ICT ES Futures Review - January 09, 2023
Index Futures Review: Key Insights and Market Dynamics
Overview of Market Behavior
- The speaker introduces the session, highlighting a dynamic trading day with specific focus on a bearish breaker pattern formed by high, low, and higher high candles.
- Discussion on why no higher levels were called than 39.69; the speaker mentions being stopped out prematurely due to external distractions.
Analyzing Breakers and Imbalances
- The speaker contrasts the identified breaker with market movements, emphasizing that half of an order block represents a mean threshold within an imbalance.
- Observations are made regarding potential reactions to specific candle formations as indicators for future price movements.
Candle Analysis and Price Levels
- A potential order block is identified based on candle behavior; if it fails to hold, there may be a significant drop towards sell-side liquidity.
- The importance of closing above certain wick levels is stressed for maintaining bullish sentiment in the market.
Fair Value Gaps and Support Levels
- The discussion shifts to fair value gaps observed in hourly charts, noting how institutional orders interact with these gaps during trading sessions.
- The speaker critiques traditional support/resistance methods, asserting that algorithms do not respect drawn highs/lows or diagonal lines.
Liquidity Considerations and Future Expectations
- Specific price levels are analyzed (39.69 and 39.59), indicating where inefficiencies exist in market trades leading to fair value gaps.
- Concerns about losing fair value gaps are raised; significant liquidity below current lows could lead to further downward movement if breached.
Utilizing Twitter for Real-Time Updates
Trading Insights and Market Analysis
Real-Time Alerts and Engagement
- The speaker emphasizes the use of Twitter for real-time alerts during trading sessions, particularly between 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM, to keep followers informed.
- Acknowledges potential criticism from followers regarding tweet frequency; encourages those who are unhappy to unsubscribe rather than complain.
- Highlights the importance of providing free time and insights to followers, expressing a willingness to block disrespectful individuals.
Market Dynamics and Fair Value Gaps
- Discusses the identification of an hourly fair value gap and daily volume imbalance as key areas for market objectives, noting that these were reached last week.
- Clarifies the measurement process for determining levels within the fair value gap on hourly charts, emphasizing accuracy in trading decisions.
Market Behavior Observations
- Describes market behavior around lunchtime with reversals noted at specific price levels, indicating a typical pattern observed during trading hours.
- Suggests that a significant high may have already been established for the week based on current market movements.
Chart Analysis Techniques
- Transitioning into more detailed chart analysis, focusing on sell-side dynamics below relative equal lows as markets drop before opening.
- Mentions using one-minute and five-minute charts to identify breakpoints in market behavior leading up to significant trades.
Trading Strategy Adjustments
- Advises patience in observing market developments without rushing into trades; highlights a breaker setup on shorter time frames as critical for decision-making.
- Reflects on challenges faced while toggling between different chart types (ES vs. US 500), which led to some confusion during live analysis.
Key Takeaways from Market Movements
- Notes an error made when interpreting data across different charts but emphasizes learning from such experiences in future analyses.
Market Analysis and Trading Insights
Overview of Market Movements
- The analysis begins with a focus on the one-minute chart, highlighting sell-side liquidity below a certain level. The market initially dips but finds support at an order block around the 8 o'clock candle.
- A rally is anticipated to reach a short-term high, resulting in a gain of approximately 10 to 12 handles, which is considered a standard setup for traders.
Key Trading Strategies
- Discussion of using crossover techniques on one and five-minute charts as bullish indicators. The market wicks down at the 9:30 open, taking out sell-side liquidity before returning inside the bullish breaker.
- A specific candle at 9:45 is noted as pivotal for potential rallies towards the target of 39.50, indicating strategic entry points based on price action.
Learning Curve and Engagement
- Emphasis on patience and repetition in learning trading strategies; understanding will develop over time with consistent practice.
- The speaker plans to engage viewers through live annotations in February to enhance real-time learning experiences.
Trade Execution and Ethics
- Transparency in trade execution is stressed; tweets are made prior to trades to avoid accusations of unethical practices like "pumping and dumping."
- Timing discrepancies between tweeting about trades and actual execution are acknowledged, ensuring followers understand that entries may vary slightly from ideal positions.
Market Dynamics and Structure
- Clarification that individual traders cannot significantly influence market movements; skepticism towards claims that social media following can manipulate prices.
- Insight into algorithmic trading patterns reveals familiarity with market structures that repeat over time, allowing for predictive insights into price movements.
Final Observations on Market Behavior
- After executing trades with stop-loss orders set just below key levels, observations indicate significant upward movement followed by structural shifts leading to sell-offs.
