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

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

DOW
small long opened at 24,718
we shall see :-)

DOW
i'm a lucky lad .... knowing that i wouldn't be watching much, i set a limit of 100 points profit .... this was easily hit, following which DOW collapsed again though i know not why

if you have the time to watch your screen, at least quite regularly, then there is no question that the indices are the current way to make some money

DOW has been a star of late - i decline to boast about today, but suffice it to say that i am smiling happily - and DAX also has its moments ...... FTSE is a waste of time

FTSE chart not looking too good.

DOW has tumbled 400+ to 24,500
that won't make the markets happy in the morning, unless there's a sudden about turn

Facebook did not help. Data privacy breach.

FTSE 100 almost down to 7000.

Looking for a turnaround point.

potential support a little higher at 7025

52 Week Low.

Death Cross formed on 50/250MA for those who take note of those sort of signals.

Not good.