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

How amazing it is that bad news has such a temporary effect on the markets at the moment. Nervous investors seem easily spooked, yet easily persuaded back again.
Greece, Portugal & the U.K. debt all looking dire, closely followed by Spain, yet so long as individual companies produce growth figures, no one seems to care for very long! Good for trading though.

Brown caught out it seems...labour showing it's true colours.....will we be rid of them ?...difficult to believe that they would get even 1 vote from anybody....don't like starting too many threads..but I'll start an election special as this is a very important 10 days coming up !...

shut dow short at a modest profit .... have left ftse running for now

Dow and UKX longs both done well :-)
Now reversed Dow and short @ 11175

Splat - Dow looks to be on a mission :o)

yes, could well be, it's a much smaller position than the one I had on the way up and keeping a close eye on it CC - thanks
What was that, by the way, "come on Burnley!" :-))
We should be out of Europe later and looking for a new manager - sh*t season but at least we're higher than your shower :-)))

and b4 anyone asks, i shut ftse short this morning at a small loss .... overall result of latest escapade was positively neutral

Splat - Hey, don't hold your breath mate only 5 points, I expect Chelsea to reduce that to 2 on Sat (providing we beat Stoke away of course), last games mighty Hull :o) to stuff you at there place and Everton to beat mighty Portsmouth at home! Not over till the fat lady sings! :o))

I don't need to hold my breath Chris, I only said "at least we're higher than your shower :-))) " not that we will finish higher! :-0 by the way, I've heard a few fat ladies singing, and today!! :-)

Aye, and a fat spanish waiter might join her tonight eh! :o))

looks like it !

Dow short going well :-)

some INDU covered + precisely 100

Nice one splat - Good Luck v Chelsea :o)

thanks CC.
Luck against Chelsea? Won't be needing that....in the same way we won't be needing Torres, Gerrard and Benitez next season! :-)

Dow looks fcuked

blood and guts on wall street - currently down 136
better hope for a decent performance there on monday, or london will have bad squits again

Dow
topsy-turvy market or what! ..... have crashed on friday, today it is (currently) +140, yet nothing has fundamentally changed

Greek bail out has been agreed and confirmed today,i think.
regards
jkd

it was never going to be otherwise