Year: 2026

  • NQ High Of Day Short Review

    NQ High Of Day Short Review

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Pn8DHFSW8

    Summary:

    – This is a market/trading lesson and weekly wrap-up from a futures trader (NQ Nasdaq), noting limited availability for the rest of the week and warning that Jackson Hole will likely create highly manipulated, erratic price action.

    – Core methodology: trade using precise price‑action and order‑flow signals on a 1‑minute chart rather than generic indicators. Key concepts include:
    – First‑presented fair value gaps (FPFGs), especially those from the prior Friday and Monday, are high‑value reference levels.
    – Wicks can be treated as imbalances/gaps and graded with a fib from body high to wick high; the consequent encroachment (midpoint) is a critical decision line.
    – Opening‑range gap (difference between prior regular close and next open) octants/midpoint are reliable intraday targets (70% rule toward midgap by 10:00 ET).
    – Relative equal highs mark buy‑side liquidity; behavior of candle bodies vs. wicks (upper/lower half) signals bullish vs. bearish order flow.
    – Use minimal, well‑chosen PDAs (fair value gaps, order blocks) on a chart or workspace (keep last weeks’ new‑week opening gaps) rather than cluttering the chart.

    – Execution philosophy and behavior:
    – The instructor emphasizes prediction and prepared levels over reactive trading, precise entry/stop sizing, and adding to positions when warranted.
    – He refuses to run public copy/signal services (liquidity issues, front‑running, and student risk), doesn’t post broker statements, and won’t spoon‑feed trades.
    – Accepts he isn’t perfect (showed a stop on a single contract) and models live trade management and journaling.

    – Teaching approach and advice:
    – Study the repeated patterns and narrative logic in his lectures; practice quietly and verify concepts yourself.
    – Beginners should start simple (use mid‑gap and first partial targets) before pursuing very high‑precision tactics.
    – Keep disciplined risk, avoid shortcuts, and cultivate skill over time.

    – Practical recap of session: he expected a rejection near Friday’s FPFG, executed a short at the predicted high using the described rules, took partials, was stopped on one contract during a full‑gap closure attempt, and ultimately cautions limited confidence in forecasts during Jackson Hole.

  • In the Market | August 26, 2026

    Summary — key points from the Trader Roundup conversation

    – Teaching style and learner paths: Michael frames his material as a “choose-your-own-adventure” — he gives tools, frameworks and examples, but traders must decide which path fits their personality (day, swing, position) and put in the time to develop “scar tissue” (experience).

    – Simplicity and process: Trading doesn’t need to be complex. Start by assessing market context (likely direction, economic calendar, prior session behavior, liquidity targets), then use a simple entry/stop model and appropriate sizing (e.g., micro contracts).

    – Timeframes and learning: Michael strongly recommends studying price action on very short timeframes — the one‑minute “base one” — because it compresses many examples and accelerates learning. Higher timeframes have value, but learning on low timeframes builds tape‑reading and execution skills faster.

    – Personalization and experimentation: Students are encouraged to build indicators, scripts, and adaptations (e.g., weekly candles from RTH, custom standard-deviation overlays). Experimentation often uncovers useful insights not shown in core materials.

    – Fit to lifestyle: If you have work or family constraints, adapt your approach (e.g., working‑man model: small size, use phone alerts, simple buy stops around the 9:30 open and hold intraday or as a swing). Scale leverage down and choose a market/timeframe that fits your life.

    – Risk management and responsibility: Don’t trade other people’s money until you’re demonstrably profitable and experienced. Avoid rushing into real‑money trading; practice, journal, and test first.

    – Emotional control and execution: Execution is the core challenge. Use techniques to manage emotion — a brief breathing protocol (huff/puff + deep inhales + hold) was recommended to reset and reduce anxiety before/after trades.

    – Market structure details: Michael discussed practical intraday macros for the last hour of RTH (roughly 2:50–3:10, 3:15–3:45, bond/340–350 window, and the last 10 minutes) and how these windows often set up the run into the close.

    – Community & independence: The goal of mentorship is independent thought — students should adapt concepts to their chosen markets (futures, gold, crypto, forex) and not be tethered to the teacher. Journaling and continual study are emphasized.

