Market Structure Shift (MSS) & Break of Structure (BOS) - GuideIntroduction
Understanding market structure is fundamental to becoming a consistently profitable trader. Two key concepts that Smart Money traders rely on are the Break of Structure (BOS) and the Market Structure Shift (MSS) . While they may seem similar at first glance, they serve different purposes and signal different market intentions.
In this guide, we will break down:
- The difference between BOS and MSS
- When and why they occur
- How to identify them on your charts
- How to trade based on these structures
- Real chart examples for visual clarity
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Break of Structure (BOS)
A Break of Structure is a continuation signal. It confirms that the current trend remains intact. BOS typically occurs when price breaks a recent swing high or low in the direction of the existing trend .
Key Characteristics:
- Happens with the trend
- Confirms continuation
- Can be used to trail stops or add to positions
Example:
In an uptrend:
- Higher High (HH) and Higher Low (HL) form
- Price breaks above the last HH → BOS to the upside
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Market Structure Shift (MSS)
Market Structure Shift signals a potential reversal . It occurs when price breaks a significant swing level against the prevailing trend and is often followed by a shift in the internal structure (e.g., lower highs after higher highs).
Key Characteristics:
- Happens against the trend]
- Signals possible trend reversal
- Often occurs after a liquidity grab or stop hunt
- Optional: is created by a displacement candle
Example:
In an uptrend:
- Price takes out a significant high (liquidity grab)
- Then aggressively breaks the most recent HL → MSS to the downside
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How to Identify BOS and MSS
For BOS:
1. Determine the current trend.
2. Identify swing highs/lows.
3. Look for price breaking past these levels in the same direction as the trend .
For MSS:
1. Look for signs of exhaustion or liquidity grabs near swing highs/lows.
2. Watch for price to break against the trend structure .
3. Confirm with a shift in internal structure (e.g., lower highs start forming in an uptrend).
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Using BOS and MSS in Your Trading Strategy
With BOS:
- Use it to confirm trend continuation
- Add to your position after a retracement into an OB or FVG
- Trail your stop-loss below the most recent HL or above LH
With MSS:
- Look for confluence (liquidity sweep + MSS = strong signal)
- Use it to spot early reversal entries
- Wait for a confirmation candle or structure shift on LTF (1m, 5m, 15m)
- If the displacement candle is too big you can wait for the retest
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing BOS with MSS
- Ignoring higher timeframe context
- Trading MSS too early without confirmation
- Chasing BOS without waiting for a proper retracement
Pro Tip: Use BOS/MSS with confluences like SMT Divergence, IFVGs, or key session times for higher probability setups.
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Final Thoughts
Mastering BOS and MSS will give you an edge in understanding price delivery and anticipating market moves. BOS confirms strength in the current trend, while MSS warns of a possible reversal and new trend forming. Combine these with smart money tools, and you’ll be equipped to enter the market like a pro.
Happy Trading!
Trend Analysis
This is a divergence cheat sheet showing how to identify and intGreat — now we’re looking at a full reference chart that summarizes all four types of divergence using price action vs RSI. It’s super well-organized. Let me break it down for you clearly:
📊 WHAT THIS ILLUSTRATION REPRESENTS:
This is a divergence cheat sheet showing how to identify and interpret:
🔁 Regular Divergence (signals a potential reversal)
Regular Bullish Divergence (bottom right)
Price: lower lows
RSI: higher lows
🔁 Reversal to the upside possible (after a downtrend)
Regular Bearish Divergence (top center)
Price: higher highs
RSI: lower highs
🔁 Reversal to the downside possible (after an uptrend)
🔄 Hidden Divergence (signals trend continuation)
Hidden Bullish Divergence (bottom left)
Price: higher lows
RSI: lower lows
🔄 Suggests uptrend will continue after a pullback
Hidden Bearish Divergence (top right)
Price: lower highs
RSI: higher highs
🔄 Suggests downtrend will continue after a pullback
💡 Summary Table:
Type Price Pattern RSI Pattern Interpretation
Regular Bullish Lower Lows Higher Lows Reversal to upside
Regular Bearish Higher Highs Lower Highs Reversal to downside
Hidden Bullish Higher Lows Lower Lows Continuation uptrend
Hidden Bearish Lower Highs Higher Highs Continuation downtrend
Behind the Curtain: Bitcoin’s Surprising Macro Triggers1. Introduction
Bitcoin Futures (BTC), once viewed as a niche or speculative product, have now entered the macroeconomic spotlight. Traded on the CME and embraced by institutions through ETF exposure, BTC Futures reflect not only digital asset sentiment—but also evolving reactions to traditional economic forces.
While many traders still associate Bitcoin with crypto-native catalysts, machine learning reveals a different story. Today, BTC responds dynamically to macro indicators like Treasury yields, labor data, and liquidity trends.
In this article, we apply a Random Forest Regressor to historical data to uncover the top economic signals impacting Bitcoin Futures returns across daily, weekly, and monthly timeframes—some of which may surprise even seasoned macro traders.
2. Understanding Bitcoin Futures Contracts
Bitcoin Futures provide institutional-grade access to BTC price movements—with efficient clearing and capital flexibility.
o Standard BTC Futures (BTC):
Tick Size: $5 per tick = $25 per tick per contract
Initial Margin: ≈ $102,000 (subject to volatility)
o Micro Bitcoin Futures (MBT):
Contract Size: 1/50th the BTC size
Tick Size: $5 = $0.50 per tick per contract
Initial Margin: ≈ $2,000
BTC and MBT trade nearly 24 hours per day, five days a week, offering deep liquidity and expanding participation across hedge funds, asset managers, and active retail traders.
3. Daily Timeframe: Short-Term Macro Sensitivity
Bitcoin’s volatility makes it highly reactive to daily data surprises, especially those affecting liquidity and rates.
Velocity of Money (M2): This lesser-watched indicator captures how quickly money circulates. Rising velocity can signal renewed risk-taking, often leading to short-term BTC movements. A declining M2 velocity implies tightening conditions, potentially pressuring BTC as risk appetite contracts.
10-Year Treasury Yield: One of the most sensitive intraday indicators for BTC. Yield spikes make holding non-yielding assets like Bitcoin potentially less attractive. Declining yields could signal easing financial conditions, inviting capital back into crypto.
Labor Force Participation Rate: While not a headline number, sudden shifts in labor force data can affect consumer confidence and policy tone—especially if they suggest a weakening economy. Bitcoin could react positively when data implies future easing.
4. Weekly Timeframe: Labor-Driven Market Reactions
As BTC increasingly correlates with traditional markets, weekly economic data—especially related to labor—has become a mid-term directional driver.
Initial Jobless Claims: Spikes in this metric can indicate rising economic stress. BTC could react defensively to rising claims, but may rally on drops, especially when seen as signs of stability returning.
ISM Manufacturing Employment: This metric reflects hiring strength in the manufacturing sector. Slowing employment growth here could correlate with broader economic softening—something BTC traders can track as part of their risk sentiment gauge.
Continuing Jobless Claims: Tracks the persistence of unemployment. Sustained increases can shake risk markets and pull BTC lower, while ongoing declines suggest an improving outlook, which could help BTC resume upward movement.
5. Monthly Timeframe: Macro Structural Themes
Institutional positioning in Bitcoin increasingly aligns with high-impact monthly data. These indicators help shape longer-term views on liquidity, rate policy, and capital allocation:
Unemployment Rate: A rising unemployment rate could shift market expectations toward a more accommodative monetary policy. Bitcoin, often viewed as a hedge against fiat debasement and monetary easing, can benefit from this shift. In contrast, a low and steady unemployment rate may pressure BTC as it reinforces the case for higher interest rates.
