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NQ Weekly, Daily & 4 HR Chart Bullish Confirmation for Sun MonLooking for a bounce after 3 straight weeks of lower prices here starting with Sunday night's open barring any Trump/geopolitical news. Monday is a No Red Folder News Day, which also makes it look good for the longs. However, starting on Tuesday and for the rest of the week, we have red folder news every day... Tue Mar 11 10:00am USD JOLTS Job Openings Wed Mar 12 8:30am USD Core CPI m/m Thu Mar 13 8:30am Core PPI m/m PPI m/m Unemployment Claims 226K 221K Fri Mar 14 10:00am USD Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment Prelim UoM Inflation Expectations
CME_MINI:NQ1!Long
by Vinchenz
Mastering ICT Concepts: The Ultimate Trading Strategy GuideA lot of people are drawn to ICT trading concepts because they offer a deep understanding of how the markets truly work. With this guide, I want to explain the most popular ICT strategies in a simple and detailed way to help traders navigate these concepts effectively. The Inner Circle Trader (ICT) methodology offers a suite of trading strategies that delve into market mechanics, focusing on institutional behaviors and liquidity dynamics. This guide explores five prominent ICT strategies: Fair Value Gaps (FVG), Power of Three (PO3), Inversion Fair Value Gaps (IFVG) with Liquidity Sweeps, Breaker Blocks, and the Silver Bullet Strategy. Each section provides an in-depth explanation, trading approach, key considerations, and designated spots for illustrative images. 🔍 1. Fair Value Gaps (FVG) A Fair Value Gap (FVG) represents a price imbalance created when the market moves rapidly in one direction, leaving a gap between consecutive candlesticks. This gap signals inefficient pricing, which the market tends to revisit later to balance liquidity. Understanding FVGs is crucial as they reveal hidden institutional footprints. How to Trade: Identification: Spot an FVG when there is a three-candlestick formation where the second candle creates a gap between the high of the first candle and the low of the third candle. Retracement Expectation: The market typically seeks to fill these gaps as it rebalances price inefficiencies. Entry Strategy: Wait for price to return to the gap and enter in the direction of the initial impulse. Confirm the trade with market structure shifts or other confluence factors. Targets: Use previous highs/lows, liquidity zones, or equilibrium levels (50% of the FVG) as potential targets. Key Considerations: Timeframes: Higher timeframes like 1-hour, 4-hour, and daily yield more reliable signals. Volume Confirmation: High volume during the initial impulse strengthens the likelihood of a retracement. Partial Fills: The market may not always fill the entire gap. ⚡ 2. Power of Three (PO3) The Power of Three (PO3) describes how institutional players manipulate price action through three key phases: Accumulation, Manipulation, and Distribution. This strategy highlights how smart money engineers liquidity and misleads retail traders before delivering the intended price move. How to Trade: Accumulation Phase: Identify consolidation zones where price ranges sideways, often before major sessions (London or New York). Manipulation Phase: Wait for false breakouts or stop hunts where price temporarily breaks out from the range before reversing. Distribution Phase: Enter the trade in the opposite direction of the manipulation, targeting the liquidity created during the false move. Entry Confirmation: Market structure shifts after the manipulation phase. Bullish or bearish order blocks aligning with the intended direction. Fair Value Gaps in the distribution phase. Key Considerations: Patience: This strategy often requires waiting several hours for all three phases to complete. Liquidity Zones: Look for equal highs or lows near the range to anticipate the manipulation move. Time Windows: PO3 often plays out during high-volume sessions. 🔄 3. Inversion Fair Value Gaps (IFVG) with Liquidity Sweeps Inversion Fair Value Gaps (IFVG) are advanced price inefficiencies that act as dynamic support or resistance zones. When price fills a traditional FVG, that zone can later serve as an IFVG—particularly when aligned with liquidity sweeps. How to Trade: Identify Original FVG: Locate an FVG that has already been filled. Liquidity Sweep Trigger: Wait for price to sweep liquidity above or below a key level. Inversion Zone: When price returns to the previous FVG, treat it as a new support or resistance zone. Entry Confirmation: Watch for market structure shifts or rejection candles at the IFVG. Key Considerations: Confluence Zones: Combine IFVG with liquidity sweeps and order blocks. Patience: Wait for price action confirmation before entering. Stop Placement: Place stops below the IFVG in bullish setups or above in bearish setups. 🧱 4. Breaker Blocks Breaker Blocks are zones where previous support or resistance levels are invalidated by a liquidity sweep, only to become reversal zones. They represent areas where smart money accumulates orders before delivering price in the opposite direction. How to Trade: Identify Liquidity Sweeps: Spot areas where price breaks above or below a key high/low before reversing. Breaker Formation: The candle that invalidates the liquidity sweep forms the Breaker Block. Entry Strategy: Wait for price to retrace into the Breaker Block and confirm the trade with rejection candles or market structure shifts. Targets: Previous liquidity pools or opposing order blocks. Key Considerations: Higher Timeframes: Use 1-hour or 4-hour charts for the best results. Volume Analysis: High volume during the breaker formation strengthens the signal. Risk Management: Place stops beyond the breaker boundary. 