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

The BBC take on it. Eurozone rescue plan hits new hitch

There has been another major hiccup in the eurozone's plans to announce a final rescue deal in Brussels to try to end the turmoil in the euro area.

The Polish presidency of the EU has confirmed to the BBC that key meetings have been postponed.

You can see where their priorities lie :-)

The full emergency summit and dinner involving the 17 eurozone nations afterwards will still go ahead as planned.

IBM Buyback Helps Steady Stocks

Thats been enough to stabilize the S&P and Dow, helping spark a bounce in EUR/USD.

They work much better than most CEOs, who just milk us.

they cannot even be with their wife for the first child, we shouldn't complain.

ahoj - if you are talking to me - I was referring to the fact that at least the dinner goes ahead as planned! :-)

Hope it chokes them! Unbelievable.

sorry skinny, i didn't mean that.

DOW low of the day 11740, quite close to my predicted retracement level of 11700 (ish). Wonder if that was it?

U.S. consumer confidence tumbles, home prices stagnate

dow down 139 points

down 200 ..... though cash ftse not showing down much (30), likely to be more rather more in the morning

Needs to stop here or thereabouts, otherwise my resistance becoming support theory has just gone busto!

It does, 207 points down.

DC - not sure what you mean, but:

I posted the markets would go up - they did, the DOW hit 11940.
I posted the markets would retrace - they have.
I posted the markets find support - perhaps the DOW is now resting on support, tomorrow will tell.

To be honest determining any support level is not always straighforward on the DOW, 11700 is best case, it could be as low as 11600 depending on which bit of the candle is used, wick or main body?

I posted the markets would then rally, tomorrow and the day after etc will tell.

Lol whats ?? It does , 207 points down is an answer to your needs to stop here or thereabouts. Sorry, its getting late.

Good for all investors if we do indeed get a rally.

Deal may be done this evening on the Eurozone debt, several points not in place yet.
Meeting cancelled for this morning. The markets wait ? They are worried now for Italy,
this will be to big to save.

Dvu Euro crisis: EU leaders to finalise debt-tackling plan

Plan B for the eurozone?

UBS and DB did well in this market, with tight money supply. They will do better with more money becoming available ....


HSBC is rising.
Barcley's joining.

Berlusconi resignation 'denied'

The main coalition ally in the Italian cabinet has denied a newspaper report that Silvio Berlusconi is to step down.