10:55am (CET)  ~  After a very late night out, I’ve had a gentle start to the day here – I had a cycle ride down into Calpe and hour ago and I’m now going to have a 100 lengths in the pool and then into the study to email students with trade updates etc.  I have mainly kept fit by cycling, but a German trader I met last night has swam every day for the past 50 years or so (he’s 89 years old) and he has the physique of a forty year old, so I can’t do me any harm if I copy his regime. I doubt I am going manage 100 lengths firs time, but it’s going to be a good goal.

The markets today are set to open higher, buoyed by overnight gains in the US. The reasoning is that a scheduled meeting between Obama and some Republicans later today indicates a glimmer of light in the shut down saga, although we will see if it’s just more time wasting by the opposition. The Dow Jones 30 and S&P500 rose yesterday as President Obama nominated Dr. Janet Yellen as the new Federal Reserve Chief. Some traders were bullish after the announcement as she is seen to be supportive of the Fed’s bond buying programme. Gold prices fell today as main indices made gains and the Dollar rallied to regain some of its value. Gold prices fell over 1% trading below the $1300 an ounce at the session low shortly before the close.

13:30pm (CET)  ~ I am experiencing some broadband difficulties here today, which is fairly typical for the area, and it’s having an impact on my trading plus email communications. Hopefully we will see an improvement soon, at the moment it’s on for 5 minutes then off for an hour. Can’t wait to get back to the UK even though the weather is getting worse apparently.

23:45pm (CET)  ~ Broadband even more sporadic this evening…….