"The Myth of Confirmation - What Retail Gets Wrong Every Day"🔥 THE TRUTH ABOUT MARKET “CONFIRMATION” (What Retail Never Realizes)
Most traders think confirmation comes from indicators, patterns, candle shapes, or repeating formations on lower timeframes.
This is the greatest misunderstanding in trading.
Confirmation does NOT come from the LTF.
Confirmation comes from alignment of the delivery cycle — and the LTF only expresses what the HTF already decided.
Retail thinks the 5M “creates” trend.
Institutions know the 5M merely reflects it.
Here’s the real breakdown institutions use:
⸻
1. Confirmation = Completion of a Phase, Not a Pattern
A market only confirms when a structural phase fully completes, meaning:
• Liquidity objective hit
• Internal structure reset
• Order flow aligned
• Efficient price or imbalance corrected
• Pullback cycle finished
• New impulsive leg prepared
This is confirmation.
Not a candle.
Not an indicator.
Not a shape on your chart.
⸻
2. LTF Structure Means NOTHING Without HTF Context
Retail loves reacting to:
• 5M BOS
• 1M pullback
• 15M FVG
• Candle patterns
• Trend lines
None of these matter if the HTF hasn’t finished its development cycle.
This is why traders lose:
They see “confirmation” while the HTF is still in a build-up, not a release phase.
⸻
3. The Market Confirms Twice — Retail Only Sees One
Institutional traders track two confirmations:
Macro Confirmation (HTF)
This tells the market what it wants to do next
— continuation or pullback.
Micro Confirmation (LTF)
This tells the market when it’s safe to execute
— trend shift + pullback + OB tap + displacement.
Retail only waits for micro confirmation.
They skip macro confirmation.
So they trade inside noise.
⸻
4. Candles Don’t Confirm — the Cycle Confirms
People over-read 5M candles, ignoring the fact that candles are only expressions of liquidity movement.
You can’t read intent from shape.
You read intent from position in the cycle.
The same candle means:
• continuation in one phase
• reversal in another
• manipulation in another
Only the cycle gives it meaning.
⸻
5. The Market Doesn’t Confirm For You — It Confirms ITSELF
This is the coldest truth most will never learn:
Price never confirms your bias.
Price only confirms where it is in the timeline.
If you don’t know the timeline,
you don’t know the confirmation.
TL;DR
(Beginner/Simple)
Confirmation = Cycle Completion + Alignment
NOT a candle pattern or indicator.
You don’t follow confirmation.
You follow timing.
Multiple Time Frame Analysis
The Deeper Logic Behind Price Delivery (Nobody Talks About This)Most traders think some pairs are slow and others are fast.
But that belief is the reason they stay confused, lose trades, and can’t read delivery.
The truth is deeper, and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
This is the real explanation behind timing, alignment, and phase delivery — the part nobody teaches.
Most traders think some markets “move fast” and other markets “move slow.”
That’s a surface-level observation. It sounds true, but it completely misses the deeper mechanics behind why price behaves the way it does.
The truth is this:
Markets don’t move fast or slow — markets move according to timing.
Every pair follows the same structural blueprint.
The only difference is where each pair is within its delivery cycle.
Price is always doing one of two things:
1. Delivering a continuation leg (impulsive, clean, fast movement)
2. Building the pullback leg (corrective, choppy, slower movement)
When a pair is fully aligned on the higher timeframe — when the trend, liquidity objectives, and structural breaks are all synchronized — the continuation phase will always look fast. It’s clean, directional, and decisive because the cycle is ready to deliver.
When a pair is still developing inducements, collecting liquidity, or forming the structure it needs for the next leg, it will naturally look slow or indecisive. Not because the pair is slow, but because the cycle is incomplete.
This is why one pair may be exploding while another is barely moving:
they’re simply in different phases of the same universal process.
Price is never random.
Price is never “lazy” or “weak.”
Price is simply obeying its timing.
Higher timeframes reveal that timing.
They show you:
• Whether continuation is ready
• Whether the pullback is still developing
• Whether liquidity has been engineered
• Whether the dominant leg is prepared to deliver
• Whether the cycle is aligned or still maturing
Lower timeframes only express what the higher timeframe already decided.
So the idea that “some pairs move fast and some move slow” is a misunderstanding. No pair is naturally fast or slow — every pair delivers exactly the same way, just not at the same time.
Fast movement = HTF alignment + continuation phase
Slow movement = HTF development + liquidity engineering phase
Once you understand timing, you stop comparing pairs by their speed and start reading them by their position in the cycle.
That’s when trading stops being guesswork and starts becoming recognition.
Because the deeper truth is simple:
Price isn’t unpredictable — traders are just unaware of what time it is.
-Do you view the market by timing or by “speed”?
Let me know — I read every comment.
#NAS100 #Education #SMC #MarketTiming #PriceAction #SmartMoney #Forex #Indices
Crypto Total Market Cap Is at a BREAKING Point – Smart Money FooCrypto Total Market Cap Is at a BREAKING Point – Smart Money Footprint Explained!
🧠 Smart Money Footprint: The Level Most Retail Traders Ignore
The entire crypto market cap has dropped into a massive Smart Money footprint zone — a level where institutional players historically accumulate before major bullish legs.
