Cme!
Analyzing Our Crude Oil Trade Plan & Key LevelsNYMEX:CL1!
This is our first blog recapping the trade plan from the prior week. In this blog, traders can take a sneak peek into why we choose and plot the levels we do on our charts. However, these are simply our thoughts and ideas on the market—we do not know what will happen. You should carefully consider whether this approach aligns with your own trading strategy and risk tolerance before making any decisions.
Do you struggle with analysis paralysis in your trading? Don’t worry—we will help you develop a process that you can customize and apply to your own market approach.
Markets by nature have randomness and uncertainty built in. Markets move based on the collective psyche of the participants. These footprints left behind by the collective participants analyzed through volume profiling and multiple time frames is what provides us with our selected support and resistance zones.
To help you better understand our chart setup, here’s how we define key zones and indicators:
On our charts, we use color-coded zones to highlight key market levels:
Green zones indicate bull support areas.
Red zones represent bearish support areas.
Blue zones act as neutral zones but serve as important inflection points.
The Line in the Sand (LIS) is a crucial reference point:
A single LIS can be used to validate both long and short trade ideas.
Alternatively, there may be separate LIS levels—one confirming long trades above it and another confirming short trades below it.
Some other terms that you will commonly find in our blogs are:
VPOC (Volume Point of Control): The price level with the highest traded volume within a given volume profile.
VAH (Value Area High): The upper boundary of the value area, typically representing the +1 standard deviation level in the volume distribution.
VAL (Value Area Low): The lower boundary of the value area, typically representing the -1 standard deviation level in the volume distribution.
Value Area: The range where approximately 70% of the total traded volume occurs, falling within one standard deviation of the distribution.
Important and significant levels on our charts are marked. You can see on the crude oil chart, that we consider mid ranges of defined year, quarter, month, week as significant areas of interest and reaction by market participants.
We also give importance to HVN (High Volume Nodes) and LVN (Low Volume Nodes) and how price usually reacts to these visible distributions of high and low volumes on the volume profile.
Our analysis begins with four key questions that guide our market perspective and decision-making process:
What has the market done?
What is it trying to do?
How good of a job is it doing?
What is more likely to happen from here?
These questions are not intended to decipher the reasons behind market movements or predict outcomes based on personal bias. Instead, they provide a structured framework using Auction Market Theory, Volume Profile, and market-generated significant levels to develop a trade plan—whether for the day or the week.
This trade plan does not dictate specific trades to take; rather, it serves as a roadmap, outlining the key areas where we may want to engage with the market.
To illustrate the importance of structured market analysis and preparation, let's review how our recent crude oil trade plans have played out:
Week of January 27, 2025 – Crude Oil Plan Recap :
The initial trade plan played out, but a pullback occurred.
Buyers stepped in, pushing prices back toward the Blue zone (also the LIS for longs and shorts).
Long positions were only valid after confirming a reclaim of the January 2025 mid-range.
Crude oil then moved sharply toward our key bull support zone before rebounding higher.
This completed the trade plan scenario outlined in red.
Week of January 13, 2025 – Key Takeaways :
We identified the start of bullish momentum in crude oil following a long Q4 2024 consolidation.
Two short trade scenarios were outlined, with the first playing out as expected.
Reviewing past trade plans helps traders develop a structured market preparation process.
This analysis was featured in the Editor’s Pick, mapping out key levels and our thought process.
As we mentioned earlier, we do not have a crystal ball but we do have insights when planning for the week. If you are incorporating this weekly plan, please also monitor and be ready to adjust with new information that is provided on the hard right edge.
If you click the play button on most of our trade plans and just consider that week’s price movement, you may notice that our plans have thoughts and efforts put in them.
ES Trade Idea: Key Levels and Strategies Amid Macro UncertaintyCME_MINI:ES1!
ES futures opened with a gap down on Sunday.
With numerous macro headlines, President Donald Trump’s comments on the Fed’s decision last week, and ongoing trade war tariffs, traders may struggle to distinguish what truly matters for the markets from the noise.
In our opinion, do not let macro headlines cloud your judgement. Have a trade plan and be ready to adjust with market conditions and volatility. One way to mitigate risk is by utilizing micro CME contracts , allowing for more precise risk management during volatile market conditions. Additionally, you can participate in the CME and TradingView paper trading competition, giving you the opportunity to test your skills in The Leap without risking real money.
Remember, it's NFP week, and several other key economic data releases are also on the calendar.
In our view, it is important to zoom out and reduce key levels on your charts to ones that are significant.