10-Year Treasury Yield (again): On a monthly basis, this repeats and become a cornerstone macro theme.
Initial Jobless Claims (again): Rather than individual weekly prints, the broader trend reveals structural shifts in the labor market.
6. Style-Based Strategy Insights
Bitcoin traders often span a wide range of styles—from short-term volatility hunters to long-duration macro allocators. Aligning indicator focus by style is essential:
o Day Traders
Zero in on M2 velocity and 10-Year Yield to time intraday reversals or continuation setups.
Quick pivots in bond yields or liquidity metrics could coincide with BTC spikes.
o Swing Traders
Use Initial Jobless Claims and ISM Employment trends to track momentum for 3–10 day moves.
Weekly data may help catch directional shifts before they appear in price charts.
o Position Traders
Monitor macro structure via Unemployment Rate, 10Y Yield, and Initial Claims.
These traders align portfolios based on broader economic trends, often holding exposure through cycles.
7. Risk Management Commentary
Bitcoin Futures demand tactical risk management:
Use Micro BTC Contracts (MBT) to scale in or out of trades precisely.
Expect volatility around macro data releases—set wider stops with volatility-adjusted sizing.
Avoid over-positioning near major Fed meetings, CPI prints, or labor reports.
Unlike legacy markets, BTC can make multi-percent intraday moves. A robust risk plan isn’t optional—it’s survival.
8. Conclusion
Bitcoin has matured into a macro-responsive asset. What once moved on hype now responds to the pulse of the global economy. From M2 liquidity flows and interest rate expectations, to labor market stability, BTC Futures reflect institutional sentiment shaped by data.
BTC’s role in the modern portfolio is still evolving. But one thing is clear: macro matters. And those who understand which indicators truly move Bitcoin can trade with more confidence and precision.
Stay tuned for the next edition of the "Behind the Curtain" series as we decode the economic machinery behind another CME futures product.
When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com - This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies.
General Disclaimer:
The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.
USDJPY Case StudyHey guys!
Trendline traders would be profited from this UJ trade last week or today.
The market structure before the supply zone that I draw was a messy, don't you agree?
I would not consider this supply zone to enter the trade. But, if you draw a trendline and the supply zone automatically aligns with the break of the trendline, it became the place where trendline traders put their sell limit to join the bearish moves. It was a beauty. As of now, my target is only 2RR for my small funded account, so yeah it is easy to achieve.
The supply zone met my requirement as below:
1. Supply was left with imbalance followed by break of structure to the downside.
2. After supply zone, there was SBR level present. SBR traders would benefited from this zone.
3. Price approaching in clean structure or candles.
Btw, I am not taking this trade since I draw my supply zone without try to place a trendline on the market structure before it.
What is your goal this week?
Mine still the same. Trade the same setup, if setup no present, I will continue watching "traders motivation videos".
How to Use Renko Charts for Drawing Support and ResistanceHow to Use Renko Charts for Drawing Support and Resistance Like a Pro
Most traders rely on candlestick charts to identify support and resistance zones—but if you’re still sleeping on Renko charts, you’re missing out on one of the cleanest ways to map market structure.
Renko charts filter out noise and only plot price movement, not time, giving you a stripped-down view of market momentum. That’s exactly what makes them powerful for spotting true support and resistance zones—without all the clutter.
Why Renko Charts Work for Support & Resistance
Support and resistance are areas where price historically reacts—either bouncing or reversing. On traditional candlestick charts, these zones can be hard to identify clearly because of wicks, time-based noise, and volatility.
Renko charts simplify that.
Because Renko bricks are only formed after a specific price move (like 20 pips or using ATR), the chart naturally filters out sideways chop and lets key levels stand out like neon signs.
How to Draw Support and Resistance with Renko
Here’s a quick step-by-step process:
Set Your Brick Size
Use an ATR-based Renko setting (ATR 14 is common), or set a fixed brick size that fits your trading style. For swing trading, slightly larger bricks will work best.
Look for Flat Zones
Identify areas where price stalls or flips direction multiple times. These flat “shelves” on the Renko chart often line up with strong historical support or resistance.
Mark the Bricks, & Sometimes The Wicks
With Renko, you’re not dealing with traditional candlestick wicks. So your levels are based on the tops and bottoms of the bricks, not erratic spikes.
Check for Confirmation
If a level held as resistance and later flips into support (or vice versa), that’s a key zone to mark. These “flip zones” are often hotbeds of institutional activity.
Bonus Tip: Combine with Price Action
Renko charts tell you where price is likely to react—but combining them with price action techniques (like engulfing candles, pin bars, or M/W formations on traditional charts) will give you a lethal edge.
Use Renko to mark the zone, then switch to candlesticks to fine-tune the entry. Best of both worlds.
If you’ve been struggling to draw clean support and resistance levels—or find yourself second-guessing your zones—Renko might be your solution. It’s not about fancy indicators or chart tricks; it’s about removing the noise so you can trade what really matters: structure and momentum.
Are you using Renko in your strategy? Drop a comment or shoot me a message—I want to hear how it’s working for you.
How Smart Money is Positioning in EUR/USD – 5 Scenarios UnfoldedLiquidity Maps & Trap Zones: EUR/USD 1H Breakdown
EUR/USD SMC Analysis – Scenarios Overview
1. Case 1 – Immediate Pump:
The market may pump directly from the current market price (CMP) and take out the external range liquidity resting above the current highs.
2. Case 2 – 15-Min Demand Reaction:
The market could react to the 15-minute demand zone , showing a bullish response and pushing higher toward the 1H supply zone .
3. Case 3 – Inducement & Distribution:
Combined with Case 2, the market may first mitigate the 15-minute demand , then take out the inducement (IdM ) near the 1H supply zone . From there, distribution may begin within that supply range, leading to a drop toward the discount zone .
This would likely involve a fake breakout to the upside (liquidity sweep), trapping buyers and hitting the stop-losses of early sellers before reversing sharply.
4. Case 4 – 1H CHoCH and Triangle Breakdown:
A Change of Character (CHoCH) may occur on the 1H timeframe directly from the current price, leading to a downside move. This scenario would also break the rising triangle pattern , triggering entries from price action traders and increasing market volatility as liquidity accelerates the move downward.
5. Case 5 – 1H Supply Rejection & Free Fall:
The market may react from the 1H supply zone and reject aggressively, resulting in a free fall all the way down to the previous CHoCH level , confirming strong bearish intent from premium to discount.
Thanks for your time..
“Does size matter?” when it comes to backtesting?It’s the kind of question that gets a few smirks, sure. But when it comes to backtesting trading strategies, it’s not a joke, it’s the difference between confidence and false hope.
Let’s get real for a minute: the size of your candles absolutely matters.
What you don’t see can hurt you
Most people start testing on bigger timeframes. It’s faster, easier on the eyes, and the results look clean. But clean doesn’t mean correct.
Larger candles blur the details. That one nice-looking 4-hour candle? Inside, price could’ve spiked, reversed, chopped around, or triggered your stop before closing where it did. You’d never know. And that’s the problem.
You might think your entry worked beautifully… but only because the data smoothed out everything that actually happened.
A backtest should feel like a real trade
Trading isn't just about the final price. It’s about what price does to get there. That messy movement inside the candle? That’s where most trades are made or broken.