At the same time, the $3.85T resistance above is the key battlefield.
👉 If price breaks this level, it flips into support, opening the door for a strong upside continuation.
What This Chart Teaches You 👇
✔ Support → Resistance → Support transitions
✔ How Smart Money leaves footprints at major accumulation zones
✔ Why price often reverses from areas retail traders overlook
✔ Market structure timing for long entries
Key Levels to Watch:
🔹 $3.1T – $3.2T → Smart Money accumulation block
🔹 $3.85T → Major resistance flip zone
🔹 Above this = bullish momentum can accelerate fast
Trade Idea (Educational Only, Not Financial Advice):
📈 Long bias as long as price holds within or above the Smart Money footprint.
🔥 Break & retest of $3.85T = high-probability continuation setup.
If this helped you, hit 👍 and save it — more Smart Money lessons coming!
Comment “SMC” if you want the next educational chart breakdown.
Follow @TradeWithMky for daily Smart Money insights.
How to Trade Crude Oil with Smart Money Concepts SMC Explained
Smart Money Concepts is one of the most reliable techniques for trading WTI Crude Oil.
In this article, I will teach you a profitable SMC strategy for analysing and trading USOIL futures and CFD.
This simple strategy is based on an important event every SMC trader should know - a break of structure BoS.
In a bullish trend, the best break of structure will be based on a violation and a candle close above a current higher high.
It will signify a highly probable bullish continuation and provides a great opportunity to buy
Though you can spot a bullish break of structure on any time frame, the most reliable one is a daily.
After a formation of a new high, I suggest waiting for a short term intraday correctional movement.
With a high probability, the market will retest a recently broken structure and smart money will manipulate the market, pushing the price below that, making buyers close their positions.
Once the market starts retracing, analyze an hourly time frame. The price will need to establish an i ntraday minor bearish trend.
In this bearish trend, 2 trend lines should connect lower highs and lower lows composing an expanding, parallel or contracting channel - a bullish flag pattern.
Your best signal will be a breakout of a resistance line of the flag and a violation of the level of the last lower high - a bullish change of character of a liquidity grab.
It will confirm a completion of a correction.
Buy the market on a retest of the level of the last higher low, it will be your best entry.
Set your stop loss at least below a trend line and aim at the next strong daily resistance.
That will be a perfect model for trading break of structure on WTI Crude Oil.
We spotted such a setup in my trading academy on one of the live streams with my students.
WTI Crude Oil was trading in an uptrend on a daily time frame.
A bullish violation of the last Higher High and a candle close above that confirmed a Break of Structure BoS.
The price started a correctional movement then, and we spotted a bullish flag pattern on an hourly time frame.
The market completed a correction after grabbing a liquidity below a broken structure.
A bullish movement started then, and the price violated a resistance line of the flag and the level of the last lower high.
These 2 breakouts confirmed a completion of a correction and a resumption of a bullish trend.
We opened a buy position immediately on a retest of a broken level of the last lower high.
Stop loss was below a trend line, take profit was based on the closest key daily resistance.
And the price went straight to the target.
Break of Structure BoS will be useful for analysis, forecasting and trading WTI Crude Oil.
Combining that with top-down analysis and lower time frames confirmations will provide accurate signals and profitable trading setups.
Integrate a price model that I shared in your strategy, and good luck to you trading USOIL!
❤️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.
How to Apply Quarter’s Theory on Cardano (ADA) | Crypto TAHow to Apply Quarter’s Theory on Cardano (ADA) | Crypto Technical Analysis
In this video, we break down how to draw and use Quarter’s Theory on Cardano (ADA) to understand market structure and price rotation in crypto.
You’ll learn how institutional traders use quarter levels to identify key turning points and why this method can help you see precision entries long before retail traders react.
Whether you’re trading spot or futures, this breakdown gives you a practical framework to read crypto price movement like a professional.
What You’ll Learn:
How to draw Quarter’s Theory levels on a crypto chart
Why market makers respect these levels across all timeframes
How to use quarter zones for entries, exits, and managing bias
Real example using ADA/USD
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start reading the market’s geometry, this is where to begin.
Tags: quarters theory, cardano analysis, crypto trading strategy, institutional trading concepts, market structure crypto
How to Trade with MACD in TradingViewMaster the MACD indicator using TradingView’s charting tools in this comprehensive tutorial from Optimus Futures.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is a momentum and trend-following indicator that helps traders identify shifts in market direction and momentum strength. It measures the relationship between two exponential moving averages (EMAs) to reveal when momentum may be building or fading.
What You’ll Learn:
Understanding MACD as a tool that tracks the convergence and divergence of moving averages
How the MACD line is calculated as the difference between the 12-period and 26-period EMAs
How the Signal line acts as a 9-period EMA of the MACD line and serves as a trigger for potential buy or sell signals
How the Histogram visualizes the distance between the MACD line and Signal line to show momentum strength
Recognizing bullish and bearish crossovers between the MACD and Signal lines
How to interpret the Zero Line as a momentum baseline — above zero suggests an uptrend, below zero suggests a downtrend
Identifying bullish and bearish divergences between MACD and price to anticipate potential reversals
Why crossovers and divergences should be confirmed with price action and trend structure, not used in isolation
How to add MACD to a TradingView chart via the Indicators menu
Understanding the default settings (12, 26, 9) and how adjusting them changes responsiveness
Practical examples on the E-mini S&P 500 futures chart to illustrate MACD signals in real market conditions
Applying MACD across multiple timeframes — daily, weekly, or intraday — for higher-confidence confirmations
This tutorial will benefit futures traders, swing traders, and technical analysts who want to incorporate MACD into their trading process.
