ICT Charter Price Action Model 8 - Trade Plan & Algorithmic Theory
Price Action Model #8: Targeting 6% Per Month
Overview of the Trading Model
- This model focuses on achieving a target of 6% per month using a strategy that aims for 25 pips per week.
- The development process includes five stages: preparation, opportunity discovery, trade planning, trade execution, and trade management.
Preparation Stage
- Identify medium and high-impact market events for the upcoming week to understand potential influences on price action.
- Analyze the last 20 trading days to determine the highest high and lowest low, establishing a current dealing range. Sundays are excluded from this analysis.
- Look for liquidity draws within this range by identifying old highs or lows where price may move next. A PD array should align with the weekly bias direction.
Opportunity Discovery
- Focus on identifying 25 pip ranges that facilitate buying or selling based on institutional order flow—bullish or bearish respectively.
- Use a diagram of the Euro Dollar's 15-minute timeframe to visualize these setups; aim for runs above old highs when bullish.
Trade Planning
- When anticipating market declines, look for manipulation signals coinciding with economic calendar events suggesting volatility injections; short premium fair value gaps in redistribution phases.
- Conversely, during expected rallies, identify similar manipulations but focus on buying at discount fair value gaps in reaccumulation phases.
Trade Execution
- For bearish positions, anticipate entry during retracements higher in key trading sessions (London/New York). Utilize sell stop raids as triggers for short entries.
- For bullish positions, similarly look for retracements lower during key sessions and use buy stop raids as entry points into long trades.
Trade Management Strategies
Short Trade Management
- Enter short trades using sell limit orders set at PD array convergence minus 5 pips; aim to capture a target of 25 pips per position before closing via limit order if achieved.
Long Trade Management
- For long trades, place buy limit orders at PD convergence plus 5 pips with similar objectives as shorts regarding profit-taking strategies.
Stop-Loss Management & Position Sizing
- Adjust stop-loss levels based on profit milestones: reduce by 25% when reaching halfway towards your objective and adjust to break-even when nearing full target achievement.
Understanding Risk Management in Trading
Calculating Position Size and Risk
- Each pip represents a specific dollar amount based on the lot size; for mini lots, a 15 pip stop-loss equates to $15 risk per trade.
- If a demo account incurs a loss, reduce the risk percentage by 50% until half of the loss is recovered before returning to the original risk level.
- Implementing gradual adjustments in risk helps maintain an even equity curve, minimizing large drawdowns and promoting consistent growth.
Building Consistency in Trading
- The goal is to achieve a 6% return monthly by targeting small, manageable objectives like capturing 25 pips or handles weekly.
- Focus on trading strategies that allow for low-risk setups, such as aiming for five handles daily over five days.
Strategies for Effective Trading
- Traders can optimize their time by identifying high-probability sessions each week rather than spending excessive hours monitoring charts.
- Using micro accounts allows traders to engage with minimal risk while still pursuing consistent gains through smaller trades.
Long-Term Growth Mindset
- Aiming for modest returns (e.g., 25 pips weekly) can lead to significant annual growth if approached methodically and without impulsive trading behaviors.
- Poll results indicate many new traders have unrealistic income expectations compared to their current earnings; focusing on doubling accounts gradually is more feasible.
Analyzing Market Conditions
- New traders often struggle with fear of missing out (FOMO), leading them to make hasty decisions; maintaining discipline is crucial for developing good habits.
Analysis of GBP/USD Trends
Contextual Overview
- The discussion focuses on the British pound (GBP) versus the US dollar (USD), referencing a previous commentary from April 26, 2022, to provide context for current trading levels.
- The speaker highlights specific price levels and imbalances observed in hourly and 50-minute time frames, indicating where significant market movements occurred.
Price Movement Insights
- A bearish sentiment is suggested as recent price action shows a failure to break higher after taking out swing lows, indicating potential downside expansion.
- Emphasis is placed on analyzing volatility with a directional bias rather than predicting exact closing values; one successful session can align with broader weekly trends.
Trading Strategy Discussion
- The speaker argues that even if only one trading session aligns with expectations, it can be profitable. This approach contrasts with traditional views on weekly chart analysis.
- Observations indicate that recent price actions have taken out relative equal lows without rallying to take out buy-side liquidity, reinforcing the bearish outlook.
Intermarket Relationships
- The analysis incorporates intermarket relationships (SMT), noting divergence between the dollar index and GBP movements during key trade entries.
- Specific examples are provided where the dollar made lower lows while GBP failed to make corresponding higher highs, suggesting an opportunity for short positions.
Risk Management and Discipline
- A hypothetical trading scenario illustrates risk management principles: risking $50 on a $5,000 account could yield a 6% return from a single trade setup.
- The importance of discipline in trading is emphasized; traders should focus on executing one well-analyzed setup per week rather than overtrading.
Conclusion on Trading Practices
- A challenge is posed to viewers regarding self-discipline in trading practices; many fail due to lack of adherence to disciplined strategies despite understanding their importance.
How to Build Confidence in Trading
Developing a Weekly Practice Routine
- Emphasizes the importance of assessing how many trades can be supported by a specific amount of capital, suggesting that traders should think critically about their financial decisions.
- Shares personal experience with trading, highlighting the practice of capturing small gains (e.g., 25 handles in index futures) as a way to build confidence and skill over time.
- Discusses a recent success story involving his son, who made $700 on one NASDAQ contract, illustrating the significance of setting realistic expectations for trade setups.
- Encourages traders to consistently look for setups throughout their careers, reinforcing that even during losing streaks, maintaining discipline is crucial for long-term success.
- Stresses the importance of discipline in trading; knowing when to stop after losses can prevent further financial damage and help maintain psychological stability.
The Psychological Aspect of Trading
- Advises traders to review their journals and past successful trades as a means to boost morale during challenging periods in trading.
- Highlights the value of having a structured weekly routine focused on improving trading models, which can lead to consistent profitability even at modest rates (e.g., 6% per month).