#joke #FTSE The current hype about Artificial Intelligence has a major area of failure. Essentially, we cannot think of Artificial Intelligence as working until such time we experience our computers worshiping us. After all, religions seem to be embedded in the idea of creator worship, a concept which is a little concerning. While we’re being a little whimsical, the first thing anything new seems enact is a wish to worship what it perceives created it!. Thus, our own AI would probably think its roots grow from a 8 core AMD processor and 16gb of RAM, along with a doze of an ancient programming language called Pascal. But then again, it could choose to worship this small, fat, hairy, bloke. In summary, any inclination to regard AI as more than database management will almost certainly be proven wrong, at least until our computers start treating humans as divinities.
Before looking at the FTSE, todays Christmas cracker joke comes from a 999 Call centre recording. “We’re hunting deer and I accidentally shot my friend. He’s dead!”. The operator answers “Are you quite sure he’s dead?”. “Hold on,” comes the reply and the operator hears a gunshot. The voice comes back on the phone, “Yes, he’d definitely dead…”
As for the FTSE, we suspect the UK index intends flutter around the 9660 level until such time the BoE decide to do something positive for the country by reducing interest rates. Given the UK’s behaviour of following the US lead during 2025, it looks like we should anticipate a drop next Thursday 18th, a last minute festive apology to the country.
Near term, above 9716 points has the potential of powering a lift to an initial 9757 points, a level at which we suspect some hesitation until the BoE make a positive decision about UK interest rates. Above this level has the threat of more gains to 9865 points, also called a Santa Rally.
Should things intend go wrong, delaying positive market movements, now below 9659 threatens useless reversal to 9643 with our secondary, if broken, calculating at a more significant 9600 points. Visually, this even makes some sense, if the market is intending keep the FTSE doing doggy paddles until the impressive economists on the BoE Monetary Committee remember their job is to add some vitality to the UK economy.
Have a good weekend. It looks like another storm is rolling in but this time, the Christmas lights decorating the front of the cottage are held in place with stainless steel mountings, fitted into the exterior stone using a hammer drill. It is going to be tempting to just turn them off at the end of the festive season, rather than removing the carefully routed strings of LED lights.
FUTURES
FUTURES
| Time Issued | Market | Price At Issue | Short Entry | Fast Exit | Slow Exit | Stop | Long Entry | Fast Exit | Slow Exit | Stop | Prior |
| 11:21:04PM | BRENT | 6145.8 | 6072 | 5948 | 6270 | 6402 | 6542 | 6233 | |||
| 11:33:32PM | GOLD | 4279.47 | 4205 | 4174 | 4225 | 4285 | 4299 | 4220 | Success | ||
| 11:54:53PM | FTSE | 9718.2 | 9655 | 9626 | 9682 | 9718 | 9734 | 9690 | |||
| 11:03:25PM | STOX50 | 5769.6 | 5741 | 5725 | 5770 | 5781 | 5815 | 5750 | Success | ||
| 11:10:23PM | GERMANY | 24348.4 | 24126 | 24008 | 24369 | 24405 | 24702 | 24253 | Success | ||
| 11:13:36PM | US500 | 6896.2 | 6855 | 6836 | 6880 | 6923 | 6932 | 6893 | |||
| 11:25:00PM | DOW | 48769 | 48209 | 47968 | 48432 | 48854 | 48948 | 48634 | Success | ||
| 11:28:23PM | NASDAQ | 25645.7 | 25626 | 25559 | 25713 | 25835 | 25886 | 25741 | |||
| 11:30:56PM | JAPAN | 50826 | 50403 | 50238 | 50635 | 50984 | 51222 | 50716 | Success |
11/12/2025 FTSE Closed at 9703 points. Change of 0.5%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 5,894,528,793 a change of -21.51%
10/12/2025 FTSE Closed at 9655 points. Change of 0.13%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 7,510,310,269 a change of 17.31%
9/12/2025 FTSE Closed at 9642 points. Change of -0.03%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,402,100,858 a change of 23.04%
8/12/2025 FTSE Closed at 9645 points. Change of -0.23%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 5,203,421,137 a change of 3.99%
5/12/2025 FTSE Closed at 9667 points. Change of -0.44%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 5,003,675,648 a change of -20.4%
4/12/2025 FTSE Closed at 9710 points. Change of 0.19%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,286,205,585 a change of -7.45%
3/12/2025 FTSE Closed at 9692 points. Change of -0.09%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,792,103,773 a change of -9.49% 
SUCCESS above means both FAST & SLOW targets were met. ‘CESS means just the FAST target met and probably the next time it is exceeded, movement to the SLOW target shall commence.
