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

glad i did today as it happens .... not sure that i would not have closed before i left ..... been an ace day in that respect, though was pretty uncomfortable (mid) morning

Good - made up for yesterday then :)

indeed ..... have actually topped up again (bought back) on IEC and PMO

I've spent too much time on the phone today - but have done some sensible things here too: topped up on BRR and bought some PMO - just couldn't bear to see those takeover rumours confirmed while I was out of it! Generally a good day for the start of my 'new year'.

my holding in BRR is barely more than 50% of norm, which i suspect is sufficient as i can't see too much good happening to them for another year or more ...... am i wrong? ..... would be more than happy to see or even expect sooner

My current holding in BRR is such that I can easily work it out - a 1p rise = 1,000 profit. Converse is true of course, but then I don't need to be in a hurry to sell!

don't know the size of your portfolio, but that sounds quite a hefty investment % in an uproven company with very limited liquidity

I know, and it is a hefty % - but if you watch some of these smaller companies very carefully, it is possible to make a good profit in that way. It's worked on this one already, and in the light of what I have read and observed about BRR I reckon a 1p move upwards this year (could even be this week), from where we are now, is not unlikely; could be more. I wouldn't necessarily be looking to sell it all in one chunk - you're right, liquidity could be a prob if I were. I can sit tight if needs be.

100k even in BRR is not too horrendous though NMS is only 15,000.
don't forget that of course 1p = 1000 in both directions!

I already said as much re converse scenario. NMS on line is about that, but sometimes more. Failing that, there's always the phone to reach for to place an order.

I could be spending a bit of time at the computer over the next few days!

Good grief, I'm knackered! Must work up the energy to do some 'work' :S

Sounds like you've had a good day, while the rest of us have been enjoying ourselves at our screens and can now go out to play!

Well you should most certainly have a good play on your birthday, have a good one, don't drink too much now ;)

I won't be driving, so I won't be striving to stay too sober!

Dow reaction is perhaps similar to a man that has stepped on a land mine blowing both legs off and after taking a vial of morphine finds the whole situation hysterical!

that as may be, though the analogy barely fits ..... meanwhile, it has been a great chance to make some quite serious dosh while remaining well protected with stops ..... ditto FTSE

and in fact got stopped out of Dow at 13260 ..... oh dear! .... only +352 in 24 hours or so ..... bank manager will be very pleased .... meanwhile, FTSE position still alive and +198 ..... wow! to think i nearly shut it down this morning when all looking a bit dodgy

Like the analogy. Have been sidelined for last week licking my wounds, but will take a position on FTSE tomorrow, favouring a long at the moment but will decide in morning. Can't let you chaps have all the fun.

DOW
looking back at an old(ish) chart, 13255 was an important resistance/support ..... i think that chart still holds good, but shall try to check during the day .... if it is still valid, then be prepared for a reaction, perhaps quite sharp, especially given the headlong rush upwards of the last couple of days

FTSE
was stopped out at 6315, but scarcely complaining even if market has turned back north once more.

in honesty, i am now more inclined to be short of the indices than long, as there is a strong likelihood that the recovery has been too mcuh too fast ...... but may well just stay neutral