a few hours!

i now have NYMEX (US Light) on my watch list ..... it's certainly a bit lively, but am looking further forward than just a couple of hours or even days

You certainly won't die of boredom trading oil... up 4 dollars than down 5 in 2 hours and counting...

well I am not sure that trading the indices is for me. I dont seem able to keep my profits and over the last month have ended up losing more than I have been gaining. A couple of good runs - but also a few bad runs - so I think I will stand on the touchlines for a while and watch you experts.

Its been fun - and I much appreciated all the advice - but I think I am too impetuous and playing too short a game

bhunt1910-----I am a couple of months behind you in the learning stakes, I've just opened a spread betting a/c, funded it but not taken the plunge yet. I have read yours and other posts with interest and hope to learn from them. Thanks.
2517

In the Total Crap Handicap Stakes (worst performer wins!), which runs throughout 2008, the 3-legged donkey Fat Chance (VIY) currently leads by a couple of lengths from Black Clouds (from Nowhere out of Blue Sky = AMER), with Morass (GOO) coming up the rear.

Hmmmm, well that's what we all said about EME when we bailed out, taking substantial losses. Look where it is now!!! Am happy to stick with my remaining GOO shares for this year as the sp seems to be holding steady & recent news is encouraging.
As for VIY, don't get me started.......................

harrycat incagold/igd 1st rns out.finals very soon

..and of course - now that I am not trading - I did a dummy sell on the Dow this afternoon - which would have recovered all my losses !!

Sods law - Ho Hum

Interesting that the DOW continues it's downturn (currently 12360) yet the FTSE has managed to hold around the 6000 level. For once we are not being dragged down by the U.S.

Maybe I spoke too soon! DOW now down 270 points (back to 12330 level) & I suspect bound to drag us down on monday.

And Oil rising $9 in one day....I don't know whether to say Boy oh Boy or Dear oh Dearie me....most stocks could drop with certain oilies going ballistic !.

oil is quite likely to weaken to +/-$100, but would very much doubt it will fall much below that, other than perhaps on a sharp downward spike as long speculators are forced to unwind.

bloody hell! ..... just noticed Nymex at $138.90 .... memory tells me it was near $123 24/36 hours ago