Key Levels:
Key levels represent areas of interest and zones of active market participation. The more significant a key level, the closer we monitor it for potential reactions and trade setups in alignment with our trading plan.
(mcVAH) micro composite value area high: 6,134.25
Key LIS/Yearly Open: 5,949.25
(mcVAL) micro composite value area low: 5,914.25
(CVAH) Composite Value Area High: 5,924
Scenario 1: Long above Key LIS
Our key LIS is still Yearly open as it was discussed in last week’s idea. We are looking for long trade setups at this level.
Scenario 2: Short below Key LIS
If the price moves lower and holds below a key level, we will look for short trade setups targeting our green support zones on the chart from mcVAL and CVAH confluence.
Is This Sell-Off Another "Buy the Dip" Opportunity?Macro Update
Index futures sold off during overnight trading as market sentiment turned risk-off.
Newswires reported that, after Colombia denied entry to two U.S. deportation aircraft, President Trump announced emergency tariffs of 25% on all Colombian imports, with plans to increase them to 50% next week. Additionally, The Wall Street Journal noted growing support among President Trump's advisors to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico as early as Saturday to initiate negotiations.
Meanwhile, Chinese startup DeepSeek is challenging U.S. dominance in the AI sector by introducing a low-cost model rivaling OpenAI's o1. This development may intensify geopolitical and economic tensions.
Adding to the unease, Chinese Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing PMIs missed expectations. Manufacturing PMI came in at 49.1, below the forecast of 50.1. Markets in China and most of Asia will remain closed starting Tuesday for the Lunar New Year holiday, which could lead to lower regional liquidity.
Looking ahead, the week features several high-impact events:
Wednesday, January 29:
Federal Reserve interest rate decision and the first FOMC press conference of 2025.
Bank of Canada interest rate decision.
Thursday, January 30th:
ECB interest rate decision
Preliminary Q4 GDP data (QoQ).
Friday, January 31st:
Core PCE Price Index (Dec).
ES Futures Update
This week is packed with critical data releases, and macroeconomic developments are having a stronger influence on short-term price fluctuations. It’s an important time to step back, zoom out, and identify key levels of interest to engage with the market.
Despite the overnight sell-off and heightened volatility, the auction process remains orderly. Managing risk is paramount, as losses are an inherent part of trading.
Key Observations:
ES futures bounced off the yearly open in overnight trading, marking it as our critical Line in the Sand (LIS).
If prices stay above the LIS, markets are likely to consolidate further this week, with FOMC and other data releases determining the next move.
A break below the yearly open could open the door to short trade opportunities targeting the support zones identified on the chart.
Scenario 1: Wait and See
Allow the market to digest the sell-off. Look for long setups from the LIS. Key events like the FOMC decision will likely influence market direction, but unexpected negative news could overshadow these data releases.
Scenario 2: Sustained Sell-Off
If a catalyst triggers further downside, the market may test support levels near 5,750 and 5,800. Below the LIS, short setups may be viable if supported by news or price action that aligns with a bearish trade thesis.
For traders looking to manage risk more effectively, consider using Micro E-mini S&P 500 contracts , which are 1/10th the size of standard ES contracts.
This week’s data releases, geopolitical developments, and tariff announcements are likely to shape market sentiment. Stay cautious and adapt to new information as it unfolds. Risk management remains the cornerstone of success in volatile markets.
Not confident to incorporate these into your trading plan? Why not incorporate our trade ideas to your trade plan in TradingView and CME’s paper trading competition; “The Leap”.
ES Futures Trade Idea - Trump Inauguration MLK weekMacroeconomic News:
US markets were closed yesterday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. ES, NQ and YM futures saw mild gains yesterday, RTY futures outperformed.
As the 47th president of the United States, Donald Trump took the oath of office promising to protect the border, address inflation, and restructure trade policies. In addition to withdrawing from the Paris Climate Treaty and signing orders to cancel 78 Biden-era acts, he also started energy production reforms, such as drilling for oil in the Arctic. Trump discussed agreements over TikTok ownership, threatened global tariffs, and suggested imposing duties on the EU, Canada, and Mexico. He urged a speedy conclusion to the conflict in Ukraine and gave top priority to evaluating China's adherence to trade agreements. Trump stopped importing oil from Venezuela, emphasized energy independence, and lifted sanctions on Israeli settlers. The goal of bold measures is to put American workers and security first.
