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

Acampora talks of ‘sick feeling’ and possible 25% slide for some markets

Well I got 5 FTSE shorts running currently at different prices sold 1 for a profit this morning.
6852
6787.3
6743
6731.5
6712.8
I'm averaging 6760.3 currently and am tempted to cash out the 6852 and take a profit to buy back later, this is typically what I've been doing for the past week.

JCP's figures were very well received (+20% pre-open) so let's hope the asst'd gov't figures due in about an hour are also cheery

numbers are out but haven't seen them .... however, judging by cash dow reaction, they're ok rather than exciting

Iv'e a great new scheme , if i post daily what i'm buying then you can make sure you don't ,, (or short it) and just pay me per for each time i advise . I'll take payment in alcohol or crack .

Calm down Jimmy, it can't be that bad! I think alot of us are probably carrying unrealised losses on indicies, I sure am on FTSE and Cable currently...

Just one of those months shortie ,, should have took a couple of small loses earlier in the week and got back in at much lower levels ,i knew the markets were going to have a setback , but it's damned if do and ... Shouldn't moan i had a good month in April ..

I reckon Jimmy has worked out that he can make more money reselling Colombia's finest than he can trading stocks. Sounds like a really good plan to me!

Oh no HARRY i'd end up straight in the slammer I think Pablo Escobar was a bit smarter than me ..

glad to see my dow long is flowering nicely :-)

I have mrw +8p and div, still looks like it's got more to go, see monday.,.

i've stayed away from supermarkets for ages, but with nice little rise on wall street last night, which i hope will be extended on monday (cash dow will indicate), then there must surely be a good chance of a strong day in london to open the week

there were certainly some stocks that have been badly whacked for no fundamental reason in the last couple of days - e.g. EZJ, TCG (recovered a bit) and XEL (bought some friday) - that may pay closer investigation before the open

whether or not there will be a rally before a further sell-off is of course a great unknown ..... shortie would reckon so, as he is short ftse, but good as he assuredly is at reading the entrails, he isn't always right

6852 profit taken earlier this morning, 6824.8 gone short.

Skinny do you know what tomorrows divi payment is?

Not yet Shortie - but I think the only big gun going ex is HSBA - so hopefully fairly minimal.

Thank you Skinny, last weeks cost me a weekend away..

Yes, the last couple of weeks have been spiteful.

6831 added to short positions.

Does galamping cost that much then shortie????.,.

Never been glamping