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

Those few futs short contracts starting to look a bit sweeter now, Cynic. Are you still sat on your hands?

i am indeed ..... made a good few shekels on the indices over the last week or so and am very happy to have banked those profits ..... as is pretty obvious, the markets are churning all over the place, and though one can assuredly make very good money with the right timing, it is that that is so difficult to call ..... for once doing what i was told many years ago - if in doubt, do nowt

dow is looking very nasty indeed ..... it looks to have dropped a further 70/80 points in the last 5 minutes

Cynic,

I'm currently up around 70 points-ish on 4 Euronext LIFFE contracts. Do you think I should cover them just yet?

no idea; i don't even know what the hell those are! ...... that said, no one ever went broke banking a profit

Oh, I thought you were the BSD of index futures trading.

My mistake. Sorry. Bye.

i cannot imagine why? ..... assuredly i never said so, and have not dealt in futures per se for about 15 years

Have enjoyed reading the 'Great Debate'.
More interested in Hilarys multi-tasking .... she can have a debate and call the market short ..... just at the right time.
I'm impressed.
All the best.
Amar

... and paint her toenails...

well, if she was actually being truthful, which many here are not, then i sure hope she was watching closely and closed out at a good profit ..... as for me, i'm more than glad i sat on my hands, for assuredly i would have called it wrong ..... i've just been out for dinner and see the market is now only down about 60 (and improving) after about -180

Its (dow) actually up @60 from our close.

well i said what i meant so of course i meant what i said, rather as the white rabbit! ..... indeed, dow is now in positive territory!

me too as ever, long UKX from 5250

dow has turned round 200 points from its low ..... what a scary market; indices only to be played when brain is fully functional and concentration absolute!

going long ftse this morning was at least an easy call ...... stacks of dosh to be made last night on dow if you were alert enough and called the right direction - but glad i wasn't involved!

What is a BSD?

FIIK!

SC
maybe BIG SWINGING something or other.;-) or it might be related to BFG.
just a suggestion. CBW (could be wrong)
regards
jkd

perhaps 'he' is just dyslexic as well

:-)

Merkel wants to ban short selling

lol