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

having a bash spread betting went long on XTA and 'made' 650 [beginners luck] and will offest the 570 i 'lost' on the DJ index. anyone recommend a good comapny for when/if i decide to leave the demo circuit and try this for real.
i am still practising for the minute as this is basically gambling and i could lose all my brass[as opposed to holding worthless shares that may recover].
i am playing with stop losses as i believe whenever you set up a new a/c the companies almost always insist on limits[for your & their protection]. can anyone think of anything else to get to know whilst i am improving my proficiency.
Alex

the indices always make an interesting dabble.
if you are only operating on demo, then try nymex futures, but you'ld be a brave man to do that with real money!

Cynic,

I went long on FTSE this morning along with XTA and profitted but probably beginner's luck.

nymex futures. where will I find them? I am playing with commodities, exchange rates, indices as well as some shares.

I am operating demo mode on Trade fair[http://spreads.tradefair.com/public/] so only have very limited options to play with. They promise more on their live site but not going anywhere near it until I can demonstrate good discipline and a sound understanding of what I am doing.
Losing 'pretend money' wont get me killed by the wife: 'real money' on the other hand...
Alex

nymex = US light crude - see IG Index

Hi Robertalexander, I used Signal Watch several years back, they send emails with an audible signal when the Dow is on a trade point,how did I do as a beginner? After a couple of months I thought the system was not for me as I was getting the signal from the us after the spreadbet prices based on futures had moved, even galloped, away from me.Anyway have a lookit may have improved by now: http://www.signalwatch.com//markets/markets-dow.asp . re spread bets ,I saw that IGIndex ithink it was, were doing trailing stops, this wd have been a big advantage in reducing my Dow losses I think!! anyway good luck ,post up on the trailing stops please if you choose that. Ps very choppy just now!!

Good luck Robertalexander, it's good to have the SB option in todays market. I used to trade companies long and short but I was rubbish at it, I always seemed to call the direction well but my timing was off. I only trade FTSE now, not doing too badly at the moment, today wasn't great I ended up even after going long later in the afternoon.

But like you I had to back test the systems I use for FTSE, and now have paper records of intra day movement since December. (a bit sad I know)

Have just started experimenting with day trading using Pivot points, Resistance and support levels, it seems to work prettty well, the only problem is that I would need to be sat at my computer most of the day, the weather is too nice for that, so may start this one in the autumn.

more beginners luck went short on SP500 index and woke to a '1005 profit' .
You can bet your bottom dollar that if it were real money it would be the other way.
Alex

No trade today, I looked at 15:30 and my system indicated a short, but at 5395 I didn't fancy it. Should have trusted my instinct and gone long. Stil there is always tomorrow.

Evening all, short position on the DOW now reversed going long. Still playing the yen 2 rolling bets selling. Yen very slow, funding costing more than movement at the moment..!! Whats everyone else into, missed Tanfield on the spread, equity +100% though so can't complain.

only trading ftse now, so will look at markets in the morning, would guess we may have a small bounce tomorrow, so may favour going long. We seem to be riding a rollercoaster at the moment, let the force be with us.

what a totally terrifying day with Dow plunging 200 in a second and now, quite remarkably, down less than 50 ....... wonder if it will actually end blue? ..... just possibly with nymex dropping $8.00 in a flash

beginners luck still holding 'up' 2.5k+ in demo mode.
only two costly plays [so far]

todays ventures: short on ftse late last night and sold this am, then went long this pm and just sold out after close for a two modest profits.
bummed out on XTA went long [in 3765 out 3710]after lunch and my stoploss kicked in
short on AL. this am [in 325 out 315 good timing/luck as SP went up after that]

currently am long on RBS, rolling over[in 165] and long on ITV[in 40.9], long wallst.[ in 11034 with a stoploss 10950] short on ftse [in 5198]

As I am in demo mode I can't pick certain shares but I would have been long on IEC and DNX if I could.[dont they all say that after the fact, though I am sure i have it on one BB window previously re: long on DNX]

may go long on XTA and RIO tomorrow but will see what I think about the market in the morning.

bon chance to all players[especially those brave enough to play with real money]
Alex

easy with demo isn't it - lol! ...... Dow plunges 200 and you can just shrug your shoulders and wait for the rebound

Cynic,
In fairness I am playing with sensible stakes and stoplosses as if it were real money as I hope, if I can maintain the 'luck', to eventually play with real money.
:)
Alex

have spotted a flaw in my logical plan ...long wallst.[ in 11034 with a stoploss 10950] short on ftse [in 5198]
these two move reciprocally and so one must lose money so closed out wallst for 11032 for 8 loss] though as it stands ftse is currently 60 down]

is my beginner's luck beginning to wear off :(
Alex

SEC to Outlaw Naked Short Selling and Prosecute Traders who spread false rumours - this might make a difference in the way shorters operate

SEC To Outlaw Naked Short Selling

such a nervous market today, unfortunately out so unable to trade, but the fall this morning was so fast it would have been past my trading support lines, so not giving me an entry for the first time in a month.

I wonder at what point we may see some bargain hunting, looking at some of the bank volumes today, most but not all had more buyers than sellers.

todays plays. overnight on wall st and ftse both bummed out as stop losses kicked.
went long on HSBC[in 721] still long on RBS [in 165] and ITV[in 40.9] thoough am showing losses at this time. not a good day for playing i think.
current strategy leave indices alone and stick to shares as slightly less of a gamble. i live and learn something new every day
Alex

The way things are going we shall (for ftse 100) be in the 4900's....soon...unbelievable !.

Adding to my previous post we must pray that there is not a complete meltdown...1929 wise.....oh dear !, that would be good for nobody except for people who do nothing but short !.