If your strategy is even remotely reactive, waiting for structure, confirmation, retests, or anything time-sensitive, you need to see what price did between the open and close.
And the only way to see that? Use smaller candles.
Smaller data, clearer picture
1-minute candles might look overwhelming at first, but they give you something the higher timeframes just can’t: behavior.
Not just outcomes. Not just win/loss stats. But the actual shape of the move, the hesitation, the fakeouts, the precise moment when the trade made sense—or didn’t.
And once you start testing with that level of detail, your strategy either earns your trust… or shows its cracks.
So how small should you go?
There’s no one-size-fits-all here. But as a general rule: if your idea relies on precision, go small. Test it on 1-minute or 5-minute charts, even if you plan to execute on higher timeframes. You’ll quickly see if the entry makes sense, or if you’ve been relying on candle-close hindsight.
Yes, it takes longer. Yes, you’ll stare at noisy charts for hours. But your strategy will thank you.
Watch out for “too good to be true”
One last thing, if your backtest results look flawless on 1h or 4h candles, pause. That’s often a sign that you’re testing a story, not a strategy.
Zoom in. See what actually happens. You might be surprised at how different the same trade looks when you’re not glossing over the details.
TL;DR:
In backtesting, size absolutely matters. Smaller candles reveal real behavior. Bigger ones hide the truth. So if you care about how your strategy actually performs not just how it looks.
go smaller. Your backtesting will get sharper, and your confidence? Way more earned.
Trend Exhaustion SignalsTrend Exhaustion Signals: How to Know When a Trend is Losing Steam
Every trend eventually runs out of fuel. Knowing when momentum is fading can give you the edge to exit early, avoid late entries, or even prepare for a reversal. This article dives into key signs of trend exhaustion and how to trade around them.
🔵Understanding Trend Exhaustion
Trends can persist far longer than expected, but they don’t last forever. Trend exhaustion occurs when the driving force behind a trend—be it buying or selling pressure—starts to weaken. Recognizing this shift is crucial for:
Protecting profits
Avoiding bad entries
Spotting early reversal opportunities
🔵1. RSI and MACD Divergence
A classic signal of trend exhaustion is divergence between price and momentum indicators like RSI (Relative Strength Index) and MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence).
Bearish Divergence: Price makes a higher high, but the indicator makes a lower high.
Bullish Divergence: Price makes a lower low, but the indicator makes a higher low.
This suggests that although price continues in the trend's direction, momentum is lagging—a red flag for potential exhaustion.
🔵2. Volume Dry-Up
Volume is the fuel of trends. When volume starts to shrink during a strong move, it often signals that the crowd is losing interest or that institutions are offloading positions.
In an uptrend, a series of green candles with decreasing volume = caution.
In a downtrend, falling volume can signal seller fatigue.
🔵3. Long-Wick Candles at Extremes
Candlestick patterns offer visual clues of exhaustion. When you start seeing long upper wicks at the top of an uptrend (or long lower wicks at the bottom of a downtrend), it means price is being rejected from continuing further.
Common exhaustion patterns:
Shooting Star (bearish)
Inverted Hammer (bullish)
Doji at highs/lows
These patterns are more reliable when they form near resistance or support zones.
🔵4. Structure Break: CHoCH and BOS
Market structure tells a deeper story than indicators. Two key terms here:
CHoCH (Change of Character): The first sign of reversal—a higher low broken in an uptrend, or a lower high broken in a downtrend.
BOS (Break of Structure): The confirmation—a key swing point is broken, confirming a new trend.
Traders can watch for these breaks to anticipate when the current trend is ending and a reversal is forming.
🔵5. Parabolic Price Action & Overextension
When a trend becomes parabolic—with steep, accelerating price movement—it often signals the final stage of the trend. This is when retail traders usually enter, and smart money begins to exit.
Warning signs:
Sudden vertical moves
Price far above/below moving averages
Lack of consolidation or pullbacks
Parabolic moves are unsustainable. Look for reversion to the mean or a sharp correction.
🔵How to Trade Around Trend Exhaustion
Tighten Stops: If in a winning trend trade, consider locking in profits or trailing your stop.
Avoid Chasing Entries: Late entries into exhausted trends are high-risk, low-reward.
Prepare for Reversal Setups: Watch for confirmation (CHoCH, divergence, candle patterns) before entering counter-trend positions.
Use Multi-Timeframe Analysis: Exhaustion on the 1H chart may just be a pullback on the 4H. Always zoom out for context.
Trend exhaustion is a natural part of market behavior. Recognizing the signs—such as divergence, fading volume, long wicks, structure breaks, and parabolic moves—can help you time exits better and avoid late trades. Instead of reacting after the fact, you’ll be prepared in advance. Add these tools to your trading routine and stay one step ahead of the crowd.
How Gann’s Square of 9 Reveals Hidden Time Cycles in the US500In today’s fast-moving markets, most traders are stuck reacting, chasing signals, hunting for breakouts, and trying to make sense of noise. But what if you could predict where the market might turn, not just based on price, but on time itself?
That’s exactly what W.D. Gann mastered. His tools, like the Square of 9, weren’t just about charts, they were about timing the rhythm of the market. Today, I’ll walk you through a real-world example on the US500, using Gann’s time technique on the 5-minute chart. This isn't theory. This is how you can bring Gann’s legacy to life in real-time trading.
Step 1: Don’t Start on the 5-Minute—Zoom Out First
The first thing to understand is that not every swing high or low is meaningful. To apply Gann’s time analysis correctly, you must choose swing points that matter—and that means looking at the higher timeframes.
Before diving into the 5-minute chart, I always analyze the 15-minute, 1-hour, and 4-hour charts. If a swing high or low on the 5-minute lines up with a key support or resistance zone from those larger timeframes, that’s your signal. These are levels where institutions and big players act, and that gives your analysis a real edge.
So, once I identified a swing high and low on the 5-minute chart that aligned perfectly with a 1-hour resistance zone and a 4-hour support level, I knew I had something solid.
Step 2: Counting Bars – The Foundation of Time Analysis
From the chosen swing low to the swing high, the market took 9 bars to complete the move. That number isn’t just a count—it becomes our anchor in time.
Using my custom-built Gann Square of 9 spreadsheet, I plugged in this value. The spreadsheet then calculated future bar counts where the 45-degree time angle repeats, based on Gann’s time rotation principle.
The output gave us these key numbers: 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81
These are not arbitrary. They are time-based vibration points derived from Gann’s spiral math—each one representing a future window where the market is likely to shift.
Step 3: Letting Time Lead the Trade
Let’s walk through what happened at each of these time windows:
Bar 16: The market attempted to push higher—a classic manipulation move. Then came a sharp reversal. The 45-degree vibration was in effect. This was a textbook Gann-style turning point.
Bar 25: No sharp reversal, but momentum slowed and price started consolidating. This was a structural pause—just as important as a reversal for those watching intraday shifts.
Bar 36: This one was dramatic. The market had been falling, but as we approached the 36th bar, rejection candles started appearing. Selling pressure dried up, and buyers stepped in. Soon after, a bullish breakout followed. The time vibration had called it again.
Bar 49: After a strong bullish run, the price stalled and reversed almost precisely at this time point. This marked a shift back to bearish sentiment.
Bar 64: The downtrend lost steam. Price began forming a new swing low, and as we passed the 64-bar mark, bullish momentum returned. Another clean reversal.
Bar 81: The final vibration in this sequence. The bullish move slowed, candles shrunk, and volume faded. Then came a breakdown. A bearish turn right on time.