The concepts covered may help you identify trend changes, momentum shifts, and potential entry or exit points across different markets and timeframes.
Learn more about futures trading with TradingView:
optimusfutures.com
Disclaimer
There is a substantial risk of loss in futures trading. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please trade only with risk capital. We are not responsible for any third-party links, comments, or content shared on TradingView. Any opinions, links, or messages posted by users on TradingView do not represent our views or recommendations. Please exercise your own judgment and due diligence when engaging with any external content or user commentary.
This video represents the opinion of Optimus Futures and is intended for educational purposes only.
Chart interpretations are presented solely to illustrate objective technical concepts and should not be viewed as predictive of future market behavior. In our opinion, charts are analytical tools — not forecasting instruments.
You Don’t Need a New Strategy—You Need a System (Here’s Proof)This week’s trade recap isn’t just about the winning setup — it’s about understanding why it worked and what that means for your long-term edge as a trader.
Most traders spend years chasing “the perfect strategy,” but strategy alone is just the product. Think of trading like business — McDonald’s and Burger King both sell burgers, but only one built a system that scales, duplicates, and dominates globally. The same applies to trading: your real edge isn’t the setup, it’s the structure behind it — your discipline, consistency, and process.
In this video, we break down:
The winning trade of the week and how the setup developed
Why edges are built through process, not predictions
How business thinking creates stronger traders
The mindset shift from “what to trade” to “how to operate”
Whether you’re trading forex, indices, or crypto, this session will help you think beyond entries and exits — and start building a business-level edge that lasts.
Tags: trading edge, trading psychology, weekly trade recap, trading mindset, how to build consistency in trading, forex strategy, trader discipline, trading process, profitable trading habits, business mindset for traders
Top-Down Analysis Strategy: How I Open and Manage TradesLearn how I use top-down analysis from senior to junior timeframes to find high-probability entry points and confidently follow through on trades.
On the weekly chart, I identify point A and the presumed point B — this is my idea. Then, gradually shifting through the timeframes, I need to confirm this idea. I get confirmation when volume appears on the chart.
On the daily chart, I note the formation of a new trading range, which arises as a result of the interaction of the price with the key level. I determine the POI in the form of a daily FVG — my idea is confirmed, and the price is ready to move towards point B.
I also note the daily SNR as a potential zone of interest. If the price reacts to the SNR, it will mean that I am working in a strong trend. If the reaction occurs on the FVG, the movement simply continues along the trend.
If you are interested in the topic of working in ranges, write in the comments — I will definitely cover it.
As a result of the daily SNR test, the price confirms the presence of volume through the formation of a 4-hour True SNR. You can open a position from it with a limit order with a target beyond point B and fix the risk/profit ratio at 1:2.
If you found this article interesting and my method useful, I would appreciate your support — please like, share, and help promote this article so that it reaches more traders.
THE ULTIMATE CHESS MATCH...THE FINANCIAL MARKETSHey hey everybody JosePips here!!! Just wanted to drop a fire video about how we as retail traders should be approaching these markets, what they truly represent, & how we are witnessing the ultimate chess match take place...so let's dive in to what I go through in this video
1. The mindset behind the markets: People & Money
2. What the markets represent: the ultimate chess match
3. The chess match between buyers & sellers
4. The RETAIL ADVANTAGE: 3rd party witnesses
5. The business of the markets
6. How WE as RETAIL participants can UTILIZE this chess match to create our trading/business decisions with PROBABILITY
OK guys! I dropped some heat in this video! Hope you all enjoy & REMEMBER...EMOTIONAL trading is not trading..it's just hope :)
Cheers!!
October 05, Forex Outlook: Key Moves to Watch This Week!Welcome back, traders!
In today’s video, we’ll be conducting a Forex Weekly Outlook, analyzing multiple currency pairs from a top-down perspective—starting from the higher timeframes and working our way down to the lower timeframes.
Our focus will be on identifying high-probability price action scenarios using clear market structure, institutional order flow, and key confirmation levels. This detailed breakdown is designed to give you a strategic edge and help you navigate this week’s trading opportunities with confidence.
📊 What to Expect in This Video:
1. Higher timeframe trend analysis
2. Key zones of interest and potential setups
3. High-precision confirmations on lower timeframes
4. Institutional insight into where price is likely to go next
Stay tuned, take notes, and be sure to like, comment, and subscribe so you don’t miss future trading insights!
Have a great week ahead, God bless you!
The Architect 🏛️📉
Learn Profitable Doji Candle Trading Strategy (GOLD, FOREX)
In the today's post, I will share my Doji Candle trading strategy.
This strategy combines the elements of multiple time frame analysis, price action and key levels.
Step 1
Analyze key levels on a daily time frame.
Identify vertical and horizontal supports and resistances.
Here are the key structures that I spotted on AUDUSD.