    – Social/familial dynamics: Be cautious about involving family early. Avoid using others’ money and don’t let outside opinions distract you while you’re still learning.

    Overall message: study price action diligently, tailor the method to your personality and schedule, keep sizing and risk conservative while you gain experience, manage emotions deliberately, and experiment responsibly to build a durable edge.

  • PreMarketSession NQ Consolidation August 25, 2026

    PreMarketSession NQ Consolidation August 25, 2026

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieJSy4YsVgk

    Summary:

    The speaker is trading a short after a failed new-week opening gap. Key ideas and actions:

    – Trade setup: sell short into the failed new-week opening gap with a stop just above the volume-balance/high; looking for a run down to the gap low and below as confirmation.
    – Fair Value Gap (FVG) logic: a down-close candle creates a bearish FVG; if price closes above it the gap becomes an inversion (bullish use). It reverts to bearish only if price later closes back below the gap.
    – Confirmation criteria: strongest bearish signal is price not returning to the upper half of the gap (or not touching it at all). Secondary: it returns to the gap low and then drops. Weak: it puts body in the gap but doesn’t close above. The trader wants a close below the gap/obsidian low to confirm momentum.
    – Position management: take partials in a range environment, move stops to lock profits, reduce size if conditions change. The speaker reduced contracts and locked in profit (noting ~$5,640) and adjusted limit/stop orders to manage risk.
    – Session context: London session had been trending; the 7–9am period was boxy/consolidating, so trades must be nimble and sized for range behavior until the 9:30 open when directional moves often resume.
    – Trading philosophy/teaching: prioritize candlestick-based order-flow reading over complex indicators (volume profile, footprints); journal the rules and scenarios; be ready to take partials and adapt to session structure.

    Overall: short idea after a failed gap, wait for a decisive close below the FVG/obsidian low for confirmation, manage risk with partials and tightened stops, and trade with session-context awareness.

  • Monday Review On NQ & PreMarket Session Rules Revisited

    Monday Review On NQ & PreMarket Session Rules Revisited

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grcLMbjs-zs

    Summary:

    – The speaker reviews the NASDAQ (NQ) daily chart and says they expected a pull down into a daily “buy-side balance / sell-side efficiency” area (a volume imbalance). A close below the midpoint of a key wick confirmed a likely move down.
    – Emphasis on grading imbalances by candlestick bodies (not wicks) and watching volume imbalances, order blocks, fair value gaps (CBIs), and quadrant/octant levels as key reference points.
    – Market action described: a weak opening, a rally into the graded buy/sell efficiency that failed, then a sharp, fast drop out of the open that moved too quickly to short. Price consolidated between ~7–9am (rules: consolidation vs trend), then produced a strong directional move at 9:30.
    – Tactical levels: watch the low of the daily volume imbalance (target for further downside), a bullish inversion fair value gap used as a rally target, and a bearish order block that validated resistance. The speaker planned to hunt a “silver bullet” level around 10:00–10:30.
    – Practical notes and warnings: Jackson Hole could cause erratic market behavior — don’t overleverage. The speaker missed the ideal short entry and encourages viewers to learn the rules and grade their own charts rather than blindly copying levels.
    – Logistics: the speaker will be lower output this week (fewer posts/videos) and encourages reviewing recent materials for important lessons.

  • Friday Review On NQ & PreMarket Session Rules Revisited

    Friday Review On NQ & PreMarket Session Rules Revisited

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KW2acdPi-M

    Summary:

    – The speaker teaches a specific intraday method focused on the premarket 7:00–9:00 a.m. ET dealing range (or 7:00–8:30 when an 8:30 report is due). The high, low and midpoint of that window act as key levels: above the midpoint = premium, below = discount.
    – Whether price is trending or consolidating in that 7:00–9:00 window helps predict the next session’s behavior (consolidation tends to be followed by trending sessions and vice versa). Previous-session levels remain relevant and should be extended to the right — they don’t “expire.”
    – He uses order-flow concepts (imbalances, fair-value gaps, inversion FVGs, PD arrays) anchored to those key levels to identify entries, stops and targets. Examples from a Thursday→Friday sequence are used to show these principles in action.
    – He emphasizes that the market is algorithmic and time (session structure) is often more important than price alone when reading order flow.
    – He defends the authenticity of his live trade recordings against accusations of using TradingView market-replay, pointing out visual/control differences between live feed and replay and describing his process of posting trade screenshots in real time; he even issues a monetary challenge to anyone who can replicate his live-results fraudulently.
    – He also notes his public persona (Inner Circle Trader) is partly theatrical, used to draw attention, and acknowledges critics while insisting his methods consistently work.

  • Trading & The Seasons In Success | August 22, 2026

    Summary:

    – ICT uses a “four seasons” analogy for trading: initial hot excitement (summer), decline from mistakes (fall), deep doubt and learning (winter), then recovery and growth (spring).
    – Key lesson: expect and prepare for drawdowns; they’re normal stages of development, not proof your method is worthless.
    – Discipline is crucial: follow your trading model and rules, avoid impulsive trades and overleveraging, and accept stillness (not trading) as a form of strength and risk management.
    – Journaling with positive, non‑self‑defeating language helps tame intrusive subconscious doubts and builds resilience.
    – Don’t chase quick wins, social‑media clout, or “one-night-stand” success; longevity and consistency matter more than flashy short-term gains.
    – Be wary of influencers, marketing claims, and misleading displays of wealth; true success is durable and often private (real “seven‑figure” means withdrawable cash).
    – Teaching and mentorship matter, but ultimately find and own a method that fits you; don’t blindly emulate others.
    – Personal anecdotes (students losing relationships, family experiences, boredom leading to bad choices) underline the emotional and life impacts of trading.
    – Final note: a 30‑minute video review will be posted with more details.

  • NQ Consolidation Day Algorithmic Rules In Action

    NQ Consolidation Day Algorithmic Rules In Action

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0olLwAiLa3o

    Summary:

    – Speaker opens briefly, then shifts to a fast technical review followed by real-time trade execution footage to study tape reading and order flow.
    – Emphasizes taking notes and using a notepad; his methods rely on detailed rules and nuances taught over time.
    – Key timeframe: pre-market 7:00–9:00 AM ET. Measure the highest high and lowest low between those lines to define the dealing range; that range sets equilibrium, octants and premium/discount context for the regular session.
    – Example level used throughout: the August 6, 2026 daily low at 29,241.25 — treated as an “event horizon”/target for unfinished business and potential washout.
    – Market behavior explained: if 7–9 is trending, the 9:30–11:30 AM session often consolidates and chops; rallies into premium near measured octants can fail (bodies vs wicks indicate algorithmic intent), producing traps and inefficiencies.
    – Intraday structure: watch for sell-side/buy-side efficiencies, inversion fair value gaps, wicks and consequent encroachment as benchmarks of strength/weakness and trade triggers.
    – Trade execution: entries were taken at consequent encroachment and the upper octant of an inefficiency, with added position on a re-test; the method is precise, rule-based, and consistent rather than discretionary zone-chasing.
    – Overall message: the market shows systematic, algorithmic behavior visible in candlesticks; using these specific time/price frameworks and smart-money concepts gives a repeatable edge.

  • ICT Obsidian Teaching

    ICT Obsidian Teaching

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC0UuarROyo

    Summary:

    – Core idea: Trade one premium PD array (PDA) at a time and use a clear visual candlestick language to read institutional order flow. Bodies in the lower half of a PDA indicate bearish order flow; bodies in the upper half indicate bullishness. This simplifies decision-making and forces you to follow the market rather than wishful thinking.

    – Daily-first hierarchy: Start with the daily chart (identify PDAs, wicks, inefficiencies, gaps and new-week opening gap) and only then move into intraday timeframes. Valid intraday trades must be supported by the higher-timeframe structure.

    – Obsidian model: Defined as two opposing wicks (the second wick higher than the first). Split each wick in half and use the midpoint/consequent-encroachment levels to grade price action and find trade entries, liquidity pools, and failures. Obsidian helped signal bearish failure in the recent session.

    – Practical application: He used the 7:00–9:00am pre-market dealing range, the 9:30 open structure (including a Judas swing), daily wicks/inefficiencies, and specific levels (example target ~30,137.5) to justify shorting into an upper liquidity pool, building position, and scaling out as price hit partial targets. Closing below key PDA levels was an early bearish sign.

    – Takeaways: Use consistent rules, carry higher-timeframe levels forward, grade ranges and wicks visually, and avoid relying solely on short timeframes or generic supply-and-demand rules. The method is proprietary to his teaching and informed by his personal process.

  • Trade Management & Removing The Need To Be Right

    Trade Management & Removing The Need To Be Right

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8s_vfK9HaM

    Summary:

    – The speaker outlines a short trade idea aiming for the new-week opening gap high, using volume imbalances, fair value gaps (FVGs), order blocks and “inversion” logic to time entries and stops.
    – Entry and stop placement are precise: stops just above specific candle bodies/wick highs, limits at imbalance/highs, and use of timed algorithmic expansion around 8:30 ET (news/market behavior).
    – Emphasizes trade management: take partials, trail stops, cancel conflicting resting orders, and secure profits (“pay yourself the harassment fee”) rather than insisting on reaching the original target.
    – Notes practical constraints (couldn’t enter earlier because a video was rendering) and how that affected position sizing and entries.
    – Stresses that being consistently profitable matters more than being “right” about the exact target; partial exits lock in gains and reduce risk.
    – Warns about market participants who can influence price around posted levels (liquidity hunting) and why robust stop-management is necessary.
    – Reiterates mental/trade psychology: if a trade causes stress or altered behavior, close it; manage emotions and responsibility yourself.
    – Defends teaching approach and responding to critics, saying demonstrations of live management and rationale are important for students.

    Overall: a practical lesson in precision entries using order-flow concepts combined with active risk and position management, emphasizing profitability, psychology, and independence over absolute correctness.

  • The Week In The Life Cycle Of Price

    The Week In The Life Cycle Of Price

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmHSwlmS9iY

    Summary:

    – Purpose and approach: The speaker outlines a weekly market-workshop method (given on a Saturday) focused on mapping likely price action before the market opens. He emphasizes disciplined study of his core lessons rather than casual Q&A.

    – Charting framework: Analysis always begins with a continuous contract (gives consistent historical highs/lows/inefficiencies). He layers monthly, weekly, daily, 15-minute and 1-minute timeframes to build a roadmap.

    – Key reference levels: Primary anchors are previous month/week highs and lows, session highs/lows (Asian, London, NY, AM, lunch), and midpoints. These static and session-based levels identify liquidity pools and likely “draws” for price.

    – Order-flow concepts used: PD arrays, buy/sell-side balance efficiencies, inefficiencies (gaps), fair-value gaps, rejection blocks, inversion order blocks, and his “silver bullet” setups. He reads price structure and wick/body behavior to infer bullish vs bearish order flow.

    – Weekly profile + economic calendar: He maps a likely weekly profile in advance and aligns it with scheduled high-impact news (CPI, PPI). That combination helps anticipate when and where liquidity will be hunted and how midweek volatility will unfold.

    – TGIF concept and targets: For bullish weeks he expects a pullback into the weekly range (typical retrace ~20–30% of weekly range, with 25% a common target). He uses this to set extraction points and partial-profit targets.

    – Execution & risk management: Example trade—posted target level (29,984), entered two contracts against defined stops around consequent encroachment/ order block structure, aimed for 20–30% weekly-range profit zones. He stresses matching models to market conditions and sizing relative to stop distance.

    – Teaching philosophy: He gives much content free, insists students do the work (study prior mentorship material), and argues his methods are repeatable across markets (futures, CFDs, forex, gold, etc.). He defends public level-calls and live trade evidence as proof of concept.

    – Practical takeaway: Use continuous-contract reference levels, session and weekly profiles, and order-flow price-structure clues (inefficiencies, wicks/bodies, rejection blocks) combined with the economic calendar to form a pre-market bias and tradable targets; study the core material repeatedly to internalize the models.