09:15am  ~  More meetings with builders and planning officials this morning, but I’ll hopefully get some time in front of the charts as well later today.

Yesterday the markets here and in the U.S. were still on the gentle decline that started last week, and problems with the debt ceiling in America will keep and bulls at bay for the time being. News of a build up in U.S. oil stockpiles yesterday drove the price of crude down and the decline in the Brent Oil price gave me a lovely ‘short’ trade in the evening. Gold ended the day up as investors look to park funds away from the main markets due to the turmoil caused by arguments regarding the U.S. debt ceiling. Whenever there’s any sign of trouble for investors (whether private or institutions) Gold is seen as a “safe-haven”.

12:45pm  ~  Right – back home now so into the study for some emailing and chart watching. Later on this afternoon I will need a cycle ride as well !

14:00pm  ~  I’m in a ‘long’ trade on the S&P500 as I write this and the position is running at a 15 pip loss at the moment.

15:40pm  ~  There seems to be a stalling in the S&P500 price rise, so I have come out of my long position in the index – and switched off my charts for the afternoon. The trade has given me a profit of +47 pips.  Off for a cycle ride in 20 minutes with some friends and then over to Walberswick at 7pm for a poker evening.

If you’re going to do any type of trading, even if it’s just for a few hours a day you MUST have a fitness regime. There’s too much sitting down with this job so you need some sort of exercise and with cycling you’re keeping fit & seeing the countryside as well.

Daily Target Reached ?   YES (+47 pips)      I traded for 3 hours this afternoon.