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

Port Rashid's closure is part of the Maritime City redevolpment plan, it's being filled in as we type at something like 1 million cubic metres of sand a day. A small part of it will remain open for Cruise ship visits and possibly some for container ships (although allowance for containers was not part of the original plan). All part of turning Dubai into an Island - just like Venice :)

will it sink like venice, especially if they keep upsetting the tidal patterns in that region? ...... do they intend to create a second deepwater port or even expand JA?

wow! Dow suddenly -350

capitualtion is close I feel.

emergency rate cut?

What, you mean the senate will capitulate and sign? :-)

Strawbs.

I understood the idea was to expand JA, but they've limited their options somewhat by building one of those stupid Palms right next to the port. Who on earth would want to have that view everyday?

the ships' captains!

Think the biggest ever daily loss on the FTSE was about 250pts but perhaps somebody will correct me.

black monday and tuesday 1987:

FTSE 100 fell by a then-record 249.6 points, or 10.8 per cent, wiping 50bn from the value of the UKs largest companies.

The rout continued the following day, as the index lost a further 12.2 per cent, still its biggest ever one-day percentage points slide.

thanks doc

have you got a tonic for my shares ..

yes but drunk it all myself today!

i am totally shell-shocked ..... how could those dumb-arse redneck US reps chuck out this bailout bill, albeit that it was a bitter pill to swallow and may even have had some flaws ...... i cannot even bear to think what this is going to do to world economics

cynic , the fed is flooding the market with cash - its not over yet

believe me the fat lady is singing and when those prats in the Replublican party find their pensions and savings have gone and their house has dropped 50% in value they might think 'Perhaps that wasn't such a good idea'

one of the biggest problems all along was the fact that Paulson was a Wall St man and sticking up 2 fingers was always a possiblity

Like I said, expect the unexpected!

For those interested in some historical perspective I would recommend "The Great Crash 1929 by John Kenneth Galbraith". If history is any guide, today's fall is just the start. Cash is king, and will be for sometime to come. Be careful out there.

In my opinion.....

Strawbs.

except one of the big failings in 1929 was the failure of central gov't to take decisive action .... thank goodness for Bernanke who at least has been the catalyst to ensure that action will be taken, though it should read was taken .... no doubt something will be hammered out at least within the next few days, but the loss of confidence in USA as a credible super-power is almost immeasurable .... the long term effects will be far-reaching indeed.

in my opinion of course!

As somebody said to me today, is this the start of the decline of the west as a financial powerhouse?

I have just logged on "unbelievable" I was sure it would be passed, what the hell are they playing at, maybe they like playing Russian Roulette with world economy.

Only one place to be this week sidelines...sidelines...sidelines...sidelines. Keep cash somewhere safe and re-think investments strategies.

As you say Cynic, Beranke has taken decisive action already, because he had researched the 1930s crash at length and understood the mistakes that were made then. Unlike the ECB who have not learnt any lessons and have been focusing on inflation still. Anyway I'm sure they will have to still have a bail out, there really is no alternative.

I'm a tad p****d off........