Step 2
Look for a formation Doji Candle on a key structure.
This rule is crucially important: we will trade only the Doji candles that are formed on key levels.
From key supports , we will look for buying , and we will look for shorting from key resistances .
Look at this Doji Candle that was formed on a key daily support on AUDUSD.
Step 3
Look for a horizontal range on a 4h/1h time frames.
Doji Candle signifies indecision . Quite often, you will notice the horizontal ranges on lower time frames when this candlestick is formed.
Here is a horizontal range that was formed on a 4H time frame on AUDUSD after a formation of Doji.
Step 4
Look for a breakout of the range.
To sell from a key resistance, we will need a bearish breakout of the support of the range. That will be our bearish confirmation.
To buy from a key support, we will need a bullish breakout of the resistance of the range. It will be our bullish signal.
Here is a confirmed breakout of the resistance of the range with a 4H candle close above. That is our bullish confirmation on AUDUSD.
Step 5
Buy aggressively or on a retest.
After you spotted a confirmed breakout of the range, open a trading position aggressively or on a retest.
Personally, I prefer trading on a retest.
If you sell, a stop loss should be above the high of the range and your target should be the closest key daily support.
If you buy, your stop loss should be below the low of the range and a take profit will be on the closest daily resistance.
On AUDUSD, a long position was opened on a retest. Stop loss is lying below the lows. Take profit is the closest resistance.
Here is how this great strategy works!
Always patiently wait for a confirmation! That is your key to successful trading Doji Candle.
❤️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.
September 28, Forex Outlook: What Can Traders Expect This Week?Welcome back, traders!
In today’s video, we’ll be conducting a Forex Weekly Outlook, analyzing multiple currency pairs from a top-down perspective—starting from the higher timeframes and working our way down to the lower timeframes.
Our focus will be on identifying high-probability price action scenarios using clear market structure, institutional order flow, and key confirmation levels. This detailed breakdown is designed to give you a strategic edge and help you navigate this week’s trading opportunities with confidence.
📊 What to Expect in This Video:
1. Higher timeframe trend analysis
2. Key zones of interest and potential setups
3. High-precision confirmations on lower timeframes
4. Institutional insight into where price is likely to go next
Stay tuned, take notes, and be sure to like, comment, and subscribe so you don’t miss future trading insights!
Have a great week ahead, God bless you!
The Architect 🏛️📉
Profitable Multiple Time Frames Smart Money Strategy For Trading
In this post, I will share with you a very accurate and profitable SMC Smart Money trading strategy that combines top-down analysis, liquidity, imbalance, order block and inducement.
Step 1 - Identify liquidity zones on a daily
Liquidity zones are the areas on a price chart, where big players are placing their orders. From such areas, significant bullish and bearish movements initiate.
Liquidity zones that are above the current price will be the supply zones, while the liquidity zones that are below the current price will be the demand zones.
We will look for shorting opportunities from supply areas and for buying opportunities from demand zones.
Here are the liquidity zones that I identified on EURJPY.
Step 2 - Wait for a test of one of the liquidity zones
Let the market test the liquidity zone.
For buying, the price should reach a lower boundary of a demand zone.
For shorting, the price should test an upper boundary of a supply zone.
I underlined the exact levels that the price should test on EURJPY.
Here is the test of the lower boundary of the demand zone.
Step 3 - Look for inducement on an hourly time frame
With the inducement, smart money make the market participants think that the liquidity zone that the price is testing doesn't hold anymore.
When the price tests a supply area, an hourly candle close above its upper boundary will be a bullish inducement.
With that, the smart money incentivize buying orders.
When the price tests a demand area, an hourly candle close below its lower boundary will be a bearish inducement.
With that, the smart money incentivize selling orders.
The price closed below a lower boundary of a demand zone on EURJPY on 1H time frame.
Step 4 - Look for imbalance on an hourly time frame
After a violation of a supply area on an hourly time frame, look for a bearish imbalance.
Bearish imbalance is a strong bearish candle with wide range and big body. With that candle, the market should return within a supply zone and closed within or below that.
After a violation of a demand area on an hourly time frame, look for a bullish imbalance.
Bullish imbalance is a strong bullish candle with wide range and big body. With that candle, the market should return within a demand zone and closed within or above that.
Here is the example of a bullish imbalance on EURJPY.
After a bearish inducement, the price formed a high momentum bullish candle and closed within the demand zone.
The imbalance signify that a liquidity zone violation was a trap .
With that, smart money simply was trying to grab the liquidity.
That will be a signal for you to open an order.
Step 5 - Look for an order block
After the formation of the imbalance, the market becomes locally week and quite often corrects to an order block.
Order block will be the closest hourly liquidity zone.
After a formation of a bearish imbalance, look for a supply zone on an hourly time frame. That will be your perfect zone to sell .
After a formation of a bullish imbalance, look for a demand zone on an hourly. That will be your area to buy from.
Here is the order block on EURJPY.
Step 6 - Set a limit order
Set a sell limit order within a supply area after a formation of bearish imbalance on an hourly time frame.
Set a buy limit order within a demand area after a formation of a bullish imbalance on an hourly.
Here is your buy entry level on EURJPY.