🎯 5. Silver Bullet Strategy The Silver Bullet Strategy is a time-based model designed to capitalize on institutional price delivery patterns during specific one-hour windows. This strategy focuses on liquidity sweeps and Fair Value Gaps within these timeframes. How to Trade: Time Windows: Target these key one-hour sessions: London Open: 03:00 AM – 04:00 AM EST New York AM Session: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST New York PM Session: 02:00 PM – 03:00 PM EST Identify Liquidity Zones: Look for equal highs/lows or session highs/lows. Execute Trades: Enter trades when price sweeps liquidity and rejects from an FVG or Breaker Block within the Silver Bullet window. Targets: Use opposing liquidity pools or session extremes. Key Considerations: Strict Timing: Only trade within the designated time windows. Confluence Factors: Combine with market structure shifts and order blocks. Risk Management: Place stops beyond liquidity sweep wicks. Conclusion Mastering ICT trading strategies requires patience, precision, and continuous practice. These five strategies—FVG, PO3, IFVG with Liquidity Sweeps, Breaker Blocks, and the Silver Bullet—provide a comprehensive framework to align with institutional price delivery. Use confluence factors and practice in demo environments before applying these methods in live markets. Happy Trading! Note: This guide is for educational purposes only and not financial advice. __________________________________________ Thanks for your support! If you found this guide helpful or learned something new, drop a like 👍 and leave a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🚀
Education
by TehThomas
16
What Is ICT PO3, and How Do Traders Use It?What Is ICT PO3, and How Do Traders Use It? The ICT Power of 3 is a strategic trading method that helps traders identify behaviour of ‘smart money.’ It dissects market movements into three distinct phases: accumulation, manipulation, and distribution. This article explores the intricacies of the Power of 3 strategy and its practical application in trading. Understanding the ICT PO3 Trading Concept The ICT Power of 3 (PO3), or the AMD setup, is a strategic trading framework developed by Michael J. Huddleston, better known as the Inner Circle Trader. This approach revolves around three critical phases: accumulation, manipulation, and distribution, which collectively help traders understand and anticipate market movements. Accumulation Phase During this phase, smart money or institutional investors accumulate positions within a price range, often leading to a period of low volatility and sideways movement. This stage sets the groundwork for future price movements by creating a base of support or resistance. Manipulation Phase The manipulation phase involves deliberate price moves by smart money to trigger stop losses and deceive retail traders. In a bullish scenario, prices may dip below the established range, while in a bearish market, prices might spike above the range. This phase is seen as being characterised by sharp, misleading price movements aimed at manipulating liquidity. Distribution Phase Following manipulation, the distribution phase sees smart money offloading their positions, leading to significant price movements in the intended direction. For bullish trends, this involves a strong upward move, whereas, in bearish conditions, it results in a sharp decline. This phase marks the realisation of the strategic positions built during the accumulation phase. Understanding this ICT concept allows traders to align their strategies with the actions of institutional investors, potentially enhancing their ability to make informed trading decisions. The ICT PO3 strategy is versatile, applicable across different timeframes and financial instruments, making it a valuable tool for traders in various markets. Below, we’ll discuss each of these three phases in more detail. Accumulation Phase The accumulation phase is a crucial initial stage within the Power of 3 trading strategy. It represents a period where institutional investors, often referred to as smart money, quietly build their positions in a particular asset. This phase is characterised by relatively low volatility and sideways price movement, typically near key support or resistance levels. During accumulation, the market tends to range within a narrow band as large players gradually buy into the asset without significantly driving up its price. This steady acquisition reflects their confidence in the asset's future appreciation. Recognising the accumulation phase involves monitoring for signs such as low-volatile, ranging price action and potential increases in trading volume without major price changes. Indicators of the accumulation phase include: - Low Volatility: The asset trades within a tight range, showing little directional bias. - Support Levels: Accumulation often occurs near historical support or resistance levels where the price is deemed under or overvalued by institutional investors. - Increased Volume: There may be a gradual rise in volume as smart money accumulates positions, signalling their interest without causing sharp price movements. Specifically, this range is also intended to trap retail traders on both sides of the market. In a bullish accumulation, for example, where the price will eventually break upwards, the range will trap bullish traders buying from the support level inside of the range. Given that these traders will most likely set their stop losses below the range, this paves the way for the next stage: manipulation of liquidity. However, some traders will also take a short position in this range, anticipating that price will continue to break lower. These traders add fuel to the distribution leg discussed later. The Manipulation Phase The manipulation phase is a pivotal part of the ICT PO3 trading strategy. This stage is marked by deliberate actions from institutional investors to create market conditions that mislead and trap retail traders. It follows the accumulation phase, where positions are built, and precedes the distribution phase, where these positions are realised. Characteristics of the Manipulation Phase: - Deceptive Price Movements: During this phase, the price moves sharply in a direction opposite to the expected trend. In a bullish setup, prices might dip below the established range, while in a bearish setup, they might spike above the