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

just flashed up on CNN ..... it's ambiguous, but i guess it's actually positive as Dow cash +26

Number of people filing for first-time unemployment benefits fell 43,000 to 440,000 last week - fewer than economists expected.

That's still a big number over a WEEK.
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today london is likely to finish (very) weak as is dow.
it's the end of another volatile week and with uncertainty again returning re the rescue package for greece, heads will be ducking back beneath the parapet for the w/e

Banks and Miners getting hit, not a good sign. Dollar Index very strong doing it's best to hit 81! But seen this film before those crazy yanks, despite the public holiday on Monday never do the obvious :o)))

DJ Futs could hit 10000, which would probably drop the FTSE Futs through current support at 5100

No friday eveing rally then this week?

You're considering a last minute entry to Monte Carlo....or has that come and gone ?...

Monte Carlo!

Not my style. Know what I mean.

he'd like a fast woman, not fast cars..

please sir, may i 2 of them and one of those?

apart from that, could have been a bloodbath today, but it wasn't and even wall street is not that dire, unless it suddenly collapses towards the close
it will certainly have helped that the latest retail numbers were deemed quite encouraging

Friday night rally yeehah

a pretty solid performance by dow all things considered ..... unless the politicos do something typically daft over w/e, monday in london could be quite striong

and i guess breath now held all round while the eurozone politicos fight their own corners while pretending to discuss the greek problem ..... all of which will reflect in US when the markets re-open for biz tomorow (tuesday)

does anybody seriously care about Greece, just a storm in a ......

European banks would have massive write offs if Greece becomes insolvent, do you think we would/could avoid the flak?
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It appears Greece is and has been insolvent for a long time they will muddle through, any bank lenders deserve what they have taken on.

'bank lenders deserve what they have taken on'. Won't argue with that halifax, the problem is that when (not if) the european banks get hit, lending will become even less available than it is now which will suffocate any recovery and back into recession we all go.
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i don't disagree with the sentiment, but the actual or perceived implications for eurozone are much more serious .... that is primarily why (a) angela merkel told everyone that she saw no reason why germany should support greece's "lovely lifestyle" - for sure electioneering in there too and (b) why the other less insolvent eurozone countries will not allow greece to fold - not sure how a country actually does that, but i dare say iceland could advise!

banks only make provisions when default occurs and not necessarily the outstanding amount immediately.

Best thing imo is for Greece to have to fend for itself, if they are seen to be bailed out by stronger countries the other 'PIGS' will expect similar treatment, and therefore not impose austerity measures on their people, which is really what is needed. The UK faces similar measures because the Government is not prepared to cut our deficit yet, (election coming) but look out after the election.
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