Step 7 - Select the target
If you sell, your target should be the closest daily structure support: horizontal or vertical one.
If you buy, your target should be the closest daily structure resistance: horizontal or vertical one.
In our example, our closest structure resistance if a falling trend line.
Step 8 - Set stop loss
If you sell, stop loss will lie above a bullish inducement.
If you buy, stop loss will lie below a bearish inducement.
Here is a perfect point for a stop loss for a long trade on EURJPY.
Step 9 - Trade
Let the price trigger your entry, and then be prepared to wait.
It took many days for EURJPY to reach the target.
Trading Tips:
1. Make sure that you have a positive reward/ratio. It should be at least 1.2
2. Risk no more that 1% of your trading account per trade
Being applied properly, that strategy shows 70%+ accuracy.
Try it by yourself and let me know your results.
❤️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.
Dealing Ranges - Powerful filter tool to your tradingHello Traders today. I ll break down for you how to enter on a pullback with high accuracy and not being stopped out by using a fibonacci in other words a Dealing range.
A Dealing Range forms when price takes out both a swing high and a swing low, followed by a clear expansion move. That expansion swing becomes the dealing range.
• By dividing the dealing range in half, we get two zones:
• Discount region (lower half) – where buying opportunities are typically more favorable.
• Premium region (upper half) – where selling opportunities are typically more favorable.
• You can think of a dealing range as similar to a PD Array Matrix, but specifically applied to expansion swings rather than consolidation phases.
On the example bellow I drew a Dealing range. If I took the long from the key level in the premium the trade would fail. But if waited for the key level in discount I could get much better RR and explosive move vice versa is happening on the bearish order flow charts. Check on your charts
So why is this situation on the above happening quite often?
It's simple - Liquidity. Market makers needs liquidity to fill their orders so they print nice trade opportunities in the premium where trader enter this setup, for trend continuation.
Setup is technically right. But by placing the trades in premium they creates a stop loss cluster = liquidity in the discount. Then this happen - price go for the liquidity of early buyers in the premium hits key level in the discount and it continue with the trend.
Im not saying that key levels in the premium cant work, in the strong trend there is no always pullback to the discount. But by applying Dealing ranges you will get:
Less but more accurate trades
Higher Risk reward setups
You can build HTF narrative
Use it for targets
Better risk management
Remember, there is not always a key level in the premium and pullback to the discount is not enough. Trade must go from a key level. So if there is not a key level in the premium price is often retracing to the discount key level in order to create a liquidity around a key level price makes a false break which sucks traders in to the market and create a liquidity on a key level.
Dont enter if price is not going from key level its a trap.
Time frame alignments
Always use 2 timeframes Higher time frame (HTF) and Lower timeframe (LTF)
• Higher Timeframe (HTF) = Dealing ranges
• Lower Timeframe (LTF) = Market Profiles / Profiling
Timeframe sequence
HTF Monthly - LTF - Daily / H4
HTF Weekly - LTF - H4 / H1
HTF Daily - LTF H1/ M15
HTF H4 - LTF M15 / M5
Im giving 2x LTF options because sometimes you need to scale lower timeframe to understand price action and best entries. However for the confirmations you can do well with the main sequence of first two.
Apply this rule to any markets. Im adding links to few examples from stocks, crypto an FX where you can see application of this concept. Click to charts to open them and see how price behave in discount and premium.
Examples from successful Tradingview Ideas
Tesla pullback to the discount - Low created in discount ATH most likely coming
Bitcoin pullback to the discount - Followed by expansion to ATH
Palantir pullback to the discount - followed by expansion to ATH
Bitcoin pullback to the Discount - followed by expansion
GBPCHF - Targeting Liquidity in the discount
Hope this help you in your trading journey. Let me know in the comments
David Perk aka Dave FX Hunter
My EU 2nd Entry Learn!OHLC CONCEPT or OLHC CONCEPT.
This reversal concept implies that a trader can easily project the move of any higher timeframe Candle by catching the Open of the candle, it's mitigation to an area of Interest or Sweep of Liquidity creating the High/ Low , targeting the next Area of Interest(AOI) or Liquidity (liq) creating the Low/ High and the Closing at Market Price.
This Concept works on any Higher timeframe Candle i.e 4hr, Daily, Weekly & Monthly candles. The aim is to look for your entry setup on the Lower timeframe which is (Sweep of Liquidity while mitigating Area of Interest (AOI), Market Structure shift, and retracement to mitigate Imbalance, OB, or Breaker and targeting AOI's or Liquidities confirming your Bias.
Take continuous entries and stack as price goes in your direction while taking partial profits too.
Go to your charts and practice this. See you all later. :)
DOLLAR INDEX (DXY)...one of the most important tools for a tradeHello TradingView community! Joseph here, just wanted to share some nuggets on the Dollar Index and how it has helped me in my personal trading and profitability in the markets.
In the video I go over
1. The significance of the USD in the markets
2. How using the USD index is necessary for correlation (multi-asset even)
3. How to use the USD index to help better time your own trades in the markets
So sit back, grab your notebook and take some notes because this information WILL help give you an immediate higher chance of success if applied!! Thanks for watching please boost/comment/follow my page for more trading nuggets!
Cheers!