Understanding Market Dynamics and Trading Strategies
Directional Bias and Liquidity Draws
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding directional bias to anticipate liquidity draws, specifically targeting a higher level indicated in a tweet.
- Unlike retail traders, the speaker prefers to trade within consolidation zones rather than waiting for breakouts, allowing for more strategic positioning.
Fair Value Gaps and Breakers
- Discussion on fair value gaps within larger five-minute breakers highlights key trading opportunities; bullish sentiment is reinforced by specific candle patterns.
- The speaker describes a strong algorithmic entry pattern as "a unicorn," indicating its rarity and effectiveness when combined with market liquidity analysis.
Risk Management and Market Expectations
- A stop-loss strategy is mentioned, showcasing the balance between risk management and potential gains as the market rallies towards expected targets.
- The speaker outlines a bearish bias for the week unless certain price levels are breached, indicating a cautious approach to market fluctuations.
Focused Analysis on Specific Markets
- The complexity of analyzing multiple markets leads to disorientation; thus, the focus will be narrowed down to one market at a time during mentorship sessions.
- Acknowledgment of personal limitations in trading suggests that maintaining focus on one market can enhance performance without diluting attention.
CFD vs. Futures Market Insights
- Differences between CFD prices and futures contracts are discussed; discrepancies may arise due to varying liquidity levels affecting precision in trading strategies.
- The speaker shares insights from Twitter regarding hourly fair value gaps, emphasizing how expectations can differ significantly between CFDs and futures contracts.
Precision in Trading Strategies
- An expectation for upward movement into hourly fair value gaps is expressed; however, actual movements deviated from predictions leading to adjustments in strategy.
Investing in Futures: A Path to Success?
The Importance of Live Data for Trading
- The speaker emphasizes the necessity of investing in live data for ES and NQ Futures markets, stating that it is crucial for effective trading and learning.
- For those outside the U.S. using MT4 brokers, the speaker notes that while strategies will still apply, levels may differ due to data discrepancies.
- The speaker highlights that real-time data is essential; without it, traders may experience delays leading to frustration when charts do not align.
Overcoming Challenges in Trading
- The speaker acknowledges that many Forex traders are accustomed to free real-time charts but warns that Forex may not always be a viable market option.
- He introduces a student who has excelled under his mentorship, emphasizing that he does not provide financial incentives or partnerships with students.
Student Success Stories
- Many students prefer to remain low-profile due to the polarizing nature of the industry and potential backlash from critics.
- The competitive landscape is described as "cutthroat," where misinformation can spread easily about individuals in trading.
Recognition of Achievements
- One standout student managed to withdraw over $250,000 through various prop firms without direct coaching on specific trades.
- This student is noted as the highest earner among funded account traders within the speaker's network, showcasing significant success.
Building a Future in Trading
- While many students have achieved substantial earnings (e.g., six figures), this particular student's achievements are highlighted as exceptional.
- The speaker expresses pride in this student's accomplishments despite external negativity and challenges faced along their journey.
- Emphasizing authenticity, he reassures listeners that following his guidance can lead them away from misleading practices prevalent in retail trading.
Social Media Presence and Future Potential
- The successful student is encouraged to grow his social media presence as he continues achieving consistent results.
Insights on Funded Accounts and Personal Growth
Overview of Funded Accounts
- The speaker discusses the concept of funded accounts, expressing a lack of personal experience but acknowledging their significance in trading.
- A tweet showcasing various payouts from a young trader's journey is highlighted, emphasizing the impressive nature of these achievements.
Inspiration from Success Stories
- The speaker reflects on their humble beginnings and finds inspiration in the success of younger traders who have achieved significant returns.
- They note that critics may not appreciate these successes, as they cannot undermine genuine results produced by dedicated individuals.
Evidence of Real Success
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of tangible evidence showing that many people worldwide are successfully applying learned strategies to generate income.
- They express a desire for all students to share their success stories publicly, despite potential negativity from social media.
Financial Impact and Accessibility
- A hypothetical scenario is presented regarding how $250,000 could change an individual's life, regardless of age or background.
- The speaker encourages viewers to engage with educational content without financial barriers, stressing hard work and patience as keys to success.
Critique of Competitors and Market Misunderstandings
- The speaker critiques competitors who mismanage trades due to a lack of understanding about proper trading practices like stop losses.
- They clarify that certain popular trading patterns are not algorithmic despite claims otherwise, reinforcing the need for sound trading principles.
Mentorship Reflection
- The speaker acknowledges their minor role in students' successes while celebrating their accomplishments as earned through hard work.
- A specific young trader's story is mentioned, highlighting family expectations versus pursuing alternative paths like trading.
Encouragement for Future Success