What This Means for You as a Trader
This sequence—from bar 16 to 81—is a masterclass in how time drives the market. It shows that price action is not random. It's governed by hidden cycles that most traders overlook. But when you apply Gann’s methods with precision, the market reveals its rhythm.
All we did was:
Identify a meaningful swing (validated by higher timeframes)
Count the bars between the swing low and high
Let the Square of 9 calculate the future time vibrations
From there, we simply watched and waited. And the market played out almost to the bar.
Conclusion: From Reactive to Predictive Trading
The real power of Gann’s techniques lies not in magic, but in mathematical and astrological precision. When you understand how time and price interact, you stop reacting—you start forecasting.
You stop chasing trades—you start anticipating reversals.
Gann’s Square of 9 isn’t just an old-school tool. With the right application, it becomes a modern forecasting machine. And with the help of tools like my custom spreadsheet, the entire process becomes simple, streamlined, and incredibly effective.
So the next time you’re about to take a trade, ask yourself:
Are you following price? Or are you following time?
Because when time is on your side, the market moves in your direction—not the other way around.
RSI-Volume Momentum Signal Score: Trading the Momentum PressureThe indicator used in this chart is an updated version of the RSI-Volume Momentum Score.
The RSI-Volume Momentum Signal Score is a predictive technical indicator designed to identify bullish and bearish momentum shifts by combining volume-based momentum with the Relative Strength Index (RSI). It generates a Signal Score derived from:
• The divergence between short-term and long-term volume (Volume Oscillator), and
• RSI positioning relative to a user-defined threshold. The Signal Score is calculated as follows:
Signal Score = tanh((vo - voThreshold) / scalingFactor) * ((rsiThreshold - rsi) / scalingFactor)
The logic of this formula are as follows:
• If Volume Oscillator >= Volume Threshold and RSI <= RSI Threshold: Bullish Signal (+1 x Scaling Factor)
• If Volume Oscillator >= Volume Threshold and RSI >= (100 – RSI Threshold): Bearish Signal (-1 x Scaling Factor)
• Otherwise: Neutral (0)
The tanh function provides the normalization process. It ensures that the final signal score is bounded between -1 and 1, increases sensitivity to early changes in volume patterns based on RSI conditions, and prevent sudden jumps in signals ensuring smooth and continuous signal line.
This updated version Introduces colored columns (green and red bars) representing momentum pressure directly. These bars:
o Green bars represent bullish pressure when the signal score is +1.
o Red bars represent bearish pressure when the signal score is -1.
o The transition point from one color to another acts as a visual signal of momentum reversal.
LONG SIGNAL: A transition from green bar to red bar indicates that bullish pressure has reached a tipping point—price is likely to rise soon.
SHORT SIGNAL: A transition from red bar to green bar signals bearish pressure is peaking—potential price drop ahead.
These transitions become intuitive signals for bullish or bearish entries, depending on the context.
DON'T Make This MISTAKE in MULTIPLE TIME FRAME Analysis
Most of the traders apply multiple time frame analysis incorrectly . In the today's article, we will discuss how to properly use it and how to build the correct thinking process with that trading approach.
The problem is that many traders start their analysis with lower time frames first . They build the opinion and the directional bias analyzing hourly or even lower time frames and look for bullish / bearish signals there.
Once some solid setup is spotted, they start looking for confirmations , analyzing higher time frames. They are trying to find the clues that support their observations.
However, the pro traders do the opposite .
The fact is that higher is the time frame, more significant it is for the analysis. The key structures and the patterns that are spotted on an hourly time frame most of the time will be completely irrelevant on a daily time frame.
In the picture above, I underlined the key levels on USDJPY on an hourly time frame on the left.
On the right, I opened a daily time frame. You can see that on a higher time frame, the structures went completely lost.
BUT the structures that are identified on a daily, will be extremely important on any lower time frame.
In the example above, I have underlined key levels on a daily.
On an hourly time frame, we simply see in detail how important are these structures and how the market reacts to them.
The correct way to apply the top-down approach is to start with the higher time frame first: daily or weekly. Identify the market trend there, spot the important key levels. Make prediction on these time frames and let the analysis on lower time frames be your confirmation.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
Why this strategy works so well (Ticker Pulse Meter + Fear EKG) Disclaimer: This is for educational purposes only. I am not a financial advisor, and this is not financial advice. Consult a professional before investing real money. I strongly encourage paper trading to test any strategy.
The Ticker Pulse + Fear EKG Strategy is a long-term, dip-buying investment approach that balances market momentum with emotional sentiment. It integrates two key components:
Ticker Pulse: Tracks momentum using dual-range metrics to pinpoint precise entry and exit points.
Fear EKG: Identifies spikes in market fear to highlight potential reversal opportunities.
Optimized for the daily timeframe, this strategy also performs well on weekly or monthly charts, making it ideal for dollar-cost averaging or trend-following with confidence. Visual cues—such as green and orange dots, heatmap backgrounds, and SMA/Bollinger Bands—provide clear signals and context. The strategy’s default settings are user-friendly, requiring minimal adjustments.
Green dots indicate high-confidence entry signals and do not repaint.
Orange dots (Fear EKG entries), paired with a red “fear” heatmap background, signal opportunities to accumulate shares during peak fear and market sell-offs.
Now on the the educational part that is most fascinating.
Load XLK on your chart and add a secondary line by plotting the following on a secondary axis:
INDEX:SKFI + INDEX:SKTH / 2
Now, you should see something like this:
Focus on the INDEX:SKFI + INDEX:SKTH / 2 line, noting its dips and spikes. Compare these movements to XLK’s price action and the corresponding dot signals:
Green and Orange Dots: Opportunities to scale into long positions.
Red Dots: Opportunities to start scaling out of positions.
This concept applies not only to XLK but also to major stocks within a sector, such as AAPL, a significant component of XLK. Chart AAPL against INDEX:SKFI + INDEX:SKTH / 2 to observe how stock and sector indices influence each other.
Now, you should see something like this:
Long-Term Investing Considerations
By default, the strategy suggests exiting 50% of open positions at each red dot. However, as long-term investors, there’s no need to follow this rule strictly. Instead, consider holding positions until they are profitable, especially when dollar-cost averaging for future retirement.
In prolonged bear markets, such as 2022, stocks like META experienced significant declines. Selling 50% of positions on early red dots may have locked in losses. For disciplined long-term investors, holding all open positions through market recoveries can lead to profitable outcomes.
The Importance of Context
Successful trading hinges on context. For example, using a long-term Linear Regression Channel (LRC) and buying green or orange dots below the channel’s point-of-control (red line) significantly improves the likelihood of success. Compare this to buying dots above the point-of-control, where outcomes are less favorable.
Why This Strategy Works
The Ticker Pulse + Fear EKG Strategy excels at identifying market dips and tops by combining momentum and sentiment analysis. I hope this explanation clarifies its value and empowers you to explore its potential through paper trading.
Anyway, I thought I would make a post to help explain why the strategy is so good at identifying the dips and the tops. Hope you found this write up as educational.
The strategy:
The Companion Indicator:
Introduction to Chart Structure AnalysisWe need to understand that price exists in one of two states — it's either moving up or down. If the movement is clear, we can identify a specific trend — either bullish or bearish. However, if we can’t determine the direction, it means the price is in a consolidation phase. Still, even within that consolidation, price is either rising or falling. Ultimately, it all comes down to the choice of timeframe.
