#Brent #Stoxx We know very little about trading bonds, other than understanding the conventional wisdom is of Government Bonds being regarded as very low risk, generally safer than Corporate Bonds. As a result, the interest rate paid will be lower in comparison but now we’ve looked hard at the T68 UK Treasury Bond, data since 2020 looks very like a vote on the integrity of successive UK Governments, the value dropping from around 340 quid down to a low of just 40 pounds. Visually, it’s like the hysteria of Liz Truss never actually went away and with government competence looking rather questionable, we suspect if Truss returned, the markets would flourish strongly!
We had to grin, the start of October proving quite a strong day for the FTSE, the reason given being Astrazeneca Plc had decided (for now) to remain with their main listing on the FTSE and headquarters in London, rather than escape the country and head for the financially healthier climate of New York and Wall Street. Their share price being up 11.2% was reminiscent of the Scottish Football Team declaring any game a resounding success, if they failed to concede (too many) goals. Astrazeneca’s day was emphatically not a win for the FTSE, just not another loss. We can admit LSE:AZN now look like £13,181 is possible on the current price cycle.
While we’re far from comfortable we understand Treasury Bonds, the idea of spending money to back the UK Government being an anathema, we do understand the data behind what’s being happening since the Gilt (to use the hip term) surged upward to the 340 level before following the path of the Lemming, behaving in a fashion visually reminiscent of a dodgy AIM penny share.
At least Gilts are free from Capital Gains tax, though the profitability of the T68 Bond seems to be questionable. The rate of 1/8th% works out at a payment of around £1.25 every six months for each bond owned, suggesting opening the letter which announces a payment would be about as exciting as reviewing a share dividend from Costain! However, it is perhaps possible bonds with the UK treasury would be safer than a commitment to our least exciting shareholding, bought as an unusual birthday present for my wife many, many, years ago. That particular initiative actually was a resounding success, her holding in Edinburgh Oil & Gas experiencing a crazy rise with a corporate takeover, one which she quickly translated into a Mazda MX5 sportscar with all the trimmings. But I think if I now opted to gift her some Treasury Bonds, she’d probably get creative with a pillow over my face one night while I sleep…
There are signs T68 is shuffling its feet, perhaps readying itself to change direction.
Above 45 pounds should now prove interesting, hopefully triggering movement to an initial 53 quid with our secondary, if exceeded, working out at a more useful 63 pounds and a desperate need for us to revisit the tea leaves and attempt to divine the future. As this particular bond expires in 2068, we guess positive movements shall not prove the most vivid, once it starts to move properly.
Should things intend go pear shaped, below £43 risks promoting reversal to an initial £40 with our secondary, if broken, an eventual £37 and “perhaps” a bottom. There will certainly be a need for “fingers crossed” becoming a valid part of any trading strategy, should this Gilt discover an excuse to wander below 40 pounds.
FUTURES
FUTURES
| Time Issued | Market | Price At Issue | Short Entry | Fast Exit | Slow Exit | Stop | Long Entry | Fast Exit | Slow Exit | Stop | Prior |
| 11:33:50PM | BRENT | 6537.5 | 6502 | 6338 | 6123 | 6601 | 6654 | 6706 | 6774 | 6560 | ‘cess |
| 11:36:47PM | GOLD | 3860.14 | ‘cess | ||||||||
| 11:42:54PM | FTSE | 9451 | Success | ||||||||
| 11:47:04PM | STOX50 | 5605.7 | 5573 | 5558 | 5538 | 5603 | 5618 | 5673 | 5729 | 5568 | Success |
| 11:38:21PM | GERMANY | 24230 | Success | ||||||||
| 11:42:45PM | US500 | 6710.4 | Shambles | ||||||||
| 11:45:22PM | DOW | 46415 | ‘cess | ||||||||
| 11:48:37PM | NASDAQ | 24796.7 | Success | ||||||||
| 11:51:59PM | JAPAN | 44778 | ‘cess |
1/10/2025 FTSE Closed at 9446 points. Change of 1.03%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,819,950,477 a change of -0.05%
30/09/2025 FTSE Closed at 9350 points. Change of 0.55%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,823,355,297 a change of 26.57%
29/09/2025 FTSE Closed at 9299 points. Change of 0.16%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 5,390,872,598 a change of -5.48%
26/09/2025 FTSE Closed at 9284 points. Change of 0.77%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 5,703,129,904 a change of 4.79%
25/09/2025 FTSE Closed at 9213 points. Change of -0.4%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 5,442,375,561 a change of -9.6%
24/09/2025 FTSE Closed at 9250 points. Change of 0.29%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,020,048,725 a change of -2.61%
23/09/2025 FTSE Closed at 9223 points. Change of -0.03%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,181,494,945 a change of 35.23% 
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:AAL Anglo American** **LSE:AFC AFC Energy** **LSE:AVCT Avacta** **LSE:AZN Astrazeneca** **LSE:HSBA HSBC** **LSE:MRO Melrose** **LSE:STAN Standard Chartered** **
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Updated charts published on : Anglo American, AFC Energy, Avacta, Astrazeneca, HSBC, Melrose, Standard Chartered,
LSE:AAL Anglo American Close Mid-Price: 2773 Percentage Change: -0.43% Day High: 2814 Day Low: 2746
In the event of Anglo American enjoying further trades beyond 2814, the s ……..
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View Previous Anglo American & Big Picture ***
LSE:AFC AFC Energy Close Mid-Price: 9.72 Percentage Change: -0.82% Day High: 9.75 Day Low: 9.4
This seems to be fairly asleep but showing slight signs of waking up. Belo ……..
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View Previous AFC Energy & Big Picture ***
LSE:AVCT Avacta. Close Mid-Price: 61.5 Percentage Change: + 3.36% Day High: 64.5 Day Low: 59.5
In the event of Avacta enjoying further trades beyond 64.5, the share sho ……..
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View Previous Avacta & Big Picture ***
LSE:AZN Astrazeneca. Close Mid-Price: 12436 Percentage Change: + 11.21% Day High: 12462 Day Low: 11476
Target met. All Astrazeneca needs are mid-price trades ABOVE 12462 to imp ……..
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View Previous Astrazeneca & Big Picture ***
LSE:HSBA HSBC. Close Mid-Price: 1050.8 Percentage Change: + 0.56% Day High: 1057 Day Low: 1041
Continued trades against HSBA with a mid-price ABOVE 1057 should improve ……..
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View Previous HSBC & Big Picture ***
LSE:MRO Melrose. Close Mid-Price: 630.8 Percentage Change: + 3.61% Day High: 627.6 Day Low: 603.2
Target met. In the event of Melrose enjoying further trades beyond 628p, ……..
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View Previous Melrose & Big Picture ***
LSE:STAN Standard Chartered. Close Mid-Price: 1467 Percentage Change: + 2.19% Day High: 1472 Day Low: 1433
All Standard Chartered needs are mid-price trades ABOVE 1472 to improve a ……..
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View Previous Standard Chartered & Big Picture ***