MARKET CONTEXT...#1 TOOL FOR PROFITABLE TRADING...EURUSD EXAMPLEHey hey TradingView family! Hope you are all doing amazing! I just wanted to come on and make a video speaking on market context, the #1 tool/idea that helped me go from struggling to profitable trader.
Understanding the bigger picture in trading, like TRULY understanding the higher timeframe perspective will work wonders in your analysis & trading whether you are a scalper or a position trader. It gives you the context for what market and the stage of market you are in whether in short term or longer term positions, which will IMMEDIATELY give you an edge.
Understanding=profitability in the markets. So does simplicity.
So watch this video as many times as you guys need, keep it simple, and watch this change your trading starting TODAY for the GOOD!
Cheers!
Welcome Back! Gold Trading Strategy & Key Zones to WatchIn this week’s welcome back video, I’m breaking down my updated approach to XAU/USD and how I plan to tackle the Gold markets in the coming days. After taking a short break, I’m back with fresh eyes and refined focus.
We’ll review current market structure, identify key liquidity zones, and outline the scenarios I’m watching for potential entries. Whether you’re day trading or swing trading gold, this breakdown will help you frame your week with clarity and confidence.
📌 Covered in this video:
My refreshed trading mindset after a break
Key support/resistance and liquidity zones
Market structure insights and setup conditions
What I’ll personally avoid this week
The “trap zones” that might catch retail traders off guard
🧠 Let’s focus on process over profits — welcome back, and let’s get to work.
Pending Orders Are Not Set in Stone – Context Still MattersIn a previous educational article, I explained why I almost never trade breakouts on Gold.
Too many fakeouts. Too many emotional traps.
Instead, I stick to what works:
• ✅ Buying dips
• ✅ Selling rallies
But even these entries — placed with pending orders — are not automatic.
Because in real trading, price is not just a number — it’s a narrative.
And if the story changes, so should the trade.
________________________________________
🎯 The Setup – Buy the Dip Around 3400
Let’s take a real example from yesterday.
In my analysis, I mentioned I would look to buy dips near 3400, a former resistance now acting as support.
Price dropped to 3405, just a few points above my pending buy at 3402.
We saw a clean initial bounce — confirming that short-term support was real.
But I missed the entry by 30 pips.
So far, so good.
But here’s the important part — what happened next changed everything.
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🧠 The Rejection Shifted the Entire Story
The bounce from 3405 was immediately sold into at 3420, a newly formed short-term resistance (clearly visible on the 15-minute posted chart).
After that, price started falling again — heading back toward my pending order.
📌 At that point, I cancelled the order. Why?
Because the context had changed:
• Bulls had tried once — and failed at 3420
• Sellers were clearly active and waiting above
• A second drop into my level wouldn’t be a clean dip — it would be retest under pressure.
The market was no longer giving me a “buy the dip” setup.
It was showing me a failed recovery. That’s a very different trade.
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💡 What If It Had Triggered?
Let’s imagine that price had hit 3402 first, triggering my order.
Then rebounded, failed at 3420, and started dropping again.
Even then, I wouldn’t hold blindly.
Once I saw the rejection at 3420, I would have understood:
The structure had shifted.
The bullish case is weakening.
Exit early — breakeven or small controlled loss.
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🔁 Sequence > Level
This is the most important principle:
• ✅ First down, then up = healthy dip → shows buyers are still in control
• ❌ First up, then down = failed breakout → shows selling pressure is stronger
Two scenarios. Same price. Opposite meaning.
That’s why you should look for:
Not just where price goes — but how it gets there.
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🔒 Pending Orders Are Conditional
Many traders treat pending orders like traps:
“Just let price come to my level, and I’m in.”, but you should refine a little
✅ Pending orders should be based on a conditional expectation
❌ Not a fixed belief that the zone must hold
If the market tells a different story, remove the order.
No ego. No drama. Just process.
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📌 Final Thought
Trading isn’t just about catching a price.
It’s about understanding price behavior.
First down, then up = strength.
First up, then down = weakness.
Let the market show its hand — then decide if you want to play.
Disclosure: I am part of TradeNation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analyses and educational articles.
Japanese Candlestick Cheat Sheet – Part OneSingle-Candle Formations That Speak
Before you dream of profits, learn the one language that never lies: price.
Indicators are just subtitles — price is the voice.
Japanese candlesticks are more than just red and green bars — they reflect emotion, pressure, and intention within the market.
This series will walk you through the real psychology behind candlestick patterns — starting here, with the most essential:
🕯️ Single-candle formations — the quiet signals that often appear before big moves happen.
If you can’t read a doji, you’re not ready to understand the market’s hesitation.
If you ignore a hammer, you’ll miss the moment sentiment shifts.
Let’s start simple. Let’s start strong.
This is Part One of a five-part series designed to build your candlestick fluency from the ground up.
1. DOJI
Bias: Neutral
What is the Doji pattern?
The Doji candlestick pattern forms when a candle’s open and close prices are nearly identical, resulting in a small or nonexistent body with wicks on both sides. This pattern reflects market equilibrium, where neither buyers nor sellers dominate. Dojis often appear at trend ends, signaling potential reversals or pauses.
As a fundamental tool in technical analysis, Dojis help traders gauge the psychological battle between buyers and sellers. Proper interpretation requires context and experience, especially for spotting trend shifts.
