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'm thinking of setting a short from 12880 - in case it hits that in the next couple of hours

I take your point about the 12830 level

Yeah, a small rally on the off is whats got me spooked at the moment, 12880 sounds like a decent plan, although I'm cautious as that would imply a 12900 test followed by a 12913 upper channel resistance test. Also 12830 support on the 23/11, wasn't that an odd trading day (half day after holidays)?..

You're right about that half day Shortie - I'd forgottent that

The Yanks really hate BP.

I've taken the horizontals out to better show the channels, note Chaikin Volatility, this is my concern, should the market have lost interest a reversal is likely and we'll follow the upwards channel again. RSI at 45 and MACD moving back to zero show equal weight....

USD New Home Sales 368k consensus 387K previous 389K

On nights just got up. Stopped out of Gold long 12.16pm @ 1733.7 - 166. Fortunately before I went to bed this morning went long Dollar Index 08.52am @ 80.380 3 mins ago 80.530 + 150 moved stop to lock in + 100 see how that pans out.

DOW plumit 12765 testing already

And out 80.560 + 180 sod this for a game of soldiers, staying out to dangerous trading on nights :O)

New Home sales fell 0.3% - maybe that's what triggered the plummet!

Chris - go to bed! Well done on your trade!

Long @12,778.50 - won't hang around!

Out +9.5

Its the only answer I can find, easy money right now..

WTF

Euro zone central banks may roll over their Greek bonds - document

Wow - what a see-saw!

European shares pared losses in afternoon trading on Wednesday after U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said he was optimistic that a deal on the U.S. "fiscal cliff" of tax rises and spending cuts could be reached.

My long on the FTSE @5790 is still holding - although it was a bit wobbly today - expecting a rise from here now

I was doing quite well halfway through all that - and then blew it cos I wasn't keeping my eyes on it... back to the starting grid!