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

Watch out for the possible LSE market Freeze due to volume..with trading suspended for the rest of the day. With people unable to sell at their paper profit!

There are some seriously wierd looking prices around this morning on some of these banks. I'd love to look at a level 2 screen and see how much of it's genuine and how much is price manipulation....

Maybe someone with level 2 access could comment....

Strawbs.

strawbs,

a lot of them remained in auction after the open.

Ian

I managed to buy hbos at 195 in auction somehow now sold ! sold some lloyds at 375 but keeps freezing so can't ditch last lot very strange.

Thanks Ian,

Makes sense.

Strawbs.

selftrade crashed again!

this is setting itself for some one mighty crash. I would rather be a sleeping bear than a mindless stampeding bull trying to catch up with a run away train. I have enough interest in the market that might do ok from this but im not commiting any new money as companies cannot justify 80% increases such as BB. overnight

i want to sell into this but have no chance. grrr

actually nice to see the mkt makers are up to their old tricks and chopping some of these quotes off at the knees from their earlier highs and massive spreads. The tricks never chance as there is always an endless line of sheep to be slaughtered

If I wasn't so cynical.....

I'd have to say it's lucky this is happening on witching day....

Oh. Hold on. I am cynical!

In my opinion.

Strawbs.

If it's any consolation DD even doing a trade on Barclays was slow..must be general higher volume today slowing platforms down.

its annoying thats it wasn't done on sunday for a change, as clearly they don't want to be predictable. Was planning to get in big on Friday night. But feeling the same cynicism as strawbs i guess i would be pulling my hair out as the platforms would crash and I couldnt sell like many of you are finding. For once pleased to be a spectator. BB. has dropped 50% from the high I commented on 10 mins ago. Ouch

little compensation I'm afraid Stan. Lost alot of profit the last 15 mins.

As soon as I can get my money out, Selftrade are sacked.

Stan/dealerdear: I've got Barclays and it's not 'slow' it's impossible!

I felt the same and did the same as you think now a couple of years back and have never regretted that decision.

I accept not being able to get prices in these mkts for the first couple of mins but not for a system to crash for most of the day.

I figure most of these wild moves are just more market manipulation. The same manipulation market makers have always used to move prices around when they want to encourage buyers or sellers. As usual the private investor finds it impossible to take part in these moves, either because of slow systems, lack of transparency or access. Maybe the FSA should look at leveling the playing field next.

In my opinion.

Strawbs.

Not if you give it time DFBPBJ and persevere.

Strawbs,
I view this as a time to get any "profitable" positions sold. and nothing else as I believe we are heading further down.

Same problems on TDW trading platform, unable to trade live but it is accepting limit orders.