Following yesterday's strong selling pressure, which was brought on by the announcement that President Trump would not impose tariffs on the first day of his presidency, the dollar is now showing signs of recovery. Nevertheless, Trump's statement that he is considering 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and believes they would be implemented on February 1st shattered trade confidence overnight.
In our opinion, buy the rumor-sell the fact, sell the rumor-buy the fact, will likely be a key theme during Trump’s presidential term.
ES Futures update:
As we can see in the chart above, ES futures are currently above our Line in the Sand, Yearly Open at 5,949.25.
ES futures also made a higher low on Jan 13th, 2025 compared to Nov 4th, 2024 swing low.
ES futures formed a bull flag after the Dec 18th, 2024 FOMC announcement. Price has now broken out of the bull flag channel.
Key Levels to Watch
Key levels represent areas of interest and zones of active market participation. The more significant a key level, the closer we monitor it for potential reactions and trade setups in alignment with our trading plan.
Jan 6th Weekly Hi: 6,068.25
Jan 13th Weekly Hi: 6,051.50
Yearly Open | LIS (Line in Sand): 5,949.25
Resistance R1: 6,105 - 6,115
Resistance R2: 6,145 - 6,155
All time highs: 6,184.50
Scenario 1: Breakout continuation
Price has broken out of bull flag formation from the Dec 18th, 2024 FOMC announcement. Break above current area of consolidation marked in Blue zone forming the area between Jan 6th and Jan 13th Weekly Highs. Price heads towards R1, R2 and R3 targets.
Scenario 2: Further consolidation
Price further consolidates this week awaiting a catalyst to trend higher next week. Strong earnings season propels US futures and stocks higher.
We encourage you to monitor these levels closely and incorporate them into your trade planning. Share your thoughts or insights on these key levels in the comments below.
BTC CMEAfter touching the weekly BISI, the price dropped behind the stops in the shorts, the daily BIs became an inversion and gave support to the price without pushing it down.
If this is a Екгьз rally, we will see how the price will react within 4 hours, a selling pattern is formed, there is inefficiency, a block of refusal is possible, which can lower the price to 0.5 range
Will this move be to fill the weekly BISI again or will it continue to send orders up?
Now those who entered long have opened positions, I think the price will follow their stops
BTC CME Short Model and Long ModelNow Bitcoin is in the Premium zone, where it is better to consider short positions for a short-term movement to the Discount zone. If the Market Maker goes for equal lows, which is a good exit point, or if the Market Maker goes long, then the exact entry will be better in the Discount zone, return to where the accumulation was, and see what candles will be formed at this level.
If we look at TOTAL 1 2 3, we will see that these assets are also in the Premium zone, which can also be good support for short positions.
BTC Target Price & Supports after 12/30/2024 structure break.BTC has broken its current market structure and is now seeking new support. I’ve identified three key support zones and a potential target price to monitor for the future. I plan to execute three trades, each with a 2% risk allocation. The exit strategy will be determined later, but for now, the target price serves as the anticipated level for evaluation.
Trade Idea 2024-12-30 and Review of 2024As the year comes to a close, we expect it to be a quiet week. If you haven’t already, now is an excellent time to set your trading goals for the coming year. Where will your focus be? Which markets will you trade actively? What is your risk management plan?
It is also a good time to complete a review for 2024 if you have not already! Keeping a trading journal is essential for tracking progress and learning from your mistakes.
Active trading, like other high-performance activities, requires resilience, focus, and a winning mindset, but even with these attributes, losses are a natural part of the process. Always trade with a clear plan, manage your risks effectively, and never trade with more capital than you can afford to lose.
As we wrap up the year, we are sharing a couple of the most popular charts we reviewed in 2024 and reflecting on the following questions we asked ourselves:
What has the market done?
What is it trying to do?
How good of a job is it doing?
What is likely to happen from here?
Volume profile provides key insights into market auction and interaction of buyers and sellers.
This is how we approach markets although there are many other ways of doing so.
Big Picture ES Futures:
Key Levels:
2024 mid point: 5574.50
2024 VPOC: 5441.75
2024 Value Area High: 5844.25
2024 High: 6184.50
Fib Extensions Target 1: 6388
Fib Extension Target 2: 6514.25
Fib Extension Target 3: 6590.75
Fib Extension Target 4: 6695.50
Big Picture BTC Futures:
Key Levels:
2024 High: 108,960
2024 Mid point: 77,865
2024 VPOC: 69,710
2024 Value Area High: 79,525
Key Support for Bulls: 78,000 - 76,000
Big Picture CL Futures:
Key Levels:
Composite Value Area High: 79.65
2024 Value Area High: 74.90
2024 Mid point: 72.14
2024 VPOC: 69.70
2024 Value Area Low: 66.70
Composite Value Area Low: 63.55
We await the start of the new year to further gauge short term price action, volume and ranges for the upcoming year! Happy trading from EdgeClear! We wish you all a great 2025!