range. These moves are designed to trigger stop-loss orders, encourage breakout traders to enter positions and ultimately generate liquidity for the smart money’s large orders. - Triggering Retail Traps: The primary goal is to shake out early traders by hitting their stop-loss levels. For instance, a sudden dip in a bullish market might make retail traders believe that the market is turning bearish, prompting them to close their positions. - Creating Liquidity: By inducing these price movements, smart money creates liquidity that allows them to add to their positions at more favourable prices. This phase is crucial for building the necessary conditions for the subsequent distribution phase. Recognising Manipulation: - False Breakouts: Characterised by sharp, sudden moves that quickly reverse. These are often designed to lure traders into thinking a breakout has occurred. - Price Action Signals: Price action that doesn’t align with the overall market structure or sentiment can be a sign of manipulation. This can be especially true after a long uptrend or downtrend, signalling potential exhaustion. For example, in a bullish market, after a period of accumulation where prices have stabilised within a range, a sudden drop might occur. This drop triggers stop-loss orders and panics retail traders into selling. It also encourages some to trade what appears to be a bearish breakout. Smart money then buys these positions at lower prices, preparing for the distribution phase where they push the prices up sharply. The Distribution Phase The distribution phase is the final stage in the Power of 3 trading strategy, where smart money begins to offload their positions built during the accumulation phase. This phase follows the manipulation phase, and it is characterised by strong price movements in the direction opposite to the manipulation. Key Characteristics of the Distribution Phase: - Significant Price Movement: This phase involves substantial price changes as institutional investors begin to realise their positions. In a bullish scenario, this means a sharp upward movement; in a bearish scenario, a sharp decline. - High Volume: The distribution phase is often accompanied by high trading volume, indicating that a large number of positions are being sold or bought back. - Market Confirmation: During this phase, the true market trend that was obscured during the manipulation phase becomes evident. The price moves in the direction of the original accumulation, confirming the intent of the smart money. - Retail Trader Participation: Many traders have been shaken out of their positions, including those who were wrong about the initial breakout’s direction and those who were correct but had their stop loss triggered by the manipulation phase. They now pile back into the trade, fueling this strong upward or downward leg. Recognising the Distribution Phase: - Price Action: Traders look for strong, sustained movements in price, often with large candles. For a bullish trend, this means a consistent upward movement; for a bearish trend, a consistent downward movement. - Volume Analysis: Increased trading volume during these price movements indicates distribution. - Breaking Market Structure: The high or low of the accumulation/manipulation phase will be traded through. - Technical Indicators: Use of tools like moving averages and support/resistance levels can help confirm the transition into the distribution phase. For example, in a bullish market, smart money begins to buy aggressively after the price has been manipulated downwards to create liquidity. This buying pressure pushes the price up sharply, signalling the start of the distribution phase. Traders can look for increased volume and price action breaking above previous resistance levels as confirmation. Practical Application of ICT PO3 The ICT PO3 strategy can be effectively applied by traders through a structured approach involving higher timeframe analysis and keen observation of price movements. Here's how traders typically utilise this strategy: Setting the Daily Bias Traders often start by establishing their market bias for the day. This involves analysing higher timeframes to determine the overall market trend. Understanding whether the market is bullish or bearish sets the foundation for the day’s trading strategy. Marking the Day's Open After setting the bias, traders mark the opening price of the day. This price point is critical as it serves as a reference for potential manipulation and trading opportunities. Identifying Manipulation Traders look for price movements beyond the day's open and the established range boundaries. For a long bias, they observe for manipulation below the open, while for a short bias, they look above the open. This stage is crucial as it indicates where smart money is likely manipulating the market to create liquidity. Entry Signals While a trader can simply enter once price trades beyond the day’s open, many choose to confirm the trade. Using a 5-15 minute chart, they might look for signals such as: - Price moving into a significant area of liquidity beyond a key swing high or low. - A break of established market structure, such as price beginning to move above previous swing highs in a bullish setup (known as a change of character, or ChoCh). - Chart patterns or candlestick patterns that indicate a reversal or continuation, such as a hammer/shooting star, wedge, quasimodo, etc. - A moving average crossover that supports the expected price direction. - Momentum indicators showing waning momentum in the manipulated direction. Traders typically place stop losses beyond the manipulation high or low to potentially manage risk here. Distribution Phase Opportunities If an entry is missed during the manipulation phase, traders can look for opportunities during the distribution phase. Although this phase may offer a less favourable risk-to-reward ratio, it still provides potential trading opportunities. Traders might wait for a market structure break or ChoCh, followed by a pullback, setting stop losses either beyond a