Our commentary is in two sections. Immediately below are today’s updated comments. If our commentary remains valid, the share can be found in the bottom section which has a RED heading. Hopefully, this will mean you no longer need to flip back through previous reports. HYPERLINKS DISABLED IN THIS VERSION
Please remember, all prices are mid-price (halfway between the Buy and Sell). When we refer to a price CLOSING above a specific level, we are viewing the point where we can regard a trend as changing. Otherwise, we are simply speculating on near term trading targets. Our website is www.trendsandtargets.com.
UPDATE. We often give an initial and a secondary price. If the initial is exceeded, we still expect it to fall back but the next time the initial is bettered, the price should continue to the secondary. The converse it true with price drops.
We can be contacted at info@trendsandtargets.com. Spam filters set to maximum so only legit emails get through…
Section One – Outlook Updated Today. Click here for Section Two – Outlook Remains Valid shares
Click Epic to jump to share: LSE:AFC AFC Energy** **LSE:BARC Barclays** **LSE:CPI Capita** **LSE:FRES Fresnillo** **LSE:HIK Hikma** **LSE:MKS Marks and Spencer** **LSE:SAGA SAGA Plc** **LSE:STAN Standard Chartered** **
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Updated charts published on : AFC Energy, Barclays, Capita, Fresnillo, Hikma, Marks and Spencer, SAGA Plc, Standard Chartered,
LSE:AFC AFC Energy. Close Mid-Price: 11.2 Percentage Change: + 0.72% Day High: 11.32 Day Low: 10.7
All AFC Energy needs are mid-price trades ABOVE 11.32 to improve accelera ……..
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View Previous AFC Energy & Big Picture ***
LSE:BARC Barclays. Close Mid-Price: 446.9 Percentage Change: + 1.05% Day High: 448.9 Day Low: 441.45
All Barclays needs are mid-price trades ABOVE 448.9 to improve accelerati ……..
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View Previous Barclays & Big Picture ***
LSE:CPI Capita. Close Mid-Price: 396.5 Percentage Change: + 2.99% Day High: 400 Day Low: 387.5
Target met. Continued trades against CPI with a mid-price ABOVE 400 shoul ……..
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View Previous Capita & Big Picture ***
LSE:FRES Fresnillo. Close Mid-Price: 2858 Percentage Change: + 3.03% Day High: 2906 Day Low: 2726
All Fresnillo needs are mid-price trades ABOVE 2906 to improve accelerati ……..
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View Previous Fresnillo & Big Picture ***
LSE:HIK Hikma Close Mid-Price: 1528 Percentage Change: -0.13% Day High: 1536 Day Low: 1521
Continued weakness against HIK taking the price below 1521 calculates as ……..
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View Previous Hikma & Big Picture ***
LSE:MKS Marks and Spencer Close Mid-Price: 319.7 Percentage Change: -0.47% Day High: 322.9 Day Low: 315.9
Target met. In the event Marks and Spencer experiences weakness below 315 ……..
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View Previous Marks and Spencer & Big Picture ***
LSE:SAGA SAGA Plc. Close Mid-Price: 337 Percentage Change: + 2.12% Day High: 344 Day Low: 327.5
Target met. Further movement against SAGA Plc ABOVE 344 should improve ac ……..
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View Previous SAGA Plc & Big Picture ***
LSE:STAN Standard Chartered. Close Mid-Price: 1717 Percentage Change: + 0.79% Day High: 1730 Day Low: 1700
Target met. All Standard Chartered needs are mid-price trades ABOVE 1730 ……..
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View Previous Standard Chartered & Big Picture ***