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

Yes, currently 62% as at the end of March 2010.

Official ONS data

for heavens sake hilary you are talking about debt

you have not read the post properly at all

The post is about annual expenditure

Camelot,

I'm not arguing about spending or debt, although I would point out to you that your OECD figures were based upon older data available before the budget. More up to date figures have become available within the last few weeks which show an increase in both public sector spending and debt. I have already said that I don't dispute your map showing public sector spending by region.

If you want to see the up to date precise amounts of public sector spending and debt, click here.

What I have been arguing about is the opening sentence of your post 5296 which clearly reads:

"Over 52 per cent of the UKs GDP is derived from public sector activity"

That, as I have already wasted plenty of time explaining, is a blatant inaccuracy. I don't know if they are your words or if they are a cut'n'paste from somewhere else, but they are wrong. How many times do I need to repeat myself?

10-1 on Hilary.....

:-)

Hey, I'd expect shorter odds than that.

:o)

10-1 is 10-1 against

Does that mean you still maintaining your assertion that "Over 52 per cent of the UKs GDP is derived from public sector activity"?

short odds that not many of us care

I expect the penny to drop in due course
and then he will cotton on

Cynic,

If you were to care a bit more about what some of the posters on this thread say, it might help improve your trading. Over the last few weeks I've watched you pour scorn on some respected and experienced traders who have gone out of their way to visit this thread in the hope it might help.

I've also watched you make some pretty flakey decisions in that time as well, so I suggest that you're not too old to learn..

Camelot,

My mother once told me that I shouldn't argue with an idiot as they invariably drag you down to their level and end up beating you with experience. If somebody else wishes to take up the reins and explain to you the error within your statement, they are more than welcome to.

Btw, I'm a she!

fiesty one at that.....:))

Bb, your 10-1 is looking very generous.

Btw, short futs at 5276 in last few minutes. Close above 5293 and I'll be out.

you obviously can't do much about your sex, but such is life
anyway, my trading statements go a considerably way to disprove your allegation, but no matter.

apart from that, i still see no reason why i should care at all about your jolly little altercation with camelot nor its basis and/or the somewhat arcane arguments relating to it.

i have the temerity to think i speak for most here in saying that gdp, however it is measured or distorted is of little interest ..... it's the direction of the markets that speak, and that is little influenced by this

Oh, a BSD huh?

??????? .... no idea but your mother should also have warned you about arguing with semites!

Don't rise to it hilery, you've spiked his ego now.....we will have to put up with him in his superior mood for the rest of the day.....hmmmmm

yeh - show us your legs :-)

yours are presumably a little on the thin side ...

;-)