07:55am  ~  I’m mostly at home today so I will report back later if I have any trades.

Following a large sell-off in U.S. equities last night mainly from technology stocks the markets will be closely watching the FOMC announcement today on U.S. interest rate policy with many traders fearing that an early rate rise is now a racing certainty.  Russia was also in the news yesterday with the falling value of the Ruble, rampant inflation together with rising interest rates – and as trading started in Moscow a few hours ago their currency has dropped a further 3.5% from yesterday although Russians are largely sheltered from this financial fall-out because of President Putin’s state-run press and media, meaning his popularity is still at normal (high) levels.

Crude oil markets had an initial bounce upwards yesterday from a low of $53.60 for WTI Crude which did prompt a rally in energy producers in the U.S. as well, but in later trading there was a retreat back down although traders attention will be on the U.S. stock situation  later today when new weekly numbers are released.

With all this worldwide turmoil and falling confidence in economies in Japan, Greece and others together with the rumours that Russian may start to default on loans, the value of Gold should keep rising after bouncing off its support level at $1132 in November although any hints at a rise in U.S. interest rates later today will stem any enthusiasm for this traditional safe haven investment.

Market Close Tuesday 16th December 2014:   Dow Jones 30  -111.97 @ 17,068.87  S&P 500  -16.89 @ 1,972.74  NASDAQ  -67.81 @ 4,089.60  FTSE 100  +149.11 @ 6,33.83  UK AIM  -6.57 @ 679.83  DAX 30  +229.88 @ 9,563.89  CAC 40  +87.82 @ 4,093.20  IBEX  +178.00 @ 10.081.90   Nikkei 225 (Today)  +64.41 @ 16,819.73  Hang Seng (currently)  -72.20 @ 22,598.30

09:05am  ~  Not much happening so far on my charts, they will probably be quite quiet until the Fed’s announcement later this evening, so I am taking this opportunity to have a cycle ride up the coastal path.

11:10am  ~ Been back for half an hour and the only thing I can see on my collection of charts here is a possible UTB pattern on my Gold chart.

11:25am  ~  I am now in a ‘long’ position on my Gold chart with a heady 19 pips.

12:55pm  ~  The Gold chart has become quite volatile so I am now out with a +32 pip profit.  Time for a walk upto the Lord Nelson for a quick lunch.

14:05pm  ~  Just returned home and managed to get a late entry into a ‘long’ UTB position on my WTI Crude chart. Stop loss is 31 pips.

15:25pm  ~  U.S. Crude Oil inventories numbers out in 5 minutes so stop in place at break even in case of high number.

16.00pm ~  Crude Oil market has risen on U.S. Crude Inventories numbers that were higher than expected – my trade is sitting at +136 pips.

17:45pm  ~  Just come out of my WTI Crude trade at +371 pips – and there now looks like a ‘long’ trade setting up on the S&P 500 chart with my “Trade With A Day Job” system.

18:10pm  ~  Out of my S&P position as there is the Fed announcements etc. in a short while – I’ve come out at +30 pips.