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

I was going on what i read, although the bounce back after going through 12200 apparently redefines the triangle, not sure which one, Bermuda, possibly?! Am told to watch 12100 down short term and 12400 up... Obviously i'm finding it hard to sit on my hands, (for one they are quite big) but it is like a kid with a new toy...!!!

I know the feeling but patience and picking your moment is the most profitable way.... I've spent hows waiting for my price only to find the stock markets closed and I've missed it in the morning.... I've wasted entire days waiting with nothing to show but red eyes, back ache and being bloody miserable... Your time will come as long as your patient... Careful what you read also, everyone seams to have an opion but very few can back up their written jumble with evidence of sucess...

What made you choose a CFD account over a Spread Betting one?

I will be totally honest, no reason at all, couldn't even tell you how spread betting works... lol

Main difference I've always thought is CFD's are contractual investments so profit liable for tax. Spread Betting however isn't considered an investment but a bet and so along with the local bookies not liable for tax... They both work pretty much the same so I gather, choose your stake, fund your margin then buy or sell. If your buying and share price goes up you earn your stake for every point made untill position closed. If it goes against you owe that amount. I assume a CFD account works in the same way?

Indeed it does, and just closed position for 12211 (on paper), now i'm really hacked off!!! but learning loads all the time, to be fair its easier to see the bigger picture when on paper, when position is open i find your more likely to take a smaller profit, so it at least is teaching me to remain calm and keep remembering why i opened the position in the first place... looks like my prediction is coming true, Hindsight means nothing in this game, foresight is everything...

Just sold 12210 and bought 12180 for 30 points. Keeps pushing up out of range and falling back quite quickly..

good choice...

3:30 pm : According to the volatility index, VIX, market volatility has moved sharply higher this week. The VIX is up more than 18.0% since last Friday.

The stock market remains in negative territory, though off session lows. The Nasdaq is residing along the unchanged mark.

Stocks have had a challenging week, pulled lower by the financial sector, which has lost some 9.0%. All ten economic sectors are on pace to finish the week in negative territory.

As we knew a shorters market, high volitility so not looking to change in the near future.

Have a good weekend bloke..:)

First week spread betting over and i took a hammeing on the dow. Stayed up until 5am Friday morning to close out at only a low 3 figure loss. Will stick to playing in my own time zone and play hong kong amd FTSE. Its impossible to second guess these markets. Best to do your research in the morning a trade with the momentum. Taking positions pre market is a mugs game.

Was going to copy and paste, but dont think the charts will show, so am posting the link, worth reading...

http://www.signalwatch.com/markets/markets-dow.asp

thanks for that link Ted .... had come across it before but had competely forgotten it ..... very useful and interesting ... shame they do not do same for FTSE, though that will tend to follow suit, at least to some degree

Hi Big Ted

I also use CFD with the TDW, but the commission they charge is very high, which puts me at a disadvantage to start with. I'm in the process of changing to a spread betting a/c, no commission, they make money only on the spread and overnight financing charge. Like you I hadn't looked into spreadbetting, but was very pleasantly surprised.

just clicked onto link ted, hadn't seen it before, but very good site, will keep in my favourites.

Thankyou...........

Some Spread Betting firms make money on the overnight financing ,some don't ,CFD's always do .

Richard, welcome back to UK, everyone else, good luck, as always, i'm hammered...

I dont mean i'm always hammered, i'm not sure what i meant, *damn*...

Never seen signalwatch before, have just bookmarked the site as another source. Good link Big Ted, thanks

wasn't that far away .... only in Nice for a conference .... at least that had its compensations