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

RB results going down well - currently up 2 quid.

Draghi defends ECB bond-buy plan before German MPs

BERLIN | Wed Oct 24, 2012 1:33pm BST

Oct 24 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank's new bond-purchase programme will not lead to inflation or compromise the bank's independence, ECB President Mario Draghi told German lawmakers on Wednesday in a detailed defence of his signature policy plan.

In prepared remarks for delivery at the beginning of his meeting with the lawmakers, Draghi addressed point by point their concerns about the programme - dubbed Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT).

"OMTs will not lead to disguised financing of governments ... OMTs will not compromise the independence of the ECB," he said in a statement for delivery to the lawmakers.

Just closed here from late August.

USD New Home Sales 389K consensus 386K previous 373K

Apple IPad Mini Leaves Rivals Room to Undercut Price

thanks for that article skinny ..... it looks interesting but i haven't the time to read it all for the moment ..... the pricing was clearly a trade-off between profit margins and trying to bag the bottom of the market - there never is one ...... how well the numbers will be received tomorrow is another matter, but it has already been telegraphed that sales of i-pads for Q4 will only be about 16m vs 18m forecast earlier, so that is assuredly already in the price

I think Steve Jobs was right, the iPad is a premium product and a smaller screen won't do it justice. Apple won't be taking any market share with this offering, but will probally see existing customers upgrade old iPads to the mini version rather than pay for the full size model. Not something I'd purchase, but then you never know after a play in store.

Somebody should open a store "Toys for Adults".

They already have done!

NOW I see hilary in a different light.....rock on Hils.,.

Windows 8 and the Surface tablets: The experts weigh in

Windows 8 has prompted the launch of hybrid computers which can function as a standalone tablet or be connected to a keyboard to act as a touch-enabled laptop

Windows 8 marks what is arguably the most radical tech launch of the year.

GBP Prelim GDP q/q 1.0% consensus 0.6% previous -0.4%

Local newspaper El Confidencial reports that Spain’s budget deficit will overshoot the EU 6.3% of GDP target and might hit 7.3% driven by a whopping €10.5bn deficit in social security. This suddenly takes the conditionality hurdle to be imposed on the country should it formally seek a bailout another notch higher

Ford axes British van plant to stem Europe losses

LONDON/BASILDON, England | Thu Oct 25, 2012 1:21pm BST

(Reuters) - Ford will stop making vans in Britain next year, with the potential loss of 2,000 jobs, a union leader said, as part of a plan by the U.S. car maker to drag its European operations back into profit.

The move ends more than a century of vehicle production by the U.S. car maker in Britain, leaving it producing only engines and other parts at its remaining plants in the country.

USD Core Durable Goods Orders m/m 2.0% consensus 0.8% previous -1.6%

USD Unemployment Claims 369k consensus 371K previous 388K

USD Durable Goods Orders m/m 9.9% consensus 7.1% previous -13.2%

Thanks Skinny - you're so quick off the mark! Looks good

But we've just taken a bit of a dive... and certainly confirmation of Ford closing their plant here is not good

P&G Profit Tops Estimates as McDonald Trims Costs

Procter & Gamble Co. (PG), the world’s largest consumer-products maker, reported first-quarter profit that topped analysts’ estimates as it increased prices and reduced manufacturing costs.

Net income in the three months ended Sept. 30 slid 6.9 percent to $2.81 billion, or 96 cents a share, from $3.02 billion, or $1.03 a share, a year earlier, the Cincinnati-based company said today in a statement. Excluding some items, profit was $1.06 a share. The average of 18 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg was 96 cents.

AAPL ... so now you have it, but the impact on sp tomorow is anyone's guess ....

Reports $36 billion in revenue, $8.2 billion profit and $8.67 earnings per share

FORTUNE -- Apple's (AAPL) reported mixed results Thursday. Although its sales of nearly $36 billion beat both its guidance and Wall Street's estimates, its earnings came up slightly short.

At $8.67 per share, they were higher than the company's usual conservative guidance of $7.05. But they were less than the $8.75 Wall Street was expecting -- and that number had been reduced after analysts learned Tuesday that iPad sales in the quarter were coming up light.

Those iPad sales -- 14 million -- were even lower than analysts' lowered expectations. iPhone sales, by contrast, were a bit higher.

The disappointing news was tempered somewhat by Apple's rosy projections for the Christmas quarter: earnings of $11.75 on sales of $52 billion.

"We're very proud to end a fantastic fiscal year with record September quarter results," said CEO Tim Cook. "We're entering this holiday season with the best iPhone, iPad, Mac and iPod products ever, and we remain very confident in our new product pipeline."

The numbers:
Sales: $ 35.996 billion, up 27.3% year over year
Net profit: $ 8.2 billion, up 23.9%
EPS: $8.67, up 23%
iPhone: 26.9 million units, up 57.6%
iPad: 14 million units, up 25.9%
Mac: 4.894 million units, up 0.1%
iPod: 5.344 million units, down 19.3%

Apple iPad sales disappoint, Street eyes the holidays

Apple Forecast Shortfall Reflects Cost of Year-End Product Rush

Samsung Tops Nokia Again as Biggest Seller of Mobile Phones

Amazon reports loss led by its stake in LivingSocial