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

Hey Strawbs, never seen you so indecisive! Must be a good sign for the market.

Unfortunately as a trader I don't have that luxury. On the other hand, if I'd done what my girlfriend suggested and put the money somewhere safe (no not a bank) then I could be living nicely on the interest rather than trying to catch that bloody knife.

:-) Yeah. My moneys been earning boring (but safe) interest for the best part of a year. I did put some back into the market in June/July. Mixed results, although managed to eek out a profit. All too volatile for me to invest at the moment though....

Strawbs.

Ah, DOW closed. Now I understand.

Dow closed today?????
who says so??????

Public Holiday in the U.S.

I thought it was closed today but apparently not.

Currently DOW + 466

"Dow closed today?????
who says so??????"

I do...anyway oo you looking at? )-:

"U.S. bond markets are closed Monday for the Columbus Day holiday" CNN

bond markets may be, but Dow is most certainly not!

MID-AFTERNOON REPORT: Leading shares were still in positive territory by mid-afternoon Monday, although off earlier highs, spurred on by news of Eurozone deal announced from Paris on Sunday. RBS, HBOS and Lloyds TSB are the first to take up 'bail out' funds

At 2.55pm, the FTSE 100 stood at4105.91, up 173.85 points, a rise of 4.42%.

The Dow will be closed today as it is a public holiday in the States.

Taken off of the MAM front page.

MAM is clearly on a different planet - lol

try the following from cnnfn.com!!

Stocks score big
Dow jumps over 450 points as investors bet the worst is over.
October 13, 2008: 10:59 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Stocks rallied Monday morning as investors welcomed the global response to the credit crisis, including the Treasury's plan to buy equity stakes in banks.

The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) gained 450 points or 5.5% in the early going, while the Standard & Poor's 500 (SPX) index rose 5.6% and the Nasdaq composite (COMP) added 5.7%.

"MoneyAM
MID-AFTERNOON REPORT: Leading shares closed the day surging higher after a positive day in London and an opening rally in New York on the DOW. Stocks were also buoyed by Eurzone leaders announcement yesterday in Paris "

Also closed according to my Almanac..I want my money back? -):

However they do say trade what you see )-:

If this is Dow not trading......

Dow up 11% at close

that's some bounce!

Nikkei up 13% too

I suppose after being on the edge of "Financial Meltdown" the markets will want to have a party now. :-)

Strawbs.

one swallow does not an alcoholic make!

:-)

Too true, but does perhaps underline how bad things had become. I dare say after a few too many the markets will get a serious hangover and slide again.

Strawbs.

A good opportunity to make some money on the back of this surge though Strawbs.
Opportunity missed, imo, if you take just a watching brief.
I thought you might have become positively positive this week rather than tentatively negative! :o)

Strawbs is right, for this is certainly not the end of the bad news ..... it is 150% inevitable that the next bundle of results, esepcially from USA , will be vile .... it is then a question of whether or not market sentiment has changed sufficiently for those to be shrugged off