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

Errrrr. The footsie's pretty close to its high for the year and about 20% higher than its low for the year. I'm not exactly sure how it can have a horrible look to it.

That said, I've been short for the last couple of hours.

I'd have thought it would be quite easy to read my post 5679 but perhaps there were too many words in it for you ...

I only saw your post after I'd posted myself.

At least I now know why I don't generally bother looking at this thread though.

As we speak gold is up $22...quite a jump...and oil as well up a little....

all looking very gory, though "guru's" last report was still very bullish for both dow and ftse ..... still, a sharp correction is often no bad thing

There could be a lovely christmas advance coming....like you say....got to have some red now and again...

i was about to ask if there was going to be a bounce off 11,000 but i note dow has dropped straight through that, though so far, not by much ..... below 10750 gets scary, so keep your eye on that

and being a total dickhead, i've gone long dow at 10998, though i also have a stop at 10925

You must be at a little profit.....my oil shares not doing so well today...except XEL and BPC......there was bound to be a little pullback...just have to hope it's not too serious....the european economies will pick up bit by bit but for one or two : Ireland and Greece will have terrible times for a few years yet......cannot see France or Germany getting into trouble.....so to me a little correction is sometimes necessary.....hope I'm right on all this.....could prove to be a good time to pick up one or two bargains.....

Looks like China & Eire are the flies in the ointment:
Bloomberg - "Global stocks fell for a seventh day, the longest streak since January, and commodities slid on concern China will act to slow its economy and speculation grew that the debt crisis in Ireland, Greece and Portugal is worsening. U.S. Treasuries trimmed an earlier rally."

i keep trying to spread my portfolio into other sectors than commodities but really struggle ..... i like AIE (tuck away), WPP and CRDA, and perhaps UBM and just maybe MCRO are worth a dabble

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Engineering firms doing well at this part of the cycle, IMI, GKN, FENR etc. Am staying out of the major miners now, though potash & potassium look to be a growing sector.
Would expect retail to have a reasonable Xmas, so temporary good figures, but a thin Jan/Feb.
Looking at commercial property to become a winner next spring, but housing in the doldrums 'til late 2011.

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retail gives me the heeby-jeebies and i avoid or go short ASC (which just costs me money!)

as does this poxy system that has started to double and triple post again!

I think it might be your mouse, cynic. Try altering the click rate in 'Control Panel'.

I think I am right in saying that the utilities are going to see some action next year as investors seek income as inflation takes hold. Not a very exciting sector, but divi yield attractive.

only happens from time to time

Bit like sex then..........3 times a bit excessive though!!!