Our trading objective
Our task is to identify the current state of the price and open a trade accordingly — in the direction of the price movement. This is the core goal, regardless of how one chooses to analyze the chart.
In my opinion, directly reading the market structure is the most reliable and professional way to interpret price action. So, what defines a trend? An uptrend is a sequence of higher highs and higher lows. A downtrend, in contrast, is a sequence of lower highs and lower lows.
This is the type of information we should be focusing on — using it to define the broader context. We start by identifying the trend on the higher timeframe, and then gradually move down to the lower timeframe. It’s clear that if we see an uptrend on the higher timeframe, it should be considered dominant. At the same time, it’s important to understand that within a global uptrend, corrections are natural and expected.
We use key levels to determine whether the trend is continuing or potentially reversing.
Example
Let’s look at a chart example. The level of 3,357 is a key high. Then we see a pullback to 3,320, followed by a move up to 3,345. After that, there’s a break of the bullish structure — the price drops to 3,312, updating the previous low of 3,320. This marks a shift in structure.
Next, price returns to the range and prints a new high at 3,333 — slightly higher, around 3,340, but I’ve chosen 3,333 as the key level for clarity. However, this high is still lower than the previous 3,345, indicating that a local downtrend is beginning to form.
This whole structure drives the price down to 3,283. But we keep in mind the rule: we always consider the global trend, which is still bullish. That means every downward pullback is a potential buying opportunity.
Same here — we track price behavior and wait for confirmation. In this case, we can identify a level around 3,304. We wait for price to reclaim this level from below and attempt a long trade, with a stop-loss below the consolidation low (purple range), and take-profits at 3,312, 3,333, and up to 3,357. These previous key levels serve as our targets.
After that, we see the formation of a new consolidation and a return to the bullish structure — price stays above 3,312. The breakout above 3,322 confirms the continuation of the upward movement.
Conclusion
At this point, the same logic remains in play. In this scenario, we’re working from the long side, placing the stop-loss either below 3,310 (the bottom of the consolidation) or at the previous resistance level — 3,304. The targets remain unchanged.
If we see that price fails to hold above 3,322, we can consider switching to a short setup, with a stop-loss at 3,333 and a target at 3,283. This would confirm the formation of a lower high and signal the continuation of the downward structure.
I’m confident that we can’t truly predict the future — and in reality, we don’t need to. What matters is our ability to correctly read the structure and respond to how price behaves. That’s what allows us to build valid setups and execute them while strictly following risk management rules.
Master Forex Trading with ICT Kill Zones (2024 Guide)The forex market runs 24/5, but not all hours are equally profitable. ICT Kill Zones highlight the 4 most volatile trading windows where institutional activity creates prime opportunities.
ICT Kill Zones Timetable (GMT/EST)
Asian: 8PM - 10PM EST / 12AM - 2AM GMT
London: 2AM - 5AM EST / 6AM - 9AM GMT
New York: 7AM - 9AM EST / 11AM - 1PM GMT
London Close: 10AM - 12PM EST / 2PM - 4PM GMT
Key Characteristics:
Asian Session
Best for AUD, NZD, JPY pairs
Low volatility; ideal for 15-20 pip scalps
London Session
Highest liquidity (trade EUR/GBP)
Often sets daily highs/lows
New York Session
Overlap with London creates high volatility
Focus on USD pairs (e.g., USD/CAD)
London Close
Price retracements to daily range
Quick 15-20 pip reversal plays
Mastering Candlestick Patterns - How to use them in trading!Introduction
Candlesticks are one of the most popular and widely used tools in technical analysis. They offer a visual representation of price movements within a specific time period, providing valuable insights into market trends, sentiment, and potential future price movements.
Understanding candlestick patterns is crucial for traders, as these formations can indicate whether a market is bullish or bearish, and can even signal potential reversals or continuations in price. While candlesticks can be powerful on their own, trading purely based on candlestick patterns can be challenging and risky.
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What are we going to discuss:
1. What are candlesticks?
2. What are bullish candlestick patterns?
3. What are bearish candlestick patterns?
4. How to use candlestick patterns in trading?
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1. What are candlesticks?
A candlestick in trading is a visual representation of price movement in a specific time period on a chart. It is a fundamental element used in technical analysis to study market trends, determine price levels, and predict potential future price movements. A single candlestick consists of four main components: the open, close, high, and low prices for that time period.
Here’s how a candlestick works:
- The Body: The rectangular area between the open and close prices. If the close is higher than the open, the body is green, indicating a bullish (upward) movement. If the close is lower than the open, the body is red, signaling a bearish (downward) movement.
- The Wick (high and low of the candle): The thin lines extending above and below the body. These represent the highest and lowest prices reached during the period. The upper wick shows the highest price, while the lower wick shows the lowest price.
- The Open Price: The price at which the asset began trading in that time period (for example, the start of a day, hour, or minute depending on the chart timeframe).
- The Close Price: The price at which the asset finished trading at the end of the period.
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2. What are bullish candlestick patterns?
What is a Hammer Candlestick Pattern?
A hammer candlestick pattern has a small body near the top of the candle and a long lower wick, typically two to three times the length of the body. There is little to no upper wick. This formation shows that during the trading session, sellers managed to push the price significantly lower, continuing the downward momentum. However, buyers eventually stepped in with strong demand and drove the price back up near the opening level by the close.
What is an Inverted Hammer?
An inverted hammer has a small body near the bottom of the candle with a long upper wick, usually at least two to three times the size of the body, and little to no lower wick. This unique shape resembles an upside-down hammer, hence the name.
What is a Dragonfly Doji?
A dragonfly doji has a unique shape where the open, close, and high prices are all at or very close to the same level, forming a flat top with a long lower wick and little to no upper wick. This gives the candle the appearance of a "T," resembling a dragonfly.
What is a Bullish Engulfing?
A bullish engulfing candlestick consists of two candles. The first candle is bearish, indicating that sellers are still in control. The second candle is a large bullish candle that completely engulfs the body of the first one, meaning it opens below the previous close and closes above the previous open. This pattern reflects a clear shift in market sentiment. During the second candle, buyers step in with significant strength, overpowering the previous selling pressure and reversing the momentum. The fact that the bullish candle completely engulfs the previous bearish candle indicates that demand has taken over, signaling a potential trend reversal.
What is a Morning Star?
The morning star consists of three candles. The first is a long bearish candle, indicating that the downtrend is in full force, with strong selling pressure. The second candle is a small-bodied candle, which can be either bullish or bearish, representing indecision or a pause in the downtrend. Often, the second candle gaps down from the first, indicating that the selling pressure is subsiding but not yet fully reversed. The third candle is a long bullish candle that closes well above the midpoint of the first candle, confirming that buyers have taken control and signaling the potential start of an uptrend.
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3. What are bearish candlestick patterns?
What is a Shooting Star?
A shooting star has a smal body near the low of the candle and a long upper wick, usually at least twice the size of the body, with little to no lower wick. This shape shows that buyers initially pushed the price higher during the session, continuing the upward momentum. However, by the close, sellers stepped in and drove the price back down near the opening level.
What is a Hanging Man?
A hanging man has a distinct shape, with a small body positioned near the top of the candle and a long lower wick, usually at least twice the length of the body. There is little to no upper wick. The appearance of this candle suggests that although there was strong selling pressure during the session, buyers managed to bring the price back up near the opening level by the close. Despite the recovery, the long lower wick shows that sellers were able to push the price down significantly at one point. This introduces uncertainty into the uptrend and can indicate that bullish momentum is weakening.
