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

why do you say that cynic? The news is certainly not good out there and it seems that aside from the obvious political uncertainty at least in the UK, there are also the austerity measures required to reduce Sovereign debt around the Eurozone, supertaxes on resources, worries over Greece, Spain and Portugal, a fragile housing market and economic recovery, the Euro....no wonder the markets are twitchy.

because looking at a much broader worldwide scenario, i see usa economy recovering nicely, and far east and india continuing to advance strongly too ...... unemployment numbers always lag in both directions

As long as GS associates are active, nothing is reasonable in this financial market. They dominate, play in symphony, and do not bother about humanity.... Actions are similar to what Hitler did about 60 years go

a charming but inaccurate bucolic picture!

for the moment you should treat this as just another correction
the internals are still in trend

its not this fall you need to worry about

it is whether or not the reaction rally has the legs to make a new high

With you on that one Camelot, those crazy yanks could do anything. I'm more concerned about Tim Cahill staying at Everton cause they didn't qualify for Europe but at least if the worse happens Moyes will make another killing. Splat as a Kopite you must be concerned re Gerrard and Torres at mo? :o) Those Greeks aren't taking any shit!

high volatility likely for several weeks i should imagine, and then the summer slumber

Bought back BARC today that I sold on the 14th @315.

Oil price seems to be heading down towards $75?

it's still $81.00 ..... the strengthening $ will influence i guess, and frankly, even if us light drops to $75, it's no big deal .... i'ld be more concerned if, in the immediate future, crude shot up to say $100 and held there - mitzy reckons it will within a couple of weeks!

Rompypompy says its nothing to do with politicians

lol

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, on Wednesday downplayed market concerns about Greece's problems spreading to Spain and Portugal. "What I now see are totally irrational movements on the markets set off by unsubstantiated rumors, for instance yesterday with Spain, but also as regards Portugal

Gordon has had 2 years to do something and failed miserably

Time to use the zebra crossing and cross the road
:-)


The next British government must take early measures to reduce the countrys huge deficit and stabilise debt, the European Commission warned today.

The stark message from the EUs Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner will be seized on by the Conservatives as Brussels endorsement for their economic programme.

Introducing the Commissions latest economic forecasts, Olli Rehn said: The first thing for the new government to do is to agree on a convincing, ambitious programme of fiscal consolidation in order to start to reduce the very high deficit and stabilise the high debt level of the UK.

The next British government must take early measures to reduce the countrys huge deficit and stabilise debt, the European Commission warned today.

Why do the words pot, kettle and black spring to mind?

Ah yes, Dr Euro. Physician, heal thyself!

"Was that the answer you wanted?"

Indeed. When I saw those pictures from Athens last night I wondered whether that was a nation I'd lend my money to - but on the other hand, if it were not actually my money, but that of the people I work for, I probably would!

TP

5300....would you believe it ?.....it takes months to climb up and then over a cliff we go....there will not be any posssibility of keeping shares for any length of time if this trend of slowly rising followed by diabolical sudden drops continues....I will be changing my trading tactics from now on...it will take some time, but I will have to do it....

Why change now? If most of the worst is over, then the climb out of recession should be nice & gradual from now on. Two steps forward for one step back. Any stocks which you own should start paying a dividend (depending on company) & growth figures will start to improve.

I'm thinking along the lines of just keeping no more than half a dozen stocks and disposing of them easily as soon as the slightest incline towards a drop of any kind.....I have too much of a variation of shares at the moment : this is alright on the way up...but as these severe pullbacks now occur on a regular trend, 2 or 3 times a year, I'm thinking of a reduced quota.....more easily disposed of....

ftse
5400 was the target just a few days ago ..... it didn't touch the sides as it dropped through that


dow
initial target remains 10780, and that is only 70/80 points lower


on balance, i guess (hope!) we have pretty much seen the sharp but long overdue correction
whether the next move up will just be DCB or something more sustainable is, i fear, very much 50/50

required field - Bit dramatic mate! :o)