ICT Mentorship Core Content - Month 1 - Elements Of A Trade Setup
Introduction to ICT Monthly Mentorship
The first teaching tutorial from the ICT Monthly Mentorship for September 2016 introduces the elements of a trade setup, emphasizing the importance of context and framework in trading decisions.
Elements of a Trade Setup
- Context and Framework:
- Emphasizes the significance of context and framework in trade setups.
- Discusses the two primary concerns: context or framework surrounding the idea and specific principles related to trade setups.
- Market Conditions:
- Explains four market conditions: expansion, retracements, reversal, and consolidation.
- Each condition provides a specific framework for trading decisions based on market behavior.
- Institutional Order Flow:
- Introduces order blocks, fair value gaps, liquidity voids, liquidity pools, stop runs, and equilibrium as reference points in institutional order flow.
- Understanding these characteristics enhances comprehension of market efficiency and smart money influence.
Interbank Price Delivery Algorithm
- Algorithm Overview:
- Describes the interbank price delivery algorithm as an artificial intelligence-based price engine for currency pricing.
- Highlights the shift towards electronic algorithms in market making for increased efficiency.
- Market Manipulation:
- Discusses market manipulation in foreign exchange due to algorithmic trading.
- Mentions identifying market fingerprints and clues for anticipatory skills development.
Market Dynamics: Consolidation to Expansion
Explores market dynamics from consolidation to expansion phases, emphasizing impulse moves and retracements within trading cycles.
Market Phases
- Consolidation Phase:
- Defines consolidation as a holding pattern before potential expansion.
- Expansion Phase:
- Highlights how markets transition from consolidation to expansion through impulse moves.
- Retracement Patterns:
Understanding Market Conditions
In this section, the speaker discusses the four key conditions that interchange in the market and how traders can utilize this knowledge to make informed decisions.
Reversal Patterns and Market Conditions
- Reversal patterns are followed by retracement, consolidation, and other conditions.
- "These four conditions interchange throughout the ups and downs... you just need to know where it's at."
Importance of Understanding Market Direction
- Understanding where the market is likely to go and where it came from is crucial for making trading decisions.
- "Over the course of September... know where the market's going to go next."
Consolidation as a Starting Point
- Markets start from a measure of consolidation as it signifies building orders by market makers.
- "Consolidation begins with everything... defined range until there's enough money on both sides."
Expansion and Order Blocks
This section delves into expansion in price movements, its correlation with order blocks, and how traders can use this information effectively.
Understanding Expansion in Price Movements
- Expansion occurs when price moves quickly from an equilibrium level.
- "Expansion is when price moves quickly... delivered by one of these four conditions."
Significance of Order Blocks in Trading
- Order blocks play a vital role when price leaves a level quickly, indicating market maker intentions.
- "Expansion couples directly with the tool of an order block... looking for a bullish order block."
Utilizing Retracement for Trading
This part focuses on retracement as a key element in trading strategies, emphasizing its importance and practical application.
Leveraging Retracement Strategies
- Retracement occurs when price moves back inside a recent price range, revealing market maker intentions.
Understanding Trading Concepts
In this section, the speaker discusses key trading concepts such as retracement, liquidity voids, reversals, and consolidation.
Retracement and Liquidity Voids
- Retracement occurs when there is a sudden movement away from a price level, creating a liquidity void.
- Traders should wait for opportunities to fill in the liquidity void rather than chasing prices.
Reversals and Liquidity Pools
- Reversal happens when price moves opposite to its current direction, indicating market makers' actions.
- Look for liquidity pools above old highs or below old lows to identify potential reversal points.
Characteristics of Trading Pairs
- Some trading pairs exhibit choppy price action like the USD/CHF pair, making them suitable for specific trading strategies.
- Strategies like turtle soups and false breaks can be effective in certain pairs like USD/CHF.
Consolidation and Equilibrium
This section delves into consolidation as related to equilibrium in trading setups.
Understanding Consolidation
- Consolidation occurs when price moves within a clear trading range without significant upward or downward movements.
- Market makers allow orders to accumulate on both sides during consolidation, hinting at an upcoming expansion.
Impulse Moves and Equilibrium Points
- Watch for impulse moves swinging away from the equilibrium point located at the midpoint of the consolidation range.
- By recognizing these characteristics, traders can develop a framework for studying price action and discovering consistent trade setups.