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

Is Dexia a one-off or warning shot for Europe's banks?

Steve Slater, 18:57, Tuesday 4 October 2011

LONDON (Reuters) - State help for ailing Belgian-French bank Dexia (Paris: BE0003796134 - news) sparked concern it will be the first of many banks needing taxpayer support if euro zone politicians fail to get to grips with a deepening debt crisis

no reprieve via wall street tonight ..... dow heading south sharply again

DOW 204 points down

Gold lost 2% today as investors cashed into cover other debts.

A good rise now

all relative and only "sort of" as dow seems to be consistently stalling at re-crossing 10600

extraordinary .... now watch everything catapult the other way, even if only temporarily

Thank you Mr magpie for +300 from Mr Dow.

Explain the massive falls then.

Moody's downgraded Italy's ratings to A2 from Aa2

Bernard - I should point out I gained +100 - I was alluding to the potential respite that the rise may bring but it appears Moodys have other ideas. !

As to explaining it - I've no idea, but the DOW (those crazy yanks) often has massive moves going into the close.

On edit :- the DOW is 10,733 to buy as I type.

Long this morning boys, but beware Italy downgraded, and Spain will follow this week so be alert.

FTSE on offer @5,026

Mr Magoo, egg head Hague just been on the BBC news with a corker, he said the Euro is like a burning building with no exits, your not wrong there Magoo, lol.

FTSE trying to hold gains, but you can feel it is running out of steam, my shorts are ready.

Not sure. DOW set to open in positive territory.
U.S. jobs data today may change all that though.

ADP September US Private sector jobs +91,000 v expected 75,000

reaction is scarcely ecstatic

No - a bit of a spike to the intraday high and now coming off.

ISM Non-Manufacturing 53 v 52.7 expected.