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

US Markets gapped lower.

Mr T advisor on his toes.

Hope you cleaned up Cynic.

I looked at my phone last night at around 12:30 and was shocked to see Dow smashed to pieces.

Took a FTSE long at 7079 which doesn't look so shabby right now.

it was fortunate that i did not close that short until about 07:30 this morning
at least that nice gain helps offset some of the pain from my volatile stock holdings


my view is that very sharp overnight fall on DOW is heavily overdone
if i have read it correctly, it is primarily because of cohn's protest resignation as dt's senior economic advisor

it remains to see whether or not these threatened, lunatic, penal trade tariffs will actually be enacted
i'm not sure whether one house or another can block them, for most sane legislators will be fully aware of the potentially severe consequences

I've close my long from the early hours for 55pts. Still got one from 7188 which I'll continue to run..

My perception is that the European markets are a bit fed up with the US volatility and are starting to find a base.

europe has its own serious problems - aka brexit negotiations

Nothing compared with the UK.

Apologies wrong Fred.

8-)

what's the madman done this afternoon that has collapsed DOW once more?

Breathed!

I'm like shaking my head and getting a little frustrated. I know this is how it works and we haven't yet reached the point of maximum frustration but it would be nice if things would go up for a few days.


Anyways, stuck in the middle now for me. Not low enough to go long from lower down and not high enough to close the trade I've got open.

Fortunately investment portfolio is starting to look like it's going in the right direction regardless of Dow antics.

you're right fred .... time someone stopped him so doing

U.S. Added 313,000 Jobs in February; Wage Gains Slow to 2.6%

markets seem to like at least for now
the slowing wage gains will make the need for a rate rise less urgent

DOW - watch 25,050 where market is now hovering

DOW
latish friday i opened a small short at 25,225 on the basis that i thought the rise had been too far too fast

by this morning, that position was looking a touch sick
now it is back in profit, albeit not by much

the point is merely to emphasise just how impossible the markets are to read

Does anybody trade this index, any thoughts I never have just wondering if trading it worthwhile as a hedge to a few Aim stocks I own? Anybody.

US Having another sell off this afternoon.

DOW
:-) ..... and very happy i was too!

just before close, i closed small short position for a nice profit
as always, easily missed the bottom, but no complaints

may reverse in the morning
was tempted to do so immediately, but with close currently at 20:00 decided prudent to hold off

Well done Cynic. Currently carrying a losing long on FTSE from 7183 so feeling much better 40 minutes in

should have reversed DOW when i got up this morning as it had scarcely moved
never mind .... plenty of other way to lose money :-)

Can't trade this on LCG, is it possible on IG Aim100?

DOW crumbling again having been well ahead earlier .... keep an eye open for 24,600 though it may not drop quite that far
this has draggeddown DAX and FTSE too