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

Looks like Obama - currently 303 - 203.

Romney's concessional speech was probably the best of his campaign - quite magnanimous.


President Barack Obama defeats Romney to win re-election

President Barack Obama has been re-elected to a second term, defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

With results in from most states, America's first black president has secured the 270 votes in the electoral college needed to win the race.

Mr Obama prevailed despite lingering dissatisfaction with the economy and a well-funded challenge by Mr Romney.

Mr Obama's margin of victory is not yet certain because two states have yet to report results.

Asian markets flat as Barack Obama wins second term

Asian markets were little changed as President Barack Obama was re-elected to a second term.

There are concerns whether Mr Obama and a Republican-dominated Congress will be able to negotiate a way to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff.

The cliff will see nearly $600bn (£375bn) of tax increases and spending cuts hit the US economy in January.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index and South Korea's Kospi were trading flat, while Australia's ASX 200 rose 0.5%.

Exclusive - Amazon to win EU e-book pricing tussle with Apple

BRUSSELS | Tue Nov 6, 2012 10:49pm GMT

(Reuters) - European Union regulators are to end an antitrust probe into e-book prices by accepting an offer by Apple and four publishers to ease price restrictions on Amazon, two sources said on Tuesday.

That decision would hand online retailer Amazon a victory in its attempt to sell e-books cheaper than rivals in the fast-growing market publishers hope will boost revenue and increase customer numbers.

CHF CPI m/m 0.1% consensus 0.3% previous 0.3%

am now out of long dow (13268) for a thankful but modest profit but have reversed into a small short on basis of sell on the news and that realisation of the impending "fiscal cliff" is imminent - though of course that will again be resolved at the 59th minurte of 11th hour

Phew... glad we have such a convincing victory. Even so, I think a short Dow is probably the best option, as nothing else has really changed and, as you say cynic, it will now be all about the Fiscal Cliff.

I've gone short of the FTSE again at 5900 as well. Even if it decides to climb for a day or so, I can't imagine it will stay up there for long - at least in the immediate future.

Ditto short 5898.0

Still short on Wall St, rolled over yesterdays play

The debt held by the public skyrocketed to about 102% of the US GDP in 3Q 2012. The ratio was higher only once in the US economic history – in 1945 when it reached 113% of GDP.Meanwhile, a new so-called “debt ceiling”, that was last raised by Congress in January 2012 to $16.394trln, seems to be not high enough, as the figures show that the room for further borrowing is becoming increasingly narrower.
Earlier this week the US Treasury said the country was set to hit the debt limit by the end of the year. Meanwhile the Treasury has continued to unveil borrowing plans that include massive bond issues, which will inevitably drive the US economy deeper into debt.
If the US Congress does not raise the debt ceiling in the next few months, it would result in an “onset of austerity measures worth 5.1% of American GDP,” or $804.5bn, Margaret Bogenrief from ACM Partners told Business RT.

That's a horrifying thought Shortie!
Shorts should surely be in order!?

Skinny :>)))

5918 and 5972 certainly rock solid after being tested throughout 2012

If Obama has the majority of votes, the majority of people are happy in the US. It will speak for itself.

Don't worry about debt so much. When GDP rises and debt rate will reduce.

ahoj-------Have you considered that it's the debt that is suppressing the GDP, despite QE and the long period of zilch interest rates.
2517

Election - any figures re the role of the Twatter Zombies/Social Media Drones?

Cheers,
KidA

Just closed 2 shorts +40 +135 - tempted to go long - anyone else?

no ..... in fact was considering adding to my short but that be just greedy ...... i think the markets will remain quite volatile, so money to be made in both directions if you can get the rhythm right

Tempting skinny but Dollar Index looks strong, waiting for a bit of weakness doesn't always work but going that way today. Who knows what those crazy yanks will do at 2.30pm though :O)

Still have two shorts open carried forward from yesterday, now at around breakeven if you include the overnight funding.

decided to be disciplined and banked a very nice profit considering the modest exposure
i'll now wait and see ...... not impossible that dow will fall to +/-13000 again, in which case i shall then go long

One position remaining 13184 closed at 13141