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

Huge spike in overnight futures had ftse upto 4950! Always easiest to manipulate when volume is light on a Sunday night

had a trailing stop which worked very well as had my long shut at 4895 for a very nice profit, especially considering the modest outlay

I did the opposite and shorted from 4910-4880,bear points are few and far between at the moment though there is some rumblings that September may show a change in the weather.Even Odey asset management I gather are dumbfounded by the rally

this is a totally loony day!
i don't think i have ever seen my portfolio increase this much in a single session, though i'm damn sure i have seen the reverse

Yes not exactly rocket science of late!

I think we are all getting nervous now that the market has seen many stocks surge ahead, possibly too far, too fast.
"Since bottoming at a 12-1/2 year low on March 9, the S&P 500 is up 52% as of Tuesday afternoon. The pace and breadth of the run up has left many Wall Streeters calling for a big selloff in September and October. But so far, there has been no indication of that.

"Generally, the market keeps moving higher even though so-called experts are saying it's overbought," said Terry Morris, senior equity manager, National Penn Investors Trust. "It's surprisingly strong. Maybe we have turned a corner."

Full article here:
http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/25/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm?postversion=2009082516

Labour Day in the U.S. Monday 7th Sept '09. Volume expected to be thin in the days leading up to the long w/e, according to Bloomberg.

surprisingly strong finish on Wall street tonight (+60) presages at least a good start to the morrow in London

dont know what to make of this. looks for all the world that a major pull back is overdue. where is it? i dont know. my charts would suggest another 150/200 points rise is still possible on ftse before we see it, or not, as the case may be. fwiw im still long and bearish. LoL
regards
jkd

NO ITS GOING UP FOREVER!!! :-)

jb
you could be right. however im starting to get nervous.ftse is now up approx 100 points from my last post. everyone seems so bullish, lots of individual stocks making "break outs" from low formations etc. it just seems too gooood to be true. ive decided im going to sit tight and stick with what i have for the time being, i.e.im not buying any more for a week or two or more. famous last words. Lol. doesnt anyone sell anymore?
regards
jkd

Take profits then & lock them in. Wait for a downturn, which I agree is probably coming soon. Time to be looking at gold stocks if so, as a safe(?) haven. The main exceptions are the oil explorers, imo, which are news driven & probably worth holding for 'duster or gusher' RNS.

Were the FTSE is leading to

HC
thanks for that. i could take profits and lock them in as you suggest, in fact i have stop losses in place to do just that. as for waiting for the downturn which is probably coming soon? what if? it doesnt. then i miss out on the subsequent rise. i'm often/mostly wrong anyway. so in "expecting" it, it probably wont happen within my "expectations".... just re read sounds ok to me.
miners. oilies and financials have been and will continue to drive the ftse.they will eventually succombe to technical reversals in price eventually, whether short or long term remains to be seen....in my opinion. its just a question as to whether or not they all suuccombe at the same time or not. if not, then one or others will hold up the other,and the ftse will continue on its upward path. thats the stockmarket which guides sentiment.
holders of "good" solid stocks will suffer just as badly, if not worse,if ftse sentiment collapses.
it could all happen overnight( or a weekend) or it may never happen at all.
regards
jkd

another analysis - not mine - reckons to short the index at 5190

The Stock-Market should be treated like a hot bath, in and out quick.. or something like that. Said by the Rothchilds apparently.

s
should that be cold bath? personally i like to linger in a hot one, but not a cold one.
regards
jkd

Simon Griffin of Shares Mag is long Gold. Although that is just based on charting analysis, it suggests that he is expecting a shift by investors to the safety of the Gold bunker! I've got one foot in the door just in case.

jkd, presumably you used to be indecisive, but now you are not so sure? !!!!! ;o)

HC
many have more than one foot in that bunker door.i just have the one,HGM. been accumulating slowly but surely.
your summary of me is is most astute and precise. thats why i am intending to do nothing over coming weeks. i think so anyway but i may change my mind, bit like the markets really wouldnt you say? .. if in doubt do nowt.... .;-)
i am in profit so not chasing , will let the market come to me and no doubt wipe the grin. it usually does .;-)
regards
jkd

St. Ledger day today, traditionally a time when those investors who quit the market in may, now look to join the fray again. How times have changed & some of the old sayings have lost their relevance!