What is a Gravestone Doji?
A gravestone doji has a distinctive shape where the open, low, and close prices are all at or near the same level, forming a flat base. The upper wick is long and stretches upward. This shape resembles a gravestone, which is where the pattern gets its name.
What is a Bearish Engulfing?
A bearish engulfing candlestick pattern is a two-candle reversal pattern that typically appears at the end of an uptrend and signals a potential shift from bullish to bearish sentiment. The first candle is a smaller bullish candle, reflecting continued upward momentum. The second candle is a larger bearish candle that completely engulfs the body of the first one, meaning it opens higher than the previous close and closes lower than the previous open. This indicates that bears have taken control, overpowering the buyers, and suggests a potential downside movement.
What is an Evening Star?
An evening star is a bearish candlestick pattern that typically signals a potential reversal at the top of an uptrend. It consists of three candles and reflects a shift in momentum from buyers to sellers. The pattern starts with a strong bullish candle, showing continued buying pressure and confidence in the upward move. This is followed by a smaller-bodied candle, which can be bullish or bearish, and represents indecision or a slowdown in the uptrend. The middle candle often gaps up from the first candle, showing that buyers are still trying to push higher, but the momentum is starting to weaken. The third candle is a strong bearish candle that closes well into the body of the first bullish candle. This candle confirms that sellers have taken control and that a trend reversal could be underway. The more this third candle erases the gains of the first, the stronger the reversal signal becomes.
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4. How to use candlestick patterns in trading?
Candlestick patterns are most useful when they appear at key levels, such as support, resistance, or significant trendlines. For instance, if a bullish reversal pattern like a hammer or bullish engulfing forms at a support level, it may indicate that the downtrend is losing momentum, and a reversal could be coming.
Trading based on candlestick patterns alone can be risky. To improve your chances of success, always seek additional confirmation from other technical analysis tools. Here are some common ones:
- Support and Resistance Levels: Look for candlestick patterns that form near key support or resistance levels. For instance, if the price reaches a support zone and a bullish reversal candlestick pattern forms, this may suggest a potential upward reversal.
- Fibonacci Retracement: Use Fibonacci levels to identify potential reversal zones. If a candlestick pattern appears near a key Fibonacci level (such as the Golden Pocket), it adds confirmation to the idea that the price may reverse.
- Liquidity Zones: These are areas where there is a high concentration of buy or sell orders. Candlestick patterns forming in high liquidity zones can indicate a stronger potential for a reversal or continuation.
- Indicators and Oscillators: Incorporating indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI), Moving Averages, MACD, or Stochastic RSI can help confirm the momentum of the price. For example, if a candlestick pattern forms and the RSI shows an oversold condition (below 30), this could indicate a potential reversal to the upside.
It’s crucial to wait for confirmation before entering a trade. After a candlestick pattern forms, it’s important to wait for the next candle or price action to confirm the signal. For example, if you spot a bullish reversal candlestick like a hammer at support, wait for the next candle to close above the hammer’s high to confirm that buyers are in control and a reversal is likely.
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THE DEATH CROSSDeath Cross Triggered During Consolidation: What It Could Mean
The 50 SMA (blue) just crossed below the 200 SMA (red), signaling a Death Cross—a traditionally bearish indicator. But here’s the catch: this didn’t happen during a steep downtrend. It happened during consolidation.
That changes the narrative.
When a Death Cross forms during a period of sideways chop instead of a clear downtrend, it often reflects lagging momentum, not accelerating weakness. It can trap shorts expecting a breakdown, especially if price is coiling above strong support or forming a basing pattern.
💡 Key things I’m watching:
Does price respect the consolidation range low?
Are we forming a bullish divergence on RSI or MACD?
How does volume behave around the cross?
This may not be a "short and hold" moment—this might be a shakeout before trend resolution. Stay sharp. Don't trade the cross, trade the context.
GBPJPY Bullish Continuation Case StudyTo share the GBPJPY case study, where I only took +1RR from +2RR possible return.
Reason:
1. Price moved from downtrend to uptrend
2. Demand with huge bullish candle after it (imbalance above demand) not yet re-test
3. Multiple supports above demand zone
4. Price tapped to demand zone, looks aggressive but demand was strong enough to hold and price bounces from it
This is textbook setup, targeting 2RR from this setup is achievable. Please do not trust me! I do not have big capital to support my statement.
One thing is certain is that, if you trade one setup or strategy, and collect data and watch how it work, you can achieve a profitable trading journey.
Trading Smarter, Not Harder: Decoding Institutional MovesThere’s an old saying in trading: “Follow the smart money.” But how do you know where the smart money is going? The answer lies not in guesswork but in data—specifically, the kind of institutional-grade data that most retail traders overlook. If you’re serious about understanding market dynamics, it’s time to dive into the world of **COT (Commitment of Traders) reports** and **options flow data** from the **CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange)**. These tools are like your personal radar, cutting through the noise to reveal what the big players are doing.
Step 1: Understanding the Big Picture – Why Market Sentiment Matters
Before we zoom into the specifics, let’s start with the basics. Markets are driven by sentiment—the collective mood of participants. When fear dominates, prices fall; when greed takes over, they rise. But here’s the catch: Retail traders often react to sentiment after it’s already priced in. By the time you see a headline screaming “Market Crashes!” or “Record Highs!”, the opportunity has likely passed.
This is where systematic analysis comes in. Instead of relying on emotions or lagging indicators, smart traders use raw data to anticipate shifts in sentiment. And two of the most powerful sources of this data are **COT reports** and **CME options flow**.
Step 2: The Commitment of Traders (COT) Report – Peering Into the Mind of Institutions
The **COT report**, published weekly by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), provides a breakdown of positions held by different types of traders: commercial hedgers, non-commercial speculators (like hedge funds), and small retail traders. Here’s why it’s invaluable:
- **Commercial Hedgers**: These are the “smart money” players—producers and consumers who use futures markets to hedge their risk. For example, a sugar producer might sell futures contracts to lock in prices. Their actions often signal future supply and demand trends.
- **Non-Commercial Speculators**: These are the momentum-driven players who bet on price movements. Tracking their positioning helps identify potential reversals.
- **Small Traders**: Often considered the “dumb money,” their positions frequently coincide with market tops or bottoms.
By systematically analyzing the COT report, you will discover your ability to identify patterns and positioning levels of participants that signal trend reversals or the onset of corrections. Seriously, this will blow your mind! The insights you gain will be so groundbreaking that they will change your trading game forever.
Step 3: Options Flow – Real-Time Insights Into Institutional Activity
While the COT report offers a macro view, **options flow** gives you real-time insights into institutional activity. Directly through CME data feeds, you can track large block trades in options markets. Here’s why this matters:
It will take some time, observation, and comparison with price charts to learn how to uncover insights that lead to trades with a risk-reward ratio of 1:10 or even higher. This isn’t about needing to make options trades; that’s not a requirement. It’s about being able to trade the Forex market much more effectively by using entry points highlighted by options and futures market reports.
For example, over the past few weeks, the USD/JPY pair has been in a downtrend. Long before this happened, major players were accumulating positions in call options on the futures for the yen (which is equivalent to a decline in the yen). We discussed this before the drop occurred (you can easily find those analyses on our page ).
What’s remarkable is that there are many such insights available. For certain instruments (like precious metals and currency pairs), these insights appear with a certain regularity and provide excellent sentiment for opening positions or reversing positions in the opposite direction.
