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 Europe is the thorn in the side again:
CNN -""There's no question that Europe and Greece and specifically the fear of contagion is what's driving the market lower near term," said Hank Smith, chief investment officer at Haverford Investments.

"Having said that, we also have to be cognizant that the market was due for a pullback at a minimum, and possibly a correction," he said.

He noted that the market hasn't had a correction - technically defined as a selloff of 10% on a closing basis - for at least 14 months".

look at it now!!!! down 410 as we speak

it was down 800 (no misprint) a few seconds ago

Down 700 , also check out GBP !!

If you were short DOW this time cynic you've had it off.

Was 1000 down for a second, do rogue trades do this or just seriously bad news ?

well i wasn't and frankly, this is terrifying even if dow now down ONLY 420

You'd need the handspeed of Sugar Ray Leonard just to work the key pad

King Hell

Knowing the US it will finish up :-))

you wouldn't be able to jimmy - and i'm serious

9872 low

Shit where did I put those sleeping pills!

ravey :-) ........cynic i believe you.

Osama having a street fight with Obama and he was ahead on points but Obama's coming back in to it . It must be something llike that .

Job to understand all this.....

Latest rumor
Written by Jamie Coleman
May 6, 2010 at 19:44 GMT

Major US bank had an order to sell $15 mln of S&P e-mini contracts. Accidentally sold $15 bln

I went long INDU @ 10,043 and currently reasonably pleased :)

The biggest crisis yet perhaps (the end of the West?) ... and we are about to vote in a new leader.

Really sensible that. Irrespective of your politics, the last thing we need tomorrow is a new man at the helm. My instincts say there will be another election very soon as the markets tumble.

apparently Proctor and Gamble was trading around $60 when it suddenly started trading at $30

as its in the index, the index dived, triggered stop loss positions and bobs your uncle

originated out of the nasdaq system