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

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?
2517

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.
2517

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.
2517

there are many ways to "skin a pig", we don't think the average guy in the street cares less about the pigs, unless of course they are partial to sausages.

George - that was exactly the essence of angela merkel's comment ..... she said, rightly in my opinion, that greece should be seen to be taking strong action to reduce its deficit significantly before any eurozone money should be pushed its way to help the process.

ireland has apparently taken such action, though it is not a story i have followed

One argument, therefore, in favour of a federal europe. One currency & one central government. Not in my lifetime, probably, but eventually, imo.

i don't see that that is an argument in favour, and certainly not a union of which i would want to be part

If national boundaries were dropped, there would not be a 'them' & 'us' approach (we are a well managed German entity, you are a corrupt, poorly managed greek entity). All decisions would be for the good of all & the more affluent states would assist the less affluent. Currently, disparate, unilateral governments are trying to look after themselves whilst sharing a common currency. Never going to work, imo.
As for a Federal Europe, like all change, it has to be slow & steady, but new generations will slowly forget the 'old' national boundary system whilst Bruxelles & the march relentlessly on!

how sweet! ..... do you really think it would work like that? .... it's bad enough being told by those obscenely greedy freeloaders in brussels what we should or should not do without handing over our entire freedom of thought

HARRY, would i hate to see that,,,a federal Europe dont like it as it is without going any further ,wish we could turn the clocks back..