#FTSE #GOLD From the start of May, it looks like we may be hitting a change in the markets weather. There appears a broad expectation some sanity may appear in the oil markets, due to Emirates withdrawing from the OPEC price fixing cartel. But it is a bit of a concern Emirates have recommended their citizens leave several Opec members borders, in what sounds like an expectation of retaliation once UAE starts making decisions for itself, rather than adhere to the OPEC line. What struck as strange was the effort made to scrub news about travel advice issued by United Arab Emirates government, a fairly obvious attempt to alleviate any signs of increased tension.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the Bank of England continued their efforts to damage the economy, once again refusing to change Interest Rates while they adhere to a failed economic model. Hopefully US President Trumps new appointment to head the Federal Reserve shall be able to introduce some sanity in six weeks time, their next decision due on 17th June. (The US Federal Reserve works on exactly the same timing as the Bank Of England, along with a blind belief if Central Banks force prices up, it somehow controls inflation. An attitude very reminiscent of the David Bowie song, “Putting Out The Fire With Gasoline”)
However, despite the Bank of Englands decision to let Interest Rates stagnate, before their future decision next June to increase rates to 4%. This will probably be followed doubtless by an “Oops, we got it wrong” decision at the start of August, potentially taking rates back to 3.5% to revitalise the UK economy, just as everyone has gone to Centre Parks for the summer vacation. While it may sound like we’ve experienced an overdose of cynicism, there has been something painfully familiar about interest rate movements, almost like the BoE is following a long established script.
As for the FTSE, above 10,396 near term has the potential to visit some positive cheer on the UK main market. Movement such as this should prove capable of triggering a rise to an initial 10,480 with our secondary, if exceeded, calculating at 10,584 points. In such an instance, the tightest stop is quite wide at 10,277 points but, given the increments for jumps in 100 point steps, this makes quite a bit of sense.
But of course, it’s the Miami Grand Prix this weekend, where they painted the floor of a “marina” boat display blue, so it would look like water on TV. It still is a puzzle, why surrounded by water, they didn’t simply float boats in a pretend marina setting as it would have been cheaper and more visually effective. Aside from a slight issue, where womens high heels could cause some quite funny drama.
For things to go adrift on the FTSE, below 10,277 risks triggering reversals down to an initial 10,187 with our secondary, if broken, indicating a splashdown at 10,017 points eventually.
At present, we are inclined to lean toward optimism, especially as we’ve been able to drive with the roof down every day this week, a truly unusual symptom of living in Argyll.
Have a good Long Weekend.
FUTURES
FUTURES
| Time Issued | Market | Price At Issue | Short Entry | Fast Exit | Slow Exit | Stop | Long Entry | Fast Exit | Slow Exit | Stop | Prior |
| 9:58:22PM | BRENT | 11026.7 | 10616 | 10269 | 9900 | 10970 | 11365 | 11601 | 11932 | 10962 | Shambles |
| 10:05:18PM | GOLD | 4621.36 | 4510 | 4481 | 4426 | 4581 | 4646 | 4694 | 4755 | 4605 | |
| 10:49:41PM | FTSE | 10357.6 | 10170 | 10123 | 9922 | 10230 | 10391 | 10401 | 10478 | 10298 | ‘cess |
| 10:52:05PM | STOX50 | 5881.1 | 5730 | 5691 | 5616 | 5810 | 5902 | 5961 | 6038 | 5848 | ‘cess |
| 10:54:57PM | GERMANY | 24304 | 23600 | 23405 | 22940 | 23890 | 24385 | 24464 | 24752 | 24085 | ‘cess |
| 10:58:47PM | US500 | 7217 | 7104 | 7054 | 6997 | 7144 | 7224 | 7238 | 7284 | 7174 | Success |
| 11:01:34PM | DOW | 49752.4 | 49048 | 48821 | 48502 | 49385 | 49786 | 49994 | 50504 | 49520 | Success |
| 11:05:03PM | NASDAQ | 27494.5 | 27036 | 26910 | 26708 | 27304 | 27518 | 27590 | 27828 | 27395 | ‘cess |
| 11:07:37PM | JAPAN | 59780 | 59371 | 59214 | 59002 | 59526 | 59828 | 59882 | 60331 | 59554 |
30/04/2026 FTSE Closed at 10378 points. Change of 1.62%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 9,338,364,506 a change of 26.56%
29/04/2026 FTSE Closed at 10213 points. Change of -1.15%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 7,378,449,952 a change of 12.28%
28/04/2026 FTSE Closed at 10332 points. Change of 0.11%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,571,655,414 a change of -12.54%
27/04/2026 FTSE Closed at 10321 points. Change of -0.56%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 7,514,052,310 a change of 11.19%
24/04/2026 FTSE Closed at 10379 points. Change of -0.75%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,757,896,465 a change of -3.26%
23/04/2026 FTSE Closed at 10457 points. Change of -0.18%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 6,985,316,582 a change of -3.94%
22/04/2026 FTSE Closed at 10476 points. Change of -0.21%. Total value traded through LSE was: £ 7,271,923,237 a change of 4.79% 
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:FGP Firstgroup** **LSE:MKS Marks and Spencer** **LSE:SFOR S4 Capital** **LSE:TW. Taylor Wimpey** **
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Updated charts published on : AFC Energy, Firstgroup, Marks and Spencer, S4 Capital, Taylor Wimpey,
LSE:AFC AFC Energy. Close Mid-Price: 15.22 Percentage Change: + 14.26% Day High: 15.38 Day Low: 13.5
Further movement against AFC Energy ABOVE 15.38 should improve accelerati ……..
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View Previous AFC Energy & Big Picture ***
LSE:FGP Firstgroup. Close Mid-Price: 162.6 Percentage Change: + 1.37% Day High: 163.6 Day Low: 154.2
Target met. Weakness on Firstgroup below 154.2 will invariably lead to 14 ……..
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View Previous Firstgroup & Big Picture ***
LSE:MKS Marks and Spencer. Close Mid-Price: 330.1 Percentage Change: + 1.57% Day High: 330.55 Day Low: 321.7
In the event Marks and Spencer experiences weakness below 321.7 it calcul ……..
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View Previous Marks and Spencer & Big Picture ***
LSE:SFOR S4 Capital Close Mid-Price: 43.4 Percentage Change: -0.12% Day High: 45.75 Day Low: 42.4
Further movement against S4 Capital ABOVE 45.75 should improve accelerati ……..
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View Previous S4 Capital & Big Picture ***
LSE:TW. Taylor Wimpey. Close Mid-Price: 77.82 Percentage Change: + 1.94% Day High: 77.98 Day Low: 75.86
Continued weakness against TW. taking the price below 75.86 calculates as ……..
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View Previous Taylor Wimpey & Big Picture ***