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

Greece confirms debt swap deal success

The Greek government has confirmed that it has secured sufficient backing for a debt swap deal that will enable it to avoid defaulting on its debts.

The Hellenic Republic Ministry of Finance said that 85.8% of private bondholders had agreed to the plan.

Athens needed to get 75% agreement to be able to push through the deal.

It needs the debt swap so it can get access to a second bailout from the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Draghi Says Inflation to Exceed 2% in 2012

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said inflation will probably breach the bank’s 2 percent limit this year and signaled the worst of the sovereign debt crisis may be over even as the economy stalls.
“Inflation rates are now likely to stay above 2 percent in 2012, with upside risks prevailing,” Draghi said in Frankfurt today after the ECB kept its benchmark interest rate at a record-low 1 percent. While risks to the economic outlook remain on the downside, “the risk environment has improved enormously,” he said. “We see many signs of returning confidence in the euro.”

85% bonds tendered they say so that would be 15% are not to me or some 25bil, so i believe these are fund managers who now will sue greece for par recoveries and i believe trigger cds. this is what they mean to look at at 1pm to determine i believe..

US Non-Farm Employment Change 227k v consensus 209K previous 243k

Some of the indexes are close to breaking up.
Low risk and 13000 for dow should help a lot.
US banks are up 1.5%, UK banks are negative yet!

Are we there yet!

Mario @11:30.

USD Core Retail Sales m/m 0.9 v consensus 0.8% previous 0.7%

USD Retail Sales m/m 1.1 v consensus 1.1% previous 0.4%

dow steams through 13000

yup; maybe .... i'm watching carefully

dow up 100+ will it hold?

don't know boss :-( ..... or do i mean :-)

cynic you may have to replace your burnt shorts!

maybe .... it's not huge exposure and shall leave it for now

Just for a change the FTSE is under performing the DOW - particularly since November.

having broken 13125 with some impetus, dow is now likely to keep going north, but a bit early to bet yet - i think .... anyway, my shorts are closed out for no enormous damage, and easily offset by my other long positions

Just had a small short @13,140.

GB Claimant Count Change 7.2k v consensus 6.5K previous 6.9K


GB Unemployment Rate 8.4% v consensus 8.4% previous 8.4%

JP Morgan thumb their nose at the Fed about time our banks did the same to the BOE/FSA.

Short Dow @ 13,218