06:55am  ~  An early start for me today as I have the builders in again all of today and they’re arriving in 5 minutes expecting tea. Once again I shall be assisting them on and off during the day, with some emailing and chart watching inbetween.  There is clay-pigeon shooting at the farm up the road this afternoon if I can find the time plus a cycle ride at some stage.

Despite weak Chinese data and an escalating situation in Ukraine, the U.S. indices posted another high yesterday which seems to be confounding traders at the moment – as there was no significant volume for the bullish move at the end of the U.S. session. The Dow Jones finished up 112 at 16695 and the S&P500 hit resistance during after-hours trading that was last seen at the beginning of April. European equities are lagging slightly behind, having not quite reached their all-time highs but should open ahead this morning following a strong session in Asia overnight.  The theory behind the rise in the price of US crude oil yesterday seems to be speculation that supplies declined for a second week in America.  Oil traders will also keep a close eye on China’s industrial production today – higher numbers will see increased demand from the world’s second largest consumer – June’s contract was up about 60 cents to $100.59 at close of play yesterday. Gold had a mixed day on the market on Monday, it was up due to the |Ukraine situation but also had bearish pressure because of weak demand in China, and is now stuck in a narrow trading range, but still wide enough for canny traders to make money from the limited movement.

08:30am  ~  I can see a possible trade setting up on my Brent Oil chart, so I shall watch it for the next 10 minutes or so to see what happens as I’m sitting here doing emails as well.

08:45am  ~  I am in the market with a ‘short’ trade – my stop loss is 15 pips.

10:45am  ~  The trade has just been stopped out at minus 15 pips.

11:05am  ~  Just spotted another opportunity and I am now in a ‘short’ position on my Gold chart with a 16 pip stop loss.  It is a set-up from my trendFX “Extra” manual.

12:35pm  ~  I am off out now to lunch so I’ve closed off my Gold trade – it’s given me +30 pips.

18:20pm  ~  No time to have a cycle ride today but I’ve just got back from an afternoon on the farm clay-pigeon shooting so I will now switch on my charts for an hour or so to see if there are any “Trade With A Day Job” set-ups for me to take advantage of.

18:30pm  ~  Crikey – what an unexciting chart !  The S&P500 is stuck in a narrow range at the moment, not much to get worked up about at all.

18:55pm  ~  Despite the small range on the S&P I am in a ‘long’ position now with a stop loss of just 14 pips – we are off out to the Lord Nelson with the builders shortly so I anticipate a quick trade.

20:00pm  ~  I really have to go now, so I’ve closed my S&P trade off at +10 pips.

Daily Target Reached ?  YES  (+25 pips)