recent swing high/low or beyond the manipulation high or low. ICT Power of 3 Example On the GBPUSD 15m chart above, the day open acts as a support level, marking the accumulation phase. A candle wicks below the range, followed by a price break above the range, which then sharply reverses, indicating the manipulation phase. After taking liquidity, price rebounds sharply. On the 5m chart, a break above the downtrend structure creates a change of character (ChoCh) before price pulls back and breaks above the manipulation high, signalling a bullish market shift. Subsequent pullbacks might be excellent entry points for traders who missed the manipulation phase entries before price marks up further. The Bottom Line Understanding and applying the ICT Power of 3 strategy can enhance a trader's ability to navigate market movements. By recognising the phases of accumulation, manipulation, and distribution, traders can better align their actions with institutional behaviours. To implement this strategy and optimise your trading experience, consider opening an FXOpen account for advanced trading tools and support of a broker you can trust. FAQ What Is PO3 in Trading? The ICT Power of 3 (PO3) is a trading strategy developed by Michael J. Huddleston, known as the Inner Circle Trader. It involves three key phases: accumulation, manipulation, and distribution. These phases help traders understand market movements by aligning their strategies with institutional investors. What Is the Power of 3 ICT Entry? The Power of 3 ICT entry involves identifying optimal points to enter trades during the phases of accumulation, manipulation, and distribution. Traders typically look for signs of price manipulation, such as false breakouts, and then enter trades in the direction of the anticipated distribution phase. How Does the Power of 3 Work? The ICT Power of 3 can be an indicator of potential smart money involvement. It works by breaking down market movements into three phases: 1. Accumulation: Smart money builds positions. 2. Manipulation: Price moves are designed to deceive retail traders. 3. Distribution: Smart money offloads positions, leading to significant price movements in the intended direction. How to Trade the Power of Three? To begin Power of Three trading, traders first set their daily bias using higher timeframe analysis. They then mark the daily open and observe for price manipulation. Entry signals include breaks of market structure, liquidity grabs, and candlestick patterns. Traders set stop losses beyond manipulation highs or lows and can also look for entries during pullbacks in the distribution phase.​ Trade on TradingView with FXOpen. Consider opening an account and access over 700 markets with tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions from $1.50 per lot. This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
Education
by FXOpen
1
2.27.25 MNQ Trade Ideas with my bias (Pt. 3) ^ Outcome of trade snapshot is here, we were stopped out after we took our first partial. Forex, Crypto and Futures Trading Risk Disclosure: The National Futures Association (NFA) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the regulatory agencies for the forex and futures markets in the United States, require that customers be informed about potential risks in trading these markets. If you do not fully understand the risks, please seek advice from an independent financial advisor before engaging in trading. Trading forex and futures on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to trade, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. There is a possibility of losing some or all of your initial investment, and therefore, you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. Be aware of the risks associated with leveraged trading and seek professional advice if necessary. BDRipTrades Market Opinions (also applies to BDelCiel and Aligned & Wealthy LLC): Any opinions, news, research, analysis, prices, or other information contained in my content (including live streams, videos, and posts) are provided as general market commentary only and do not constitute investment advice. BDRipTrades, BDelCiel, and Aligned & Wealthy LLC will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including but not limited to, any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on such information. Accuracy of Information: The content I provide is subject to change at any time without notice and is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. While I strive for accuracy, I do not guarantee the completeness or reliability of any information. I am not responsible for any losses incurred due to reliance on any information shared through my platforms. Government-Required Risk Disclaimer and Disclosure Statement: CFTC RULE 4.41 - HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER-OR-OVER COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFIT OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN. Performance results discussed in my content are hypothetical and subject to limitations. There are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any particular trading strategy. One of the limitations of hypothetical trading results is that they do not account for real-world financial risk. Furthermore, past performance of any trading system or strategy does not guarantee future results. General Trading Disclaimer: Trading in futures, forex, and other leveraged products involves substantial risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Do not trade with money you cannot afford to lose. I do not provide buy/sell signals, financial advice, or investment recommendations. Any decisions you make based on my content are solely your responsibility. By engaging with my content, including live streams, videos, educational materials, and any communication through my platforms, you acknowledge and accept that all trading decisions you make are at your own risk. BDRipTrades, BDelCiel, and Aligned & Wealthy LLC cannot and will not be held responsible for any trading losses you may incur.
