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

Its time the countries finances are taken away from politicians. Who do not always take the best route for the country, more to keep them in power. Thats what I like about the conservatives they are doing whats best for the country, not winning the next election.

cynic another year of obama is not going to strengthen their economy the capitalists are voting with their feet, time to get rid of toothless liberals.

indeed halifax, but it's interesting to wonder if that after all the recent (100 years or so) financial debacles, perhaps capitalism isn't all it's cracked up to be! Did I say that?
ps I'm not necessarily offering an alternative :-)

dow attempting to finish positive though in a pretty desultory fashion

General Motors' second-quarter earnings nearly double to $2.5 billion, revenue rises 19% to $39.4 billion.
i assume this easily beat forecast, but could not spot

===========

GM earned $1.54 a share in the quarter, far better than the $1.20 a share forecast of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters.

cynic - Revenue rose 19 percent to $39.4 billion, above the $36.74 billion analysts had expected during a quarter, where U.S. auto sales hit a soft patch.

on edit :- overlapping posts!

now see updated above too ..... some prelim unemployment figures due out before the bell, and that is really the key to today

Due 1:30 our time.

5500 on the cusp!

TRICHET - 4850 :O)

unemployment numbers must be at least ok as dow has suddenly reversed it's direction though still well down as i write ..... more to follow

Previous Consensus Actual
Initial Jobless Claims 398.0 408.0 400.0

Number of people filing for initial unemployment benefits falls 1,000 to 400,000 in the latest week, the government says.
Economists expected weekly unemployment claims to rise to 405,000 from last week's 398,000 claims.


Dow all over the place, zipping up/down by 50/60 points

BARC @2 down 5.9%

Trouble in the eurozone is spreading. Its going to get a lot worse before better, sorry.

Trichet's speech went down well!!

Gold @$1678

dow is now plummeting ....... had a modest dow short running but closed it for minimal profit just before going out for my sarnie ...... got that one wrong yet again

===========

watching "cash dow" live is riveting, but done even THINK of trying to trade it!!

I'm short gold (again) lets see if it bites me (again).

The bites hurt. lol