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

Thanks for that Toya.

Thanks for the info Toya.

You're welcome - good luck with your trading!

Special Report - Inside Mario Draghi's euro rescue plan

FRANKFURT/BERLIN | Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:16am BST

(Reuters) - On a warm summer day on the eve of the Olympic Games, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi stood up at a business conference in London and dropped a bombshell.

"Within our mandate, the ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro," Draghi told the audience in Lancaster House, a grand building in central London, then paused for effect. "And believe me, it will be enough."

U.S. consumer confidence rose strongly in September to its highest reading since February.

The Conference Board, a private research group, said its index of consumer confidence rose nine points to 70.3 this month, from a revised 61.3 in August, first reported as 60.6.

The latest index is far better than the 65.0 expected by economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires.

Interesting read, Skinny - thanks.

Did you see this comment today, from Reuters? "U.S. stocks gave up early gains and edged slightly lower on Tuesday after major U.S asset manager BlackRock said the strong equity rally this year has run its course."

I guess all these comments will just make for more volatility - which is great if one can spend time watching the twists and turns of the DOW...

So that's how they are going to do it!

Spain to seek bailout if yields too high for too long

MADRID | Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:09am BST

(Reuters) - Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday said he was ready to seek a new rescue package for his troubled country but only if its debt financing costs remain too high for too long.

Investors have been jittery that Spain's apparent reluctance to seek a bailout - a condition for European Central Bank action to cut the country's borrowing costs - could propel the euro zone into even deeper trouble.

Rajoy had said previously that a reduction in Spanish bond yields after the announcement of a bold bond-buying plan by the ECB could allow Spain to put off seeking further support.

have taken the precaution of banking some profits

Not a great day for those of us holding stock! Presumably shorters smiling?

they smile indeed:)

USD New Home Sales 373K consensus 381K previous 372K

this has been a very uncomfortable few days, but at least i got money (profit!) off the table ...... now it's a case of holding breath while this latest correction sorts itself out.

i'm now out of GOOG, but no doubt shall be tempted back in at some point.

meanwhile AAPL is taking a pasting, for no obvious reason (i think!)
sold some (at a small loss), but i'm looking to get back in before the figures are announced (and out again beforehand too), if i am alert enough to see a bounce starting

Exclusive - IMF, EU clash over Greece's bailout prospects

ATHENS/WASHINGTON | Wed Sep 26, 2012 2:25pm BST

(Reuters) - Greece's international lenders are at loggerheads over how to solve Athens' debt crisis, threatening more trouble for the euro as the IMF demands European governments write off some of the Greek debt they hold.

Officials from Greece and the "troika" of European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund have told Reuters that tensions among them have increased of late as the Washington-based Fund has played tough.

It has been pushing to restructure debts Athens owes to public-sector foreign creditors. EU leaders prefer to give Greece more time to meet bailout goals.

Cynic: the reason Apple shares have fallen is that "the company sold out of its initial supply of the new iPhone, raising concerns about keeping up with demand" - according to a report I read yesterday.

almost rationalising ...... the other argument is that Apple intentionally created a self-perpetuating shortage to get people to order pronto-pronto to avoid as much delay as possible

amidst all this "snow", it seems to have been forgotten how much (huge!) benefit to Apple's t/o and profit this new phone will prove to be ...... i think that within the next 10/14 days, there'll be a big bounce ...... if i don't manage to catch it, then no matter, as i still hold my "norm" - it was o'weight before

German Import Prices m/m 1.3% consensus 0.9% previous 0.7

GBP Current Account -20.8B consensus -12.3B previous -11.2B

GBP Final GDP q/q -0.4% consensus -0.5% previous -0.5%

GBP Revised Business Investment q/q 0.9% consensus -1.5% previous -1.5%

EUR Italian 10-y Bond Auction 5.24|1.3 previous 5.82|1.4

cynic,

Apple:

Do you think Maps, quality control - chipped casing, and Schiller's 'Felix Ungar' re the chips/scratches will gather strength and affect post-fanboy orders? I'm not alone re sticking with iOS 5, and there seems to be forum talk re cancelled orders/waiting.

Cheers,
KidA

USD Pending Home Sales m/m -2.6% consensus -0.4% previous 2.4%