CME_MINI:MNQH2025Short
by BDripTradess
MNQ 2.27.25 Trade ideas (Pt. 2)Continuation of first video. Forex, Crypto and Futures Trading Risk Disclosure: The National Futures Association (NFA) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the regulatory agencies for the forex and futures markets in the United States, require that customers be informed about potential risks in trading these markets. If you do not fully understand the risks, please seek advice from an independent financial advisor before engaging in trading. Trading forex and futures on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to trade, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. There is a possibility of losing some or all of your initial investment, and therefore, you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. Be aware of the risks associated with leveraged trading and seek professional advice if necessary. BDRipTrades Market Opinions (also applies to BDelCiel and Aligned & Wealthy LLC): Any opinions, news, research, analysis, prices, or other information contained in my content (including live streams, videos, and posts) are provided as general market commentary only and do not constitute investment advice. BDRipTrades, BDelCiel, and Aligned & Wealthy LLC will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including but not limited to, any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on such information. Accuracy of Information: The content I provide is subject to change at any time without notice and is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. While I strive for accuracy, I do not guarantee the completeness or reliability of any information. I am not responsible for any losses incurred due to reliance on any information shared through my platforms. Government-Required Risk Disclaimer and Disclosure Statement: CFTC RULE 4.41 - HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER-OR-OVER COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFIT OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN. Performance results discussed in my content are hypothetical and subject to limitations. There are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any particular trading strategy. One of the limitations of hypothetical trading results is that they do not account for real-world financial risk. Furthermore, past performance of any trading system or strategy does not guarantee future results. General Trading Disclaimer: Trading in futures, forex, and other leveraged products involves substantial risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Do not trade with money you cannot afford to lose. I do not provide buy/sell signals, financial advice, or investment recommendations. Any decisions you make based on my content are solely your responsibility. By engaging with my content, including live streams, videos, educational materials, and any communication through my platforms, you acknowledge and accept that all trading decisions you make are at your own risk. BDRipTrades, BDelCiel, and Aligned & Wealthy LLC cannot and will not be held responsible for any trading losses you may incur.
CME_MINI:MNQH2025Long
by BDripTradess
MNQ Practicing Trades with ICT commentary (2.27.25)Hey everyone! I have been MIA, I know, I am currently recuperating my mental headspace and getting some things sorted before starting the next funded challenge. Last week on the 18th I blew the Funded account Challenge on Topstep, but that is okay. We will restart again March 15th and we will be coming back stronger. I have been testing some new ways to implement my strategy to give my trades more space and allow me to act more patiently. We will be posting 3 videos today, Hopefully it loads up, I have been having trouble with my Tradingiew recordings posting & The last time it happened I forgot to save the videos. I believe this time we saved it so if there is an issue i will repost it manually. Forex, Crypto and Futures Trading Risk Disclosure: The National Futures Association (NFA) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the regulatory agencies for the forex and futures markets in the United States, require that customers be informed about potential risks in trading these markets. If you do not fully understand the risks, please seek advice from an independent financial advisor before engaging in trading. Trading forex and futures on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to trade, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. There is a possibility of losing some or all of your initial investment, and therefore, you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. Be aware of the risks associated with leveraged trading and seek professional advice if necessary. BDRipTrades Market Opinions (also applies to BDelCiel and Aligned & Wealthy LLC): Any opinions, news, research, analysis, prices, or other information contained in my content (including live streams, videos, and posts) are provided as general market commentary only and do not constitute investment advice. BDRipTrades, BDelCiel, and Aligned & Wealthy LLC will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including but not limited to, any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on such information. Accuracy of Information: The content I provide is subject to change at any time without notice and is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. While I strive for accuracy, I do not guarantee the completeness or reliability of any information. I am not responsible for any losses incurred due to reliance on any information shared through my platforms. Government-Required Risk Disclaimer and Disclosure Statement: CFTC RULE 4.41 - HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER-OR-OVER COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFIT OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN. Performance results discussed in my content are hypothetical and subject to limitations. There are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any particular trading strategy. One of the limitations of hypothetical trading results is that they do not account for real-world financial risk. Furthermore, past performance of any trading system or strategy does not guarantee future results. General Trading Disclaimer: Trading in futures, forex, and other leveraged products involves substantial risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Do not trade with money you cannot afford to lose. I do not provide buy/sell signals, financial advice, or investment recommendations. Any decisions you make based on my content are solely your responsibility. By engaging with my content, including live streams, videos, educational materials, and any communication through my platforms, you acknowledge and accept that all trading decisions you make are at your own risk. BDRipTrades, BDelCiel, and Aligned & Wealthy LLC cannot and will not be held responsible for any trading losses you may incur.