Disclaimer: The views expressed are opinions and should not be interpreted as financial advice. Derivatives involve a substantial risk of loss and are not suitable for all investors.
Price Gap Examples - Bitcoin FuturesSharing for educational purposes only.
█ Three Types of Gaps
There are three general types of gaps:
Breakaway Gap
Runaway (or Measuring) Gap
Exhaustion Gap
█ 1 — The Breakaway Gap
The breakaway gap usually occurs:
At the completion of an important price pattern.
At the beginning of a significant market move
Examples:
After a market completes a major basing pattern, the breaking of resistance often involves a breakaway gap.
Breaking major trendlines signaling a reversal of trend may also involve this type of gap
Key Characteristics:
Heavy volume often accompanies breakaway gaps.
They are typically not filled (or only partially filled).
In an uptrend, upside gaps act as support areas on subsequent corrections.
A close below the gap is a sign of weakness.
█ 2 — The Runaway or Measuring Gap
The runaway gap forms:
Midway through a trend (uptrend or downtrend).
Indicates the market is moving effortlessly, usually on moderate volume.
Key Characteristics:
In an uptrend, it signals strength.
In a downtrend, it signals weakness.
Acts as support or resistance during subsequent corrections.
Why "Measuring" Gap?
It often occurs at the halfway point of a trend.
By measuring the distance the trend has already traveled, the probable extent of the remaining move can be estimated by doubling the amount already achieved.
█ 3 — The Exhaustion Gap
The exhaustion gap appears:
Near the end of a market move.
Key Characteristics:
Occurs after objectives have been achieved and other gap types (breakaway and runaway) have been identified.
In an uptrend, prices leap forward in a final push but quickly fade.
Within a couple of days or a week, prices turn lower.
█ Conclusion
By understanding the types of gaps and their characteristics, traders can better interpret market signals and anticipate potential trends or reversals.
█ Source:
Murphy, John J. Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets: A Comprehensive Guide to Trading Methods and Applications. New York Institute of Finance, 1999. Chapter 4, "Price Gaps," pp. 94-98.
BTC CME Regression Trend Re-visiting an old chart, I put in a regression trend channel on March 11 2024, before the halving. BTC has just come back to the bottom part of that channel. Should retest bottom, then middle, another test, then test the top , in theory. nothing about the next 6 months is known. watch the liquidity cycle. Gonna get crazy, be safe, hardware wallets everyone!
Where from here? my thoughts are $225K, but..., ladder out at fibs, the 61.8's
Bitcoin’s CME futures gap gives a clue for the 1st big correctonAnytime you see a gap in price action like this they almost always get filled, and typically get filled sooner than later. So while there is a chance bitcoin could turn the current mild retracement into a deeper pullback that goes down to fill this gap, until the current support on btc is broken, which is the top trendline of the rising wedge it now currently has 3 consecutive daily candles above(not shown here), I think it’s more probable that bitcoin waits for a much more powerful resistance line that results in a much stronger rejection before it corrects back down far enough to fill this gap. If the current pullback doesn’t lead to the gap fill then my guess is once we retest the top green trendline of this group of channels:
That this would be the perfect time to have our first significant correction of the current parabolic phase of the bull market. I will be prepared for either zone to have a chance to fill that gap and plan accordingly, Also a few measured move targets around the 115 - 116k range so a pullback could potentially occur around that zone as well. *not financial advice*
BTC Futures Expectations: Anticipating the Next Market MovesTwo major macro events are now behind us; the Fed rate decision and more notably, the U.S. Presidential Election. With a clean red sweep, we have begun to see Scenario 1 play out from our previous post. However, given the surge of retail euphoria and excitement, this run towards the 90k mark was not entirely unexpected. November 11, 2024 has now set a crucial range for the weeks ahead.
Big Picture BTC Futures:
Key Levels to Watch:
pATH support: 78,960 - 77,155
Key Bull Zone: 68,100 - 65,500
Yearly Mid: 67,375
Yearly VPOC: 68,100
Scenario 1 — Consolidation While Capped by Weekly High and Monday’s Range
In this scenario, we can expect further consolidation as more participants enter the market.
