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

Doomed

Initial unemployment claims fall below 400,000 for the first time in more than 3 months, dropping 24,000 to 398,000 in latest week.

will the market just shrug or have at least a quick burst for glory in relief?

cynic the market is being totally "rabbit in the headlights" because of all the scaremongering journos predicting that the US will go bankrupt next week. Doesn't anybody realise that every second of every day tax revenues are being collected, and as long as that is the case the US remains solvent.

and why would anyone actually believe that a deal will not be struck - it's the same nonsense every damn year

We're doomed.

U.S. economy grew at a 1.3% annual rate in the second quarter of 2011. Stock futures fall sharply.
another stinker in prospect

Approx -135 at the open.

Bloody yanks

looks like we're doomed K!

Added to gold @1629 - hmmmmmmm.

long HOC @ 475.1

oops, wrong thread!

lol, doomed.

long Dow @ 12135

out for an almost instant +43 :-)

Well done Splat.

Nice one splat.

cheers, but out a little prematurely! (as ever, and I'm only talking about trades!)

Oh I don't know - I think tonight is even more of a gamble than "normal" :-)

Gold currently around 1625, which leaves my short(s) just about flat! I think I'll leave the indicies tonight - I'm sure there is a pint of youngs with my name on it!

Thinking something extremely similar skinny. Enjoy mate!