CME_MINI:MNQH2025Short
by BDripTradess
Trading AUDUSD | Judas Swing Strategy 26/02/2025Last week the Judas Swing strategy had another action-packed week! As we took four trades across our selected currency pairs ( FX:GBPUSD , FX:AUDUSD , FX:EURUSD , OANDA:NZDUSD ), securing two wins and two losses, but still closing the week with a solid 2% gain. Given the strategy’s consistency over the past few weeks and months, we were eager to see how it would perform this week. On Monday, we waited for a setup on FX:EURUSD , but it fell just a few pipettes short of meeting all the criteria on our checklist. Since one key requirement wasn’t met, we stayed disciplined and skipped the trade. Now, here’s the important part—although that trade ended up being a winner, it didn’t bother us. Why? Because it didn’t align with our strategy, and we don’t risk our hard-earned money on trades that don’t check all the boxes. If you find yourself entering random trades, it’s time to create a checklist and stick to it. Discipline is what separates consistent traders from gamblers. Fast forward to Wednesday, we spotted a promising setup on FX:AUDUSD and we were eager to see how the session would unfold. After a sweep of liquidity at the lows, our focus immediately shifted to potential buying opportunities. Once we got a break of structure to the upside, all that was left was a retrace into the FVG before executing the trade. But patience was key—we reminded ourselves of Monday’s setup, where a similar scenario played out, yet the retrace never came. That trade had to be left behind, and we weren’t about to force an entry this time either Finally, price retraced into the FVG, and as soon as that candle closed, we were ready to execute the trade. We risk 1% per trade with the goal of securing a 2% return ensuring our wins outweigh our losses over time. With this strategy’s win rate hovering around 50%, sticking to our rules keeps us on the path to long-term profitability After entering the trade, we experienced a slight drawdown for less than five minutes, dipping just 2 pips nothing out of the ordinary. Our entry candle had closed in our intended direction, so we stayed patient. Soon after, price moved decisively in our favor, hitting our target in just 1 hour and 10 minutes. Our patience paid off this time with a solid 2% return on a trade where we had only risked 1%.
by CleoFinance
XAU/USD - Buy Limit Setup for a Bullish Reversal Overview Gold (XAU/USD) is showing signs of a potential bullish reversal after a recent decline. A buy limit order is placed around the $2,911 level, targeting a move towards the $2,928 resistance zone. This setup follows a structured risk-reward approach with a stop loss below recent lows at $2,900.90. Trade Setup 📍 Buy Limit: $2,911 (Key support zone) 📍 Stop Loss: $2,900.90 (Below recent lows for risk management) 📍 Take Profit: $2,928 (Major resistance zone) 📍 Risk-Reward Ratio: 1:2+ Technical Analysis 🔹 Support Zone: Price is testing a demand area where buyers previously stepped in. 🔹 Bullish Structure: After a sharp sell-off, gold is attempting a recovery. 🔹 Potential Reversal: Expecting price to trigger the buy limit before rallying towards resistance. 🔹 Volume Confirmation: Watching for increasing bullish volume near the entry. Trade Plan 1️⃣ Wait for price to reach the buy limit zone (~$2,911). 2️⃣ Monitor price action for bullish confirmation (e.g., bullish engulfing, rejection wicks). 3️⃣ Ride the move towards the take profit zone (~$2,928). 4️⃣ If structure shifts bearish, adjust SL accordingly. 🔥 Gold remains volatile, so risk management is key! Watch for market reactions at key levels before entering the trade. 📊 Like & Follow for more gold trade ideas! ✅
OANDA:XAUUSDLong
by PIPsOptimizer
GBP/USD - Weekly Liquidity & Fair Value Gaps AnalysisOverview The British Pound (GBP/USD) is currently trading around 1.2652, showing a bullish recovery after sweeping weekly sell-side liquidity. Price has reacted from a weekly fair value gap (W.FVG) / BISI and is approaching key resistance levels. Key Levels & Liquidity Zones 📌 Weekly Sellside Liquidity: Taken, leading to a bullish reversal. 📌 Weekly Buy-side Sweep: Possible target around 1.2774 (50% retracement). 📌 W.FVG // BISI (Bullish Imbalance Sellside Inefficiency): Acting as support. 📌 W.FVG / SIBI (Sell-side Imbalance Buy-side Inefficiency): A potential rejection zone around 1.2774. Technical Outlook 🔹 Bullish Reversal: The price has bounced from key liquidity zones, suggesting further upside. 🔹 Fair Value Gaps (FVGs): The market has filled some inefficiencies but still has upside targets. 🔹 Potential Scenarios: A continuation towards 1.2774 (weekly resistance & FVG fill). A possible rejection at that level before resuming the trend. Trade Plan ✅ Bullish Bias: Looking for pullbacks into support (W.FVG) for long opportunities. ❌ Bearish Confirmation: Rejection from 1.2774 could signal a retracement. 📊 Risk Management: Stop-loss placement below recent structure lows. 🔥 Watch these liquidity sweeps and fair value gaps for potential trading opportunities! 📌 Like & Follow for more trade ideas! 🚀