Based on our current expectations, BTC may consolidate near new ATHs and above key pATHs support. Perhaps we may see another bull flag formation, which may fail at first and test the key pATHs support before another upward move. Here, the key would be shaking out late breakout traders, with a possible dip before another move higher as outlined.
Scenario 2 — Euphoria Turns to Frustration and Shakeout for Late Breakout Traders
In this scenario, we expect a deeper pullback that could be more intense—shifting the euphoria into gloom. A bottom signal will likely emerge as market sentiment turns bearish. BTC futures could dip back to pATHs, followed by a quick V bottom recovery that tests the confluence of yVPOC, key bull support, and yearly midpoint.
Scenario 3 - Sustained Bullish Momentum to 100K
In this scenario, a bullish run continues towards the 100K mark before it starts to cool down and consolidate between 90K and 100K price levels. This is a warning for those trying to time a top in BTC futures. It is better to plan than to step in blindly and fire from the hip.
Considering trading CME BTC futures? You can now access CME MBT Micro Bitcoin futures, 1/10th the size of one bitcoin, and CME BFF, Bitcoin Friday futures, sized at 1/50 of a bitcoin, Bitcoin Friday futures is a short-dated contract that provides an accessible, capital-efficient way to manage your bitcoin trading strategies.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal opinions and should not be interpreted as financial advice. NFA does not have regulatory oversight authority over underlying or spot virtual currency products. Derivatives involve a substantial risk of loss and are not suitable for all investors.
CME Gap Update: $77K-$80K ZoneThere is a recent CME gap sitting between the $77K and $80K range. CME gaps are known for being open levels in price that tend to get filled sooner or later. With this gap still unfilled, it’s crucial to keep an eye on this area as price action could revisit it in the near term, potentially acting as a pullback target or confirmation of further upward momentum. As always, traders should be prepared for price to retrace and fill the gap, especially if the current bullish trend continues. NFA.
BTC CME GAP- CME and cryptocurrency ETFs are important, but in different ways :
- The CME is more influential in terms of institutional trading, price discovery, and market structure, while ETFs play a crucial role in making cryptocurrencies accessible to a broader range of investors and driving market adoption.
- Don't focus on ETFs, they are still young and small in BTC/ETH market ( around 5% ).
- Chicago Mercantile Exchange are older.
- Wealthy investors are in BTC from 2017.
- This Gap have to be taken soon or later.
PS : the green line is EMA200
Happy Tr4Ding !
Beginning of AUDUSD workout. H4 03.09.2024Beginning of AUDUSD workout
Yesterday in the closed channel I recommended subscribers
to look for sales of the Australian dollar from the strong zone
0.6790-0.6816 with the perspective of corrective
fall to 0.6640+-
The price gave a reaction in the morning and I believe that
the push down will continue. It remains to cover a major
growth candle and then I will increase sales.
It is also desirable that the cumulative starts
to grow on the fall, they often get after that.
Already right now, even at 0.1 lot almost returned
the cost of a monthly subscription
Ethereum - CME Gap yet to be filled#ETH/USDT #Analysis
Description
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+ As shown in the chart, the Bitcoin CME futures gap is still unfilled.
+ This gap was created during the sudden market crash driven by recession fears.
+ Historically, 90% of CME gaps get filled sooner or later, and we expect the same outcome in this case.
+ Currently, the ETH price is around the support zone, and it appears to have recovered after hitting this level.
+ It's likely this gap will be filled in September, as it is typically a bearish month, but it should certainly be filled before the end of October.
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Enhance, Trade, Grow
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Feel free to share your thoughts and insights.
Don't forget to like and follow us for more trading ideas and discussions.
Best Regards,
VectorAlgo
USDCAD in the area of option hedges. H4 29.08.2024 USDCAD in the area of option hedges
The price has entered the area of option hedges and margins at 1.3460.
However, given the strongly growing cumulative delta, there are concerns
whether it can go up without updating the low near 1.3440.
I think it will be pulled down first, ideally to knock out stops, capture liquidity,
show a culmination and then go into corrective growth. The nearest target is around 1.36
Rebound EURUSD before the start of correction H4. 22.08.2024Rebound EURUSD before the start of correction
On the Euro I expect a rebound to the area of 1.1170
and the start of correction there.
The rebound was made, but the nuance is that the cumulative
continues to fall,
which means that they can still make an outburst to fill
the culmination volumes.
Without them they are unlikely to make a downward reversal.
They may reach 1.12, where there is also a strong option resistance,
and then down.
In any case, I will not enter without confirmation of volumes
and I advise you to wait for the conditions.