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

US industrial output up 0.9% in July. Auto sector rebounds.

was listening to Buffett interview and one's buying more equities and says that this is not going to double dip...

FTSE 250 took quite a hit, though FTSE 100 ended slightly up in the end.

Things are getting seriously complicated! Reasons for current market downtrend:
"Outside of the recession, the Financials short ban did not really trigger any response until today/tomorow (expiry day). - In short, People can't roll their EuroStoxx shorts (expiry tomorrow), especially in the restricted stocks as regulator is saying they are New short positions, the same for the DAX components too & therefore, not allowable. - Then throw in the the fact that the SX5E/DAX Index traders (with non shortable Bank components) is distorting the 'cash and carry arb' traders calculus & as a result, the Regulators intention to 'calm' the mkt is causing the exact opposite. To summarize, all your index hedges are not as hedged as you thought they were prior to this expiry. "

DOW futures -195. Grim.

In last weeks Moneyweek Magazine, Bill Bonner reckons not to go back in the DOW until it's below 6000. That's right 6000, if that happens there are many bloodbaths to come on the FTSE as well as the DOW.
2517

$1820 for gold.

Anyone for 11,000 going today?

on edit - I see gold coming off $1813

Considering we are 330 points from last weeks low, quite a few big guns are already at or very close to 12 month lows. Still not tempted hmmmmmm.

RBS in auction.

BARC in auction.

Banks were suspended because of down 10%

Just closed DOW short @10,920 +490.

Wow, nice trade :)

Cheers Jon - that 5 minute period must have triggered a few stops.

It's about now that the big boys are asked to turn off their black boxes isn't it, so that trading is stabilised?

Looking at Harry's post 6485 - tomorrow could be an interesting day - especially after today.

what a seriously ugly day ... glad i was out playing golf, though it was a trifle damp towards the end