Step 4: Connecting the Dots – From General Trends to Specific Trades
Now that we’ve covered the tools, let’s talk about how to apply them systematically. Imagine you’re analyzing the sugar futures market (a favorite among commodity traders):
1. **Check the COT Report**: In the precious metals market, commercials are often positioned short, hedging against the risk of a decline in the underlying asset's value. When their net position hovers around zero , it typically signals a bullish trend for gold prices in the vast majority of cases.
2. **Analyze Options Flow**: when filtering options by sentiment, there are several key factors to consider:
- Size and value of the option portfolio
- Distance from the central strike (Delta)
- Time to expiration
- Appearance on the rise/fall of the underlying asset
Option portfolios with names such as vertical spread, butterfly, and condor (iVERTICAL SPREAD, IRON FLY/FLY, CONDOR/IRON CONDOR) have predictive sentiment regarding the direction of the asset's price movement. While "naked" options (PUT or CALL options) with above-average volume can signal that the price is encountering a significant obstacle at that level, leading to a potential bounce off that level (support or resistance).
3 **Combine with Retail Positions Analysis**: Look for opportunities to trade against the crowd. If retail sentiment is overwhelmingly bullish, consider a bearish position, and vice versa.
This layered approach ensures you’re not just reacting to headlines but making informed decisions based on valuable data.
Step 5: Why Systematic Analysis Sets You Apart
Here’s the truth: Most traders fail because they rely on intuition rather than evidence. They chase tips, follow social media hype, or get swayed by emotional biases. But markets reward discipline and preparation. By mastering tools like COT reports and options flow, you gain a competitive edge—a deeper understanding market breath! The path of least resistance!
Remember, even seasoned professionals don’t predict every move correctly.However, having a reliable structure allows you to maximize profits from transactions, eliminate noise and unnecessary (questionable) transactions.
Final Thoughts: Your Path to Mastery
If there’s one takeaway from this article, let it be this: The best traders aren’t fortune-tellers; they’re detectives. They piece together clues from multiple sources to form a coherent picture of the market. Start with the big picture (COT reports), zoom into real-time activity (options flow), and then refine your strategy with technical analysis.
So next time you open chart, don’t just look at price. Dive into the reports/data before. Ask questions. Connect the dots. Because in the world of trading, knowledge truly is power.
What’s your experience with COT reports or options flow? Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear how you incorporate these tools into your trading routine!
**P.S.** If you found this article helpful, consider bookmarking it for future reference.
What Is a Balanced Price Range, and How Can You Use ItWhat Is a Balanced Price Range, and How Can You Use It in Trading?
Balanced Price Ranges (BPRs) offer traders insight into areas where market forces temporarily balance. Understanding how BPRs form and how to use them can help traders identify key zones of interest on the chart. This article explores the details of BPRs, their applications in trading, and how combining them with other tools can refine your market analysis.
What Is a Balanced Price Range (BPR)?
A Balanced Price Range (BPR) is an Inner Circle Trader (ICT) concept used to pinpoint areas on a price chart where market activity reflects a temporary equilibrium between buyers and sellers. These zones, often identified through overlapping Fair Value Gaps (FVGs), highlight price levels where buying and selling pressures have offset each other, creating a balance.
Here’s how it works in a bullish scenario: a rapid price move downward leaves a bearish Fair Value Gap—a price range the market skips over due to strong selling momentum. If the price rises with equal intensity shortly, creating a bullish Fair Value Gap in the opposite direction, the overlapping region between these gaps becomes the BPR. This overlap represents a zone of temporary balance, where the market has effectively “corrected” the earlier imbalance.
BPR zones are not random. They often form in areas of high market interest—perhaps near key support or resistance levels, or after significant news events that cause sharp price movements. Traders look at these ranges because they frequently act as reference points for future price reactions.
The boundaries of an ICT BPR—its high and low—serve as critical levels. These edges often function as dynamic support and resistance, helping traders gauge potential turning points. Furthermore, BPRs can appear across various timeframes, from minute-by-minute to weekly charts.
How Does a Balanced Price Range Form?
Now that we know the idea of the ICT Balanced Price Range, let’s look at how it forms step by step.
1. An Initial Price Imbalance
A BPR begins with a strong price movement in one direction—either up or down. For example, in an overall bearish scenario, buyers initially drive the price up rapidly and leave behind a bullish FVG. This gap reflects an area where the market didn’t fully engage, often skipping over price levels due to overwhelming demand.
2. A Counter-Move Creates an Opposing Gap
After the initial move, the market can shift in the opposite direction with equal momentum. In our example, sellers step in, pushing the price downward. This creates a bearish FVG that partially overlaps with the earlier bullish FVG. These rapid shifts often occur around key events, such as news releases or liquidity grabs, which ignite temporary market imbalances.
3. Overlapping Fair Value Gaps Define the Range
The overlapping portion of the bullish and bearish FVGs is what forms the BPR. This zone represents the price levels where buying and selling forces are temporarily balanced, neutralising the earlier imbalances.
4. Market Consolidation and Testing
Once the BPR is established, the price often consolidates near this range. This zone acts as a magnet for future price action because it’s seen as an area of high market interest, where traders may take note of previous balance. In the example given, a test may precede a bearish reaction.
Combining BPRs With Other ICT Concepts
Balanced Price Ranges in the ICT methodology become even more powerful when combined with other related concepts. By layering multiple tools, traders can refine their analysis and pinpoint high-probability areas for market activity. Here’s how BPRs work with key ICT concepts:
Fair Value Gaps
Since BPRs are defined by overlapping fair value gaps, understanding how to read these gaps adds depth to BPR analysis. FVGs outside the BPR can act as supplementary zones of interest.
Order Blocks
Traders often spot BPRs forming near significant order blocks. When these zones overlap, they highlight areas where institutional activity may have left a footprint, increasing their importance for analysis.
Liquidity Pools
BPRs often align with liquidity zones where stop orders are clustered. Price may gravitate toward these areas before reacting, offering traders insight into potential price reversals or continuations.
Market Structure Shifts
BPRs can reinforce insights gained from market structure shifts. For example, a BPR forming after a break in structure might signal consolidation before the next major move.
Higher Timeframe Confluence
When a BPR aligns with key levels on higher timeframes, it can provide added confidence in the zone’s relevance for price reactions.
How to Use a Balanced Price Range
The Balanced Price Range can provide traders with valuable insights into price behaviour, acting as a reference point for analysing potential market movements. By understanding how these zones function, traders often use them to refine their strategies and enhance their market analysis.
Identifying High-Interest Zones
As BPRs highlight areas where the market found an equilibrium between buyers and sellers, traders typically monitor how the price reacts when revisiting a BPR. For example, if the price approaches the upper or lower boundary of a BPR, it may indicate a potential turning point or a continuation, depending on the market context.
Support and Resistance Dynamics
One common approach is to view BPRs as dynamic support or resistance zones. When the price tests the range, traders often anticipate a reaction. For instance, a rejection from a BPR in a bearish trend may suggest continued downward momentum, while a breach might signal weakening selling pressure.
Contextualising Larger Market Structures
BPRs don’t exist in isolation; they often align with broader market structures. Traders may use them in combination with tools like liquidity zones or order blocks to build a more complete market picture. For instance, if a BPR forms near a major resistance level on a higher timeframe, this confluence could strengthen its importance as a reference point.
Adjusting for Timeframe and Strategy
The relevance of a BPR often depends on the timeframe being analysed. Day traders might focus on intraday BPRs to find potential trading opportunities, while swing traders could look for these zones on higher timeframes, considering them significant levels for long-term moves. Either trader can use lower and higher timeframe BPRs to inform their analysis and entries.
