08:55am  ~  Back to some normality today, since getting back from France on Sunday I spent most of yesterday in meetings with builders and planners but today I shall be here in the study this morning catching up on emails and Skype calls plus some chart watching.

The markets yesterday should have tanked with all the bad news that’s around, troubles in Ukraine and Chinese exports that are down below levels that point to continued economic growth, but that seemed to be shrugged off and although there were no great rises, the expected fall in equities just did not materialise even though the bears tried their hardest for most of yesterday’s European and U.S. trading session.

The driver behind yesterday’s sharp fall in crude oil prices was undoubtedly the fall in Chinese exports strengthening fears that the world’s second largest economy might be in for a hard time in the next few months.  As a result the WTI crude prices lost $1.72 to $100.98 a barrel and is now looking as though the support level at $100 is a favoured destination. Due to safe haven demand, gold prices remained well supported, yesterday gaining $1.5 to $1339.7, and now looks on course for the next resistance level at $1352.

11:20am  ~  There’s not much happening on the charts this morning, so I am off out for a cycle ride shortly, and after lunch there is some clay-pigeon shooting at a friend’s farm.

23:45pm  ~  I did sit down here in the kitchen at 5pm this evening to watch my “Trade With A Day Job” chart for a few hours before we went out for the evening but there were no trade opportunities.

Daily Target Reached ?  NO