Financial Betting Articles

Happy Birthday to you! What, it's not your birthday? Then aren't you lucky that I put £5 of my own hard earned cash in you ChoiceOdds account? It's ok, you can stand me a pint next time we go out - just return my calls and we'll hook up. No I didn't get the restraining order and no I don't think I'm acting like a stalker - we're best buddies right?

Back on planet Earth, The FTSE finished level on Friday - which is about as rare as finding a hen's tooth in a patch of four-leaf clovers under a blood moon if you know what I'm saying. You're smart. It was one heck of a rollercoaster ride and a seriously good day for a stack of you lot who managed to pile on the UP when the market was down 50 odd points. Trader Terry was seen sobbing into his kebab Friday evening and muttering "It's a tough racket." Poor fellow - you did that and I hope you're happy.

This Friday sees 2 momentous occurrences. First, we are taking all unused £5 bonuses off your accounts when Wall Street closes so if you better make sure you use it before then. Free cash? It's a no-brainer. Secondly, its Quadruple Witching in the States. A day on which contracts for stock index futures, stock index options, stock options and single stock futures all expire. It can mean either bucketfuls of volatility, or absolutely no volatility at all. If it's the former, expect the FTSE to react in kind when Wall Street opens at 2.30pm. Whichever way it goes, it will be a day for trading on volatility on the inter-days.

The world markets have been sliding last week on the back of bond market concerns (don't worry, even the people in the bond markets don't know how they work). Investors are a timid bunch. Not me – I don't feel alive unless I'm laying it on the line. No cowering in the corner for me. I once lost my whole pocket money on the one arm bandits down the penny arcade – didn't blink. Me and lady luck, we go way back.

And another thing - look out this week for ChoiceOdds Challenges. I'm dusting off my wallet again so keep an eye out for my email.

Jargon Buster:

Trading volatility - If you bet on short odds, you are 'selling volatility' because you don't want things to change. If you are betting at long odds you are 'buying volatility', expecting everything to change.

Visit ChoiceOdds.com now and put our money where your mouth is.

The FTSE closed flat on Friday - the first time since 2nd September 2003 and only the third time in nearly 12 years.

From the start of the year to last Monday, Wall Street had put on 9.8%; by close of play Thursday it had shed 3.2%. Friday saw it add 1.3% - will it make back the rest this week?

On Wall Street, last year there were 32 more up trading days than down days. This year so far there are also 32 more up days than down days.

If you take our £5 and land it on three winning 33/1s, you'll have the cash for a new Ferrari F430 Spider, with enough spare to buy an Audi TT for the other half.

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