Long
by PIPsOptimizer
Liquidity Sweeps: A Complete Guide to Smart Money Manipulation!🔹 What is a Liquidity Sweep? A liquidity sweep occurs when price temporarily moves beyond a key level, such as a previous swing high or low to trigger stop-losses and lure breakout traders into bad positions before reversing in the opposite direction. This is a classic smart money technique used to grab liquidity before initiating the real move. Financial markets need liquidity to function, and institutions (smart money) can’t enter or exit large positions without it. Instead of chasing price like retail traders, they manipulate price to engineered levels where liquidity is resting, allowing them to fill their orders without causing massive slippage. 🔹 How Liquidity Works in the Market To understand liquidity sweeps, it’s important to know where liquidity pools exist. These are areas where a high number of stop-loss orders and pending market orders are placed. Stop-loss liquidity: Traders set stop-losses above swing highs and below swing lows. When price hits these levels, stop-loss orders trigger as market orders, adding fuel for big moves. Breakout trader liquidity: Many traders enter buy trades when a high is broken and sell trades when a low is broken. Smart money often uses these breakout orders as liquidity before reversing the market. Essentially, liquidity sweeps allow smart money to take the opposite side of retail traders’ positions before moving the market in their favor. 🔹 Identifying Liquidity Sweeps on the Chart A valid liquidity sweep has three key components: 1️⃣ A Key Liquidity Zone: Look for well-defined swing highs and lows where stop-losses are likely sitting. Equal highs and equal lows are prime targets because many traders place stops there. Areas with high trading activity (volume profile levels, POCs) are also potential liquidity pools. 2️⃣ A Quick Price Spike Through That Level: Price briefly moves beyond a high or low, triggering stop-losses and luring breakout traders in the wrong direction. This move often happens suddenly, with a sharp candle wick or a short-term breakout that quickly fails. 3️⃣ An Immediate Reversal (Rejection): Price fails to hold above/below the liquidity level and reverses aggressively. Strong rejection candles like long wicks, bearish engulfing (after a buy-side sweep), or bullish engulfing (after a sell-side sweep) confirm the sweep. The stronger the rejection, the higher the probability that smart money just manipulated price to collect liquidity before the real move. 🔹 Types of Liquidity Sweeps 🔸 Buy-Side Liquidity Sweep (Bull Trap) Price spikes above a key high, triggering stop-losses from short sellers and inducing breakout buyers. If price fails to hold above that level and quickly reverses, it confirms the sweep. This is a signal that price is likely to drop as smart money absorbs liquidity before selling off. Example of a buy side liquidity sweep (BSL) 🔸 Sell-Side Liquidity Sweep (Bear Trap) Price dips below a key low, triggering stop-losses from long traders and trapping breakout sellers. If price fails to hold below that level and quickly reverses, it confirms the sweep. This is a signal that price is likely to rise as smart money collects liquidity before pushing higher. A liquidity sweep is not just a random wick, it’s a strategic price move designed to trap traders before a reversal. Example of a sell side liquidity sweep (SSL) 🔹 Why Liquidity Sweeps Matter Liquidity sweeps provide traders with some of the highest probability reversal signals because they: ✔ Show where institutions and smart money are active ✔ Confirm major support and resistance levels ✔ Help traders avoid false breakouts ✔ Provide excellent risk-to-reward setups Once a liquidity sweep is confirmed, price often moves aggressively in the opposite direction, as smart money has finished collecting liquidity and is now driving price toward their true target. 🔹 How to Use Liquidity Sweeps in Your Trading 1️⃣ Identify Key Liquidity Zones Mark previous swing highs and lows where traders are likely placing stop-losses. Pay attention to equal highs/lows and tight consolidations, as these areas tend to hold a lot of liquidity. Use volume profile tools to see where the highest liquidity clusters exist. 2️⃣ Wait for a Liquidity Sweep & Rejection Don’t enter just because price broke a high/low, wait for confirmation. A strong rejection candle (wick, engulfing pattern, pin bar, etc.) signals that the sweep was a trap. Lower timeframes (5m, 15m) can help confirm entry after a sweep happens on higher timeframes. 