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

..World stocks jump on Greek bailout hopes

Reuters – 13 minutes ago




NEW YORK (Reuters) - The euro hit an eight-week high against the dollar on Tuesday, helping lift stocks and commodities on signs a Greek bailout agreement was near, but the rally lost steam after a key meeting was postponed until Wednesday.

The euro rallied after Greece appeared to be close to terms on a 130-billion-euro bailout. A government official said Athens was drafting a list of painful reforms needed to clinch a new financial package, moving Athens a step closer to a deal that is needed to avoid a chaotic debt default.

But a meeting was postponed until Wednesday because Greek political leaders yet to get a draft of the bailout agreement, a party official said.

The euro jumped at one point more than 1 percent to a session high of $1.3269, hitting its highest level since December 12, but later pared gains to 0.8 percent.

Greek political leaders had balked at the austerity plan required to receive the rescue funds and strikers protesting against more austerity tussled with police outside parliament.

"The market is expecting a Greek deal, so there's greater optimism overall," said Greg Moore, currency strategist at TD Securities in Toronto.

"But it's certainly up in the air at this point," he said. "All these are very fluid headlines and that highlights the high level of uncertainty at the moment

Greeks delayed for another day. More sideways trading!

Are we there yet? Highest (12,903.63) since 2008.

It doesn't seem comfortable through 12,900. I'm short (with a fairly tight stop) at 12,893.

beautiful number to start , splat, hundreds points to come?... btw pretty falling and unusual usa start... eur/dol falling too..things finally start to breaking down?...

Covered for now + 61 as it bounces. Will look to re enter later...

you may care to take note of post 7848

for myself, perhaps a little prematurely, i have my banked profits on ftse, aapl and goog

Manufacturing, Industrial production and trade balance all ahead of consensus.

http://www.forexfactory.com/calendar.php?do=geteventinfo&day=2012-2-9&c=2

BREAKING NEWS: Number of UK homes repossessed in 2011 was 36,200, the lowest annual total since 2007, mortgage lenders say

euroibor down 1.07%

GBP Asset Purchase Facility 325B v consensus 325B previous 275B

GBP Official Bank Rate 0.50 % v consensus 0.50% previous 0.50%

USD Unemployment Claims 358K v consensus 369K previous 367K

Greece political leaders reach a deal on cuts aimed at securing a new bailout package

Greece leaders agree austerity package

then what?

How 'magic' made Greek debt disappear before it joined the euro

markets getting very twitchy, though nothing firm ...... apparently some greek right-wing party is throwing a hissy

Athens clashes in Greece over Greece Eurozone austerity deal

Protesters have clashed with police in the Greek capital Athens, amid anger over fresh austerity measures approved under pressure from Eurozone ministers.

Demonstrators threw rocks and petrol bombs at police, who responded with tear gas. The clashes came after trade unions began a 48-hour strike.

Parliament is expected to vote on a package of cuts and reforms on Sunday.

Eurozone ministers say MPs must approve it before Greece receives 130bn euros ($170bn; £110bn) in bailout funds.

CAD Trade Balance 2.7B v consensus 0.7B previous 1.1B


USD Trade Balance -48.8B v consensus -48.1B previous -47.8B

pretty nice meltdown today, still too high, euro/dol back where it should be, hope market will realize that greece will never get bailout, instead of that money will go to support italy.

you do talk such rubbish! ..... it is (almost) a racing certainty that despite all the rattling by various opposition parties in greece, that this latest austerity package will indeed be approved on sunday, or at least before the genuine deadline ..... if it isn't, then all sorts of horrid things start to happen, but for sure the pot will not be up for grabs for italy