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

that has to be the best week that i've had for a very long time (2 years?) ...... a dreadful start to this financial year for sure, but i think i have now made all that back - and banked it too!

My £/$ tip, (if you ignore the fact it dipped the small matter of 200 points first) not only hit 1.61 as predicted but has continued up a little bit more to 1.62.

confess i don't "do" currencies .... my brain's too old and shrivelled

UPDATE: Apple Starts Taking iPhone 5 Preorders

Today : Friday 14 September 2012


--Apple's U.S. online store appears sold out of first preorder stock of iPhone 5

--Apple will start selling the device Sept. 21.

--Company says it will sell the phone in nine countries initially, 100 by the end of the year

(Updates with initial sales indications)


By Ian Sherr

SAN FRANCISCO--Apple Inc. (AAPL) appeared to have sold out of its initial inventory of the iPhone 5 just an hour after it began accepting preorders Friday, suggesting strong consumer interest in the new device.

The Cupertino, Calif. company's website began accepting preorders Friday shortly after midnight Pacific time. Within an hour, however, the company's website indicated that shipping times had slipped from an expected delivery on the device's launch day, Sept. 21. Preorderers were told their iPhone 5s would be available to ship in two weeks.

Apple spokeswomen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The updated shipping times suggest strong sales for the device which promises customers faster Web browsing, better gaming and crisper pictures. The display measures 4 inches (10 centimeters) diagonally compared with the 3.5-inch screen Apple has used for its iPhones since the device launched in 2007.

The iPhone 5 is critical to Apple's continued success. Not only have the phones powered Apple to become the world's largest company by value they have become the bedrock of the company's mobile-device strategy. Software in the iPad tablet computer is shared with the iPhone, largely intertwining the fate of both devices.

Apple is charging $199 for the cheapest iPhone 5 if customers sign up for a new two-year contract with their carriers. The company is also selling a version of its year-old iPhone 4S for $99. The iPhone 4, launched in 2010, is being offered for free.

Apple will sell the iPhone 5 in nine countries, including the U.S., on Sept. 21, Other countries will follow.

Apple said this is the most aggressive iPhone rollout it has done, adding that the device will be available in 100 countries by the end of the year.

Write to Ian Sherr at ian.sherr@dowjones.com

i sold 25% of my AAPL and also 33% of GOOG purely because i think the market must be getting out of breath and it gives me some space to re-purchase

Off out for a few hours - I've left a couple of optimistic limit shorts in for the FTSE & Dow - well you never know and it is Friday.

Me to skinny, pint time :O)

for Mistress T and others .....
2 weeks ago, FTSE stood at 5710 which was a strong support level - and so it proved
friday saw FTSE close at 5905
nevertheless, the markets look disinclined to retrench as seen from the performance of the dow on friday
FTSE target therefore remains at just below 6500, with a stop loss on momentum below 5600

as always,
the above is gleaned from my guru
and
markets do not move in straight lines

Thanks for that Cynic!
My little Shorts from Friday were closed at a profit - I see others here also left some running. I've now set up another from 5900. Even if the FTSE goes above that in the short term, it will surely (?) want to drop back a bit?

brain not really keyed into the market this morning dear heart as am in a last biz meeting before going to the airport to come home

brain not really keyed into the market this morning dear heart as am in a last biz meeting before going to the airport to come home

.

I know its a bit like

Love your pix, Skinny!

Italy posts surplus again, €4.5bln. Unexpectly high again.

So situation is not as bad, IMO

5900 providing support at mo, doing nothing till those crazy yanks join the party at 1430, logic says due a pull back. But then when has logic and yanks in the same breath meant diddly squat?

AT&T says set sales record for iPhone 5 over the weekend ... from yahoo.com

Tata Motors global sales up 13 pct in August .. from yahoo

Euro-Zone Trade Surplus Widens , Wages Rise... from The Wallstreet Journal

a pull back (dow) has to happen sooner rather than later, but provided it's not caused by something too scary - gengis netanyahu! - then should merely be a correction

an argument perhaps to lighten any dow long (comme moi) with a view to piling into ftse as/when 6000 (a psychological block) is breached with impetus

Cynic,
There will not be any war with Iran. The damage to Iran's economy over last month has been much worst that of the 9 years war with Iraq. Another revolution may come next.

What do they to achieve by war? Any war will be costly and makes Iranians united against external forces, strengthening Iranian government. IMO

So far the FTSE has tended to move up with the DOW, but I thought the below snippet was interesting:

From Reuters:
'Italy equity funds recorded their biggest weekly inflow since the current financial crisis began. In contrast, investors pulled more than $200 million out of UK equity funds, according to EPFR Global, which tracks conventional and alternative funds....

"The strong liquidity should boost stocks in the short term, it's a question of flow. But in the longer term, it's quite alarming to see these actions from central banks because it means that the slowdown in global economic growth is serious," Barclays France director Franklin Pichard said.'