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

Weekly jobless claims fall to 348,000, the lowest level in nearly 4 years. Housing starts and building permits rise in January.

Big Ben at 2!!

have shorted Dow at 12925 (missed 12940)

disregarding short term market's ability to misjudge situation and default on the horizon- this move may be hugely successful.

which move??

Crazy yanks cynic, good luck with your short, can't help thinking they are hell bent on 13k but not putting my money on it.

12925/940 is only fractionally short of 13,000, and i'ld be very surprised to see the dow surge through that level, at least not without a correction ..... also don't forget that it is a long w/e in US, so no market on monday

cynic yanks like to beat targets so 13000 will come .... and go.

have you been sucking on a lemon again hali?

13,000?

Public Sector Net Borrowing -7.8B v consensus -8.9B previous 10.8B

en route to little big horn?

Well you have been patient cynic, well done. Rising oil price?

hardly; i took my initial short only a few days ago and have now added to it ...... i think the market looks toppy and certainly my chartist guru reckons it is time to short the dow too .... have also sold the balance of my aapl, though i am sure i shall buy back in there in due course; ditto goog

Perhaps patience was the wrong word then :O) Not sure I would have had the bottle to be short the Dow over the last weekend. Of course you are not there yet, but I do agree I think the indeces have to come down a bit to go higher hopefully.

Cynic - I posted the 13,000? as the DOW was looking above that level late Friday/Yesterday. Good luck with the short - it does all look very toppy.

cynic 13000 breached hope your shorts are not too hot!

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dow teases at 13000 but so far is unable to breach and hold ..... i'm happy to stay short and indeed have increased that yet again

cynic exactly as we predicted in 7897 keep building the spaceships!