Managing Risk Around BPRs
Traders may incorporate BPRs into their risk management plans, such as by using the boundaries of the range to set stop-loss or take-profit levels. A breach of these levels can indicate a shift in market sentiment, helping traders refine their analysis.
Risks and Considerations When Using BPRs
While BPRs can be a useful tool for analysing price behaviour, they aren’t without limitations. Traders need to approach BPRs with a clear understanding of their potential pitfalls. Here are some key considerations:
- Not Predictive: BPRs don’t guarantee future price movement. While they highlight zones of interest, traders must combine them with broader market analysis to avoid over-reliance.
- Subjectivity: Identifying BPRs can sometimes be subjective. What one trader sees as a balanced range might not align with another’s interpretation, especially on different timeframes.
- Timeframe Sensitivity: A BPR on a lower timeframe may lose significance in the broader market context. Conversely, higher timeframe BPRs may lag behind fast-moving markets.
- False Breakouts: Price can move beyond a BPR briefly before reversing, creating potential traps for traders relying solely on breakout strategies.
- Market Context Matters: BPRs are analysed alongside market conditions like volatility, news events, or broader trends. Ignoring these factors can reduce their reliability.
The Bottom Line
Understanding Balanced Price Ranges can help traders interpret key market zones and improve their analysis. By combining BPRs with other tools and strategies, traders gain deeper insights into price movements.
FAQ
What Is the ICT Price Range?
The ICT price range refers to specific price levels or zones highlighted in the Inner Circle Trader (ICT) methodology. These ranges often represent areas of interest in the market, such as liquidity pools, fair value gaps, or balanced price ranges. Traders use ICT price ranges to analyse price movement, identify potential reaction points, and refine their trading strategies.
What Is the Meaning of a Balanced Price?
Balanced price describes a market state where buying and selling pressures are in equilibrium. It typically forms in areas where overlapping fair value gaps exist, reflecting zones where previous imbalances have corrected. These areas can act as key levels for future price reactions.
What Is an Optimal Trade Entry in a Balanced Price Range?
Optimal trade entry in a balanced price range refers to identifying high-probability entry points within or near a BPR. Traders often look for price reactions at the range’s boundaries, combining BPR analysis with other ICT tools, such as order blocks or liquidity zones, to refine their approach.
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.
Elliott Wave Analysis of DLF: A Technical PerspectiveHello friends, let's analyze the DLF chart on a daily time frame. Currently, we're observing a corrective phase, where the stock has completed a flat correction pattern (A-B-C) with a 3-3-5 structure. Following this correction, we've seen a significant drop, accompanied by a strong double divergence in the RSI indicator. Where Fibonacci Retracement of last long Rally on Weekly is near 50% - 55% which is less than 61.8% should consider as a Healthy Retracement
As the price is currently moving upwards, completing wave counts, a breakout above the downward trend line would increase our conviction in the analysis.
This analysis is for educational purposes only and not a tip or advisory. If the price breaks out and stays above the trend line while maintaining the low of 601, we can expect further upside momentum. However, 601 would remain a crucial invalidation level, and a breakdown below it would require us to reassess our wave counts.
Key points:
1. DLF chart analysis on daily time frame
2. Flat correction pattern (A-B-C) with 3-3-5 structure
3. Healthy Retracement
4. Strong double divergence in RSI indicator
5. Breakout above trend line increases conviction (Which is pending yet)
6. 601 as invalidation level
Please note that this is a Educational technical analysis post and not a recommendation to buy or sell.
I am not Sebi registered analyst.
My studies are for educational purpose only.
Please Consult your financial advisor before trading or investing.
I am not responsible for any kinds of your profits and your losses.
Most investors treat trading as a hobby because they have a full-time job doing something else.
However, If you treat trading like a business, it will pay you like a business.
If you treat like a hobby, hobbies don't pay, they cost you...!
Hope this post is helpful to community
Thanks
RK💕
Disclaimer and Risk Warning.
The analysis and discussion provided on in.tradingview.com is intended for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for trading decisions. RK_Charts is not an investment adviser and the information provided here should not be taken as professional investment advice. Before buying or selling any investments, securities, or precious metals, it is recommended that you conduct your own due diligence. RK_Charts does not share in your profits and will not take responsibility for any losses you may incur. So Please Consult your financial advisor before trading or investing.
What to consider when trading...
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If you "Follow", you can always get new information quickly.
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Have a nice day today.
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This is my personal opinion, so it may differ from yours.
Please keep this in mind.
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So, how should I proceed with day trading?
When trading day trading, the first thing to consider is the trading volume.
Coins (tokens) with low trading volume should be avoided because volatility can occur in an instant, making it difficult to respond quickly and likely to result in losses.
Therefore, if possible, it is recommended to choose coins (tokens) with high trading volume.
The next thing to consider is the price of the coin (token).
If the price of the coin (token) becomes too high or too low, even if you sell it for profit, you may incur a loss.
Therefore, when trading a coin (token) with a very high price, you should trade with a longer time frame.
In other words, the increase should be high.
When trading a coin (token) with a very low price, you need to be persistent.
This is because the amount you want to trade is large, so the rise or fall may be slow.
The next thing to consider is the size of your trading funds.
If your trading funds are too small, you may not be able to enjoy trading because you will earn too little profit compared to the stress of trading.
If you lose the fun of trading like this, you will have difficulty continuing to trade or you will likely leave the investment market, so you need to be careful.
If you set the trading fund size too high, you can suffer a big loss with one mistake, so you must set a stop loss point and keep it.
You can find out how much trading fund size is right for you by looking at your psychological state when you trade.
If you think you are trading too boldly, it is better to think that the trading fund size is small and increase it little by little.
If you feel extremely anxious when you trade and incur a loss, it is better to reduce the trading fund size little by little.
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(BTCUSDT 30m chart)
Considering the above considerations (trading volume, price, trading fund size), you should continuously observe the selected coin (token) chart to check the movement at the support and resistance points.
To do this, you need to check whether there is support at the support and resistance points drawn on the 1M, 1W, and 1D charts when you meet the HA-Low and HA-High indicators, which can be the basis for starting a transaction, or when you have a trading strategy.
Usually, when the Trend Cloud indicator shows an upward trend while receiving support near the HA-Low indicator and rising, there is a high possibility of rising.
Therefore, you should consider whether to buy when the HA-Low indicator shows support.
And, when the HA-High indicator touches and falls, there is a high possibility of falling when the Trend Cloud indicator shows a downward trend.
Therefore, the area near the HA-High indicator corresponds to the first selling section.
In this way, you can conduct transactions within the sideways section trading within the HA-Low ~ HA-High section.
Then, when there is a movement that falls below the HA-Low indicator or rises above the HA-High indicator, you can conduct a transaction according to the trend.
Therefore, split trading is essential.
The basics of split trading are to sell half when you make a profit and set the stop loss at the principal price for the remaining half.
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This is something everyone knows, but it is not easy to follow.
Also, there are times when it is difficult to decide what to use as the standard for trading.
In such cases, as I mentioned, I recommend that you choose a coin (token) considering the trading volume, price, and trading fund size and continuously check the movement of the chart.
Even if you are not familiar with chart analysis, if you continuously look at the chart, there is a possibility that you will see movement.
However, you need prior knowledge on how to set the stop loss point.
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Thank you for reading to the end.
I hope you have a successful trade.
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