Meaning:
Indicates market indecision or balance. Found during trends and may signal a reversal or continuation based on context.
LONG-LEGGED DOJI
Bias: Neutral
What is the Long-Legged Doji pattern?
The Long-Legged Doji captures a moment of intense uncertainty and volatility in the market. Its long wicks represent significant movement on both sides, suggesting that neither buyers nor sellers have control. This back-and-forth reflects the psychology of market participants wrestling for control, which often foreshadows a shift in sentiment. When traders see a Long-Legged Doji, it highlights the need to monitor for potential changes in direction.
They can appear within trends, at potential reversal points, or at consolidation zones. When they form at the end of an uptrend or downtrend, they often signal that the current trend may be losing momentum.
Meaning:
The prominent wicks indicate volatility. Buyers and sellers pushed prices in opposite directions throughout the session, ultimately reaching an indecisive close.
SPINNING TOP
Bias: Neutral
What is the Spinning Top pattern?
A Spinning Top is a candlestick with a small body and long upper and lower wicks, indicating that the market has fluctuated significantly but ultimately closed near its opening price. This pattern often points to a moment of indecision, where both buyers and sellers are active but neither dominates. Spinning Tops are commonly found within both uptrends and downtrends and can suggest that a trend is losing momentum.
For traders, a Spinning Top provides a valuable insight into market psychology, as it hints that the prevailing sentiment may be weakening. While Spinning Tops alone aren’t always definitive, they can serve as a precursor to larger moves if the following candles confirm a shift in sentiment.
Meaning:
Shows indecision between buyers and sellers. Common in both up and downtrends; signals potential reversal or pause.
HAMMER
Bias: Bullish
What is the Hammer pattern?
A Hammer candlestick appears at the end of a downtrend, with a small body and a long lower wick. This shape reflects a moment when sellers pushed prices lower, but buyers managed to absorb the selling pressure and drive prices back up before the close. This pattern is particularly important for spotting potential reversals, as it indicates that buyers are beginning to reassert control.
Hammers reveal the underlying psychology of a market where buying confidence is emerging, even if sellers have dominated for a while. To successfully trade this pattern, it’s essential to confirm the reversal with subsequent candles.
Meaning:
Showing rejection of lower prices. Signals potential bullish reversal, especially if followed by strong buying candles.
INVERTED HAMMER
Bias: Bullish
What is the Inverted Hammer pattern?
The Inverted Hammer forms at the bottom of a downtrend, with a small body and long upper wick. This pattern shows that buyers attempted to push prices higher, but sellers ultimately brought them back down by the close. The Inverted Hammer is an early sign of buyer interest, hinting that a trend reversal may be underway if subsequent candles confirm the shift.
Interpreting the Inverted Hammer helps traders understand where sentiment may be shifting from bearish to bullish, often marking the beginning of a recovery. Recognizing these patterns takes practice and familiarity with market conditions.
Meaning:
Showing rejection of higher prices. Can signal bullish reversal if confirmed by subsequent buying pressure.
DRAGONFLY DOJI
Bias: Bullish
What is the Dragonfly Doji pattern?
The Dragonfly Doji has a long lower wick and no upper wick, forming in downtrends to signal potential bullish reversal. This pattern reveals that sellers were initially in control, pushing prices lower, but buyers stepped in to push prices back up to the opening level. The Dragonfly Doji’s unique shape signifies that strong buying support exists at the lower price level, hinting at an impending reversal.
Recognizing the psychology behind a Dragonfly Doji can enhance a trader’s ability to anticipate trend changes, especially in markets where support levels are being tested.
Meaning:
Found in downtrends; suggests possible bullish reversal if confirmed by a strong upward move.
BULLISH MARUBOZU
Bias: Bullish
What is the Bullish Marubozu pattern?
The Bullish Marubozu is a large, solid candle with no wicks, indicating that buyers were in complete control throughout the session. This pattern appears in uptrends, where it signals strong buying momentum and often foreshadows continued upward movement. The absence of wicks reveals that prices consistently moved higher, with little resistance from sellers.
For traders, the Bullish Marubozu offers a glimpse into market psychology, highlighting moments when buyer sentiment is particularly strong. Learning to identify these periods of intense momentum is crucial for trading success.
Meaning:
Showing complete buying control. Found in uptrends or at reversal points; indicates strong buying pressure and likely continuation of the trend.
SHOOTING STAR
Bias: Bearish
What is the Shooting Star pattern?
The Shooting Star appears at the top of an uptrend, characterized by a small body and a long upper wick, indicating a potential bearish reversal. Buyers initially drove prices higher, but sellers took over, bringing prices back down near the open. This shift suggests that buyers may be losing control, and a reversal could be imminent.
Interpreting the Shooting Star gives traders valuable insights into moments when optimism begins to fade, providing clues about a potential trend shift.
Meaning:
Indicating rejection of higher prices. Signals a potential bearish reversal if followed by selling pressure.
HANGING MAN
Bias: Bearish
W hat is the Hanging Man pattern?
The Hanging Man candle forms at the top of an uptrend, with a small body and long lower wick. This pattern suggests that sellers attempted to drive prices down, but buyers regained control. However, the presence of a long lower shadow hints that sellers may be gaining strength, potentially signaling a bearish reversal.