3️⃣ Combine with Other Confluences Liquidity sweeps are most effective when combined with: ✅ Fair Value Gaps (FVGs): Price often sweeps liquidity before filling an imbalance. ✅ Order Blocks: Smart money enters positions at order block levels after a sweep. ✅ Fibonacci Retracements: Sweeps often happen near the Golden Pocket (0.618 - 0.65). ✅ Volume Profile (POC): If a sweep happens near a Point of Control (POC), it adds extra confluence. The more confirmations you have, the higher the probability of a successful trade! 🔹 Common Mistakes Traders Make with Liquidity Sweeps Entering too early: A liquidity sweep needs confirmation. Wait for a clear rejection before trading. Ignoring higher timeframes: The strongest sweeps happen on 1H, 4H, and Daily charts. Lower timeframes can be noisy. Forgetting the invalidation rule: If price closes above/below the liquidity sweep level, the move may not be valid. Chasing price after a sweep: Always look for an optimal entry (retracement to a key level) rather than impulsively entering. 🔹 Advanced Tips for Trading Liquidity Sweeps 📌 Use Time-of-Day Analysis: Liquidity sweeps often occur before major sessions open (London, New York, etc.). Many sweeps happen during high impact news releases, be cautious. 📌 Look for Repeated Sweeps at the Same Level: If price sweeps liquidity multiple times without follow through, it increases the chance of a strong reversal. A double or triple sweep is a powerful confirmation that smart money is manipulating price before a real move. 📌 Use Liquidity Sweeps for Entry & Exit Points: Entering after a confirmed liquidity sweep can provide great risk-to-reward setups. Use liquidity sweeps as take-profit targets if price is approaching a key high/low, expect a sweep before reversal. 📌 Final Thoughts: Mastering Liquidity Sweeps Liquidity sweeps are one of the most powerful tools in a trader’s arsenal because they reveal smart money’s true intentions. By understanding how they work, traders can: ✅ Avoid being trapped by false breakouts ✅ Identify high-probability reversal points ✅ Follow smart money instead of fighting it Next time you see price breaking a high or low, don’t immediately assume it’s a breakout. Look for the liquidity sweep if it happens, it could be a game changer for your trading strategy. 🚀 Also, check out our Liquidity sweep indicator! __________________________________________ If you found this guide helpful or learned something new, drop a like 👍 and leave a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🚀 Make sure to follow me for more price action insights, free indicators, and trading strategies. Let’s grow and trade smarter together! 📈✨
KRAKEN:BTCUSDEducation
by TehThomas
ETH Update | ICT Distribution Setup - $2.2k as PlannedMy latest posts on ETH was to see a falling wedge breakout to the upside when price was trading around $3.5k At the same time I was shorting the pivot points inside the wedge Chart patterns are fine to use here and there but in all realness Market Cycles overpower when using true price action analysis. I had a hunch price would fall lower at the time but was trying to force a bullish bias which is bad, and could have let the positions run for longer. Now that we're at a major support level I would like to see some type of accumulation pattern/consolidation before we make a call for $3k Market Horizon: Looking to see a market-wide bounce in the months of April, possible pullback/selloff in May. For now we wait🧘‍♂️
BITSTAMP:ETHUSD
by Nathanl19
GBP/USD - Fair Value Gap (FVG) Short SetupOverview: A bearish reversal setup based on Fair Value Gaps (FVGs), a concept used in Smart Money trading strategies. Key Technical Insights: 🔹 Fair Value Gap (FVG) Zones: The price is approaching an FVG entry zone around 1.2700, which may act as resistance. A second FVG zone is located around 1.2850 - 1.2900, offering a secondary entry for shorts. 🔹 Bearish Trade Setup: The plan anticipates a reaction at the first FVG zone, leading to a downside move. If price continues higher, the second FVG zone provides another opportunity to enter shorts. 🔹 Stop Loss & Target: Stop Loss: Placed above 1.2928 to protect against invalidation. Target: 1.2350 - 1.2400, aligning with previous demand zones and imbalance filling. Trade Plan: 📌 Entry Strategy: Watch for bearish confirmation (e.g., rejection candles, lower time frame structure shift) at the FVG entry zone. If price moves beyond the first FVG, consider a second entry at 1.2850 - 1.2900. 📌 Exit Strategy: Take Profit: At the 1.2350 - 1.2400 target zone for a favorable risk-to-reward trade. Stop Loss: Above 1.2928 to mitigate risk. Final Thoughts: ✅ Bearish bias unless price breaks above 1.2928. ✅ Look for rejection at FVG zones for ideal entries. ✅ Potential downside move towards 1.2350 target. 📉 Patience is key—wait for confirmation before entering! 🚀
Short
by PIPsOptimizer