08:10am  ~  I got back here to Suffolk late last night, so it’s back to normal today – a few errands and a pile of emails regarding the new system plus a few Skype calls together with some trading at some stage. I will also fit in a cycle ride at some stage, not sure how the day is going to pan out yet.

Obviously the markets were quite quiet yesterday as it was the Martin Luther King bank holiday in the U.S. but overnight there was welcome news regarding a cash injection due from the People’s Bank of China of around $42billion after a cash liquidity scare in the run up to the Chinese new year. Persistent fears of a credit crunch and recent data hinting at an impending slow down in the People’s Republic have had markets cautious that the worlds second largest economy may be reaching a tipping point. However, this loosening of money markets has given Asian indices a boost overnight and we are set to see that optimism carrying over into Europe markets this morning.

An ongoing increase in the physical demand for gold, mainly from Asia pushed its price $1.8 higher yesterday to $1255. It would seem the demand for gold bars, coins and jewellery managed to offset the price drop sparked by a better US economy.

11:05am  ~  There’s not much happening on my collection of charts so far this morning although there is the possibility of a ‘short’ trade developing on the Gold chart, so I’ll keep an eye on it and report back later.

12:00 Midday  ~  The Gold trade triggered a short while ago and I’ve been in a ‘short’ position for a few minutes.  I have also had a couple of friends arrive for a cycle ride so I’ll set a stop and shoot out for an hour or so to get some exercise.

14:20pm  ~  I’m back home, showered and sitting here in the study and my Gold trade is doing ok, it’s currently at +93 pips so I’ll probably come out quite soon.

14:35pm  ~  The Gold price looks as though it’s having a prolonged retrace, so I am out with an 83 pip profit.

16:10pm  ~  I was not really looking for another trade this afternoon, but a nice opportunity just popped up on my Brent Oil chart so I am in ‘short’ now.

17:15pm  ~  Now I’m in one of the “Trade With A Day Job” strategies as well now on the S&P500 and my Brent Oil trade is still trundling down. Report later !

17:25pm  ~  Well that was quick – I am now out of my S&P500 trade at the usual 20 pip target and as my Brent Oil trade was in profit as well, I closed that off at the same time as we’re off out to the pub for  a swift one with some friends who’ve just travelled up from London.  The Brent Oil trade came in at +61 pips.

Daily Target Reached ?  YES  (+164 pips)