The Hanging Man pattern reflects market psychology where buyers might be overextended, making it a valuable tool for identifying potential tops in trends.
Meaning:
Signals potential bearish reversal if confirmed by selling candles afterward.
GRAVESTONE DOJI
Bias: Bearish
What is the Gravestone Doji pattern?
With a long upper wick and no lower wick, the Gravestone Doji reveals that buyers pushed prices up, but sellers eventually regained control. Found in uptrends, it suggests that a bearish reversal could be near, as the upper shadow indicates buyer exhaustion. The Gravestone Doji often appears at market tops, making it a valuable indicator for those looking to anticipate shifts.
Understanding the psychology behind this pattern helps traders make informed decisions, especially in markets prone to overbought conditions.
Meaning:
Showing rejection of higher prices. Found in uptrends; signals potential bearish reversal if followed by selling activity.
BEARISH MARUBOZU
Bias: Bearish
What is the Bearish Marubozu pattern?
The Bearish Marubozu is a large, solid bearish candle without wicks, showing that sellers held control throughout the session. Found in downtrends, it signals strong bearish sentiment and suggests that the trend is likely to continue. The lack of wicks reflects consistent downward momentum without significant buyer support.
This pattern speaks about market psychology, offering traders insights into moments of intense selling pressure. Recognizing the Bearish Marubozu can help you align with prevailing trends and avoid buying into weakening markets
Meaning:
Showing strong selling pressure. Found in downtrends; signals continuation of the bearish trend or an intensifying sell-off.
👉 Up next: Double-candle formations – where price meets reaction.
Skeptic| Cycle Mastery Part 1: HWC, MWC, LWC for Smarter TradingUnderstanding Higher Wave Cycle ( HWC ), Minor Wave Cycle ( MWC ), and Low Wave Cycle ( LWC ) is the key to making informed trading decisions, simplifying when to go long , short , or stay out . This Part 1 masterclass introduces these cycles, their relative nature, and how to align them with your strategy for precise entries and effective risk management . Let’s break it down. 📊
The Three Cycles: HWC, MWC, LWC
We trade across three market cycles:
HWC (Higher Wave Cycle) : The big-picture trend, like Bitcoin’s yearly uptrend.
MWC (Minor Wave Cycle): A medium-term trend, often an uptrend or corrective phase within the HWC.
LWC (Low Wave Cycle): The short-term daily trend, which can be range-bound, uptrend, or downtrend.
Knowing these cycles helps you decide when to e nter long, short, or avoid trading altogether, ensuring you align with the market’s rhythm.
Defining Your Cycles: It’s Relative
The main question before diving in: What timeframes are HWC, MWC, and LWC? The answer is relative—it depends on your strategy. Think of it like a temperature scale: 0°C isn’t “no heat” but a reference point (water’s freezing point). Similarly, your cycles are defined by the largest timeframe you analyze:
HWC: Your highest timeframe (e.g., Weekly for long-term traders).
MWC: The next level down (e.g., Daily).
LWC: Your shortest timeframe (e.g., 4-Hour or 1-Hour).
Ask yourself: What’s the largest timeframe I check? Set your HWC there, then scale down for MWC and LWC based on your trading style. This relativity ensures your cycles fit your unique approach.
While shorter cycles (LWC, MWC) form the HWC, the HWC’s power dominates, influencing smaller cycles. Let’s explore how to trade based on these relationships.
Trading Scenarios: When to Act
Scenario 1: HWC Uptrend, MWC Range
When the HWC is in an uptrend and the MWC is range-bound:
Action: Enter a long position on the first MWC wave when the LWC breaks the ceiling of the MWC range (e.g., a box breakout).
Why? The HWC’s bullish power supports the move, likely triggering an MWC uptrend. This makes the first wave a strong, low-risk entry.
Example: If the LWC (e.g., 4-hour) breaks the MWC range ceiling with a strong candle, you can confidently go long, backed by the HWC uptrend.
Scenario 2: HWC Downtrend, MWC Range
When the HWC is in a downtrend and the MWC is range-bound:
Action: Skip the first MWC wave. If the LWC breaks the MWC range ceiling, avoid going long—the bearish HWC could reject the move, resuming its downtrend.
Wait for the Second Wave: Let the MWC return to a range after the first wave. If the LWC breaks the range ceiling again, go long with confidence—the HWC’s influence is less likely to disrupt this second wave.
Risk Management Tips (if you trade the first wave against the HWC):
Reduce Risk: Lower your position size to minimize exposure.
Take Profits Early: Close the position or secure most profits (e.g., scale out) once you hit your R/R target, as volatility is high.
Wider Stop-Loss: Set a larger stop-loss to account for potential HWC-driven reversals, as stop-loss hunts are common in this scenario.
Adjusting Stop-Loss Size Based on Cycles
Aligned Cycles (HWC, MWC, LWC in Same Direction): When all three cycles align (e.g., all uptrend), set a tighter stop-loss relative to market conditions. Gradually scale out profits instead of closing the position, as the trend’s strength supports higher R/R (e.g., 5 or 10).
HWC Against MWC/LWC: If the HWC opposes the other