[Is spread betting for fools?]

Both. Depending. Have gone long and short on oil, gasoline, FX and especially Wall street ( most every time it reaches a new high).  Have had less fortune with Lumber which seems to react in it's own sweet way, which I blame on the Chicago weather. Generally am looking for a swing. Then take the money and run. Have found stop losses set too conservatively are triggered easily when volatility is there. So approx 20% + or -,  is the stop, which seems huge but has worked for me so far.

Go to go as have duties that need attending to...

[Is spread betting for fools?]

Decided to try this  Spreads and CFD's as an experiment, experience and alternative to the sweet  1.5% on offer with ISA's. 

I had a strategy, still adjusting. I have a plan. But having no experience is a bit of a handicap. I detached myself from the money so it was no longer personal. 

I have had enormous fun and learned more about the global economy in 4 months and 10 days than the 25 years I have been reading the economist, running a small property business or talking with my very cautious banking friends (all of whom advised me not to spread or trade CFD's ). Opened a demo account and a real one.  

Despite being clobbered in the lumber markets ( attracted to the volatility) oil, gasoline and tracking the Dow have more than bailed me out. 

Have I won every week? Not on your Nelly! Did I take it personally when trades did not work out due to impatience, greed or poor timing? To begin with yes. Patience and belief have become my friends, even if the belief has come down to **** minded instinct on occasion.

Result? A profit of 38% in real money and 25% including margin or 37.5% without in demo after 4 months. Too much information is worse than not enough so have taken what makes sense.

Have traded out of all my positions  when Wall street hit 26671, with the exception of Calls on  Wall street June 19 (26500), call on Footsie @6725 May and a call on  June USD/GBP @1.3100. Still long on oil, though have regularly taken profits. Am still learning about calls and puts so will ride them out or cancel at close.

If one is to enter this with intention of it being one's sole income, then you will need at least £50k as your base and not be upset if you lose it all. Do not be obsessive about it either, remember to enjoy life. Don't take losses personally, see them as part of the process.

That's about all I can think to say on the subject for now. Save I am enjoying this far more than I imagined I would, but maybe that's because I am in profit.

[US China Trade War]

It is not often I agree with the President, but he has a point where China is concerned. Experience tells that in China a deal today is today's deal. Tomorrows deal can be different. The dragon thinks only of itself.  I may suggest that only the USA raising Tariffs may not be enough and it may require concerted effort from the West plus Japan, to convince China to change its ways. However, the President has a way of isolating America that previous presidents did not. Also, not many countries are brave enough to tell Mr Xi to go take a big tariff. 

These tariffs, if implemented for the medium or long term will certainly create inflationary pressure. In turn raising rates and affecting growth both domestic and global.  A war no one wins, neither farmers, workers, traders or bankers.

Should this stretch to 2020 then reaping what one sows will be the order of the day both for USA and China, not to mention the rest of the world (recession).

China needs to accept it is no longer an economically developing nation  and accept its new responsibilities and America needs to understand that no one likes being told to change their laws to suit American business. 

Deals are based on trust, compromise and mutual gain. That's just good business. Or used to be.

[US China Trade War]

High stakes poker. Neither China, nor USA could afford a protracted trade war which would lead to short term and medium term negative market sentiment. USA and China are nursing considerable debt, which would only increase in the advent of tariff wars. A war of attrition also benefits no one in the long term.  Not to mention halting and reversing market gains and sentiment. Compound this with the politics of big oil, the significance of successful and fair outcome to the current negotiations is doubly important, both for the present recovery and future well-being of the global economy. 

You are correct I feel, in suggesting Trump thinks and acts for the Now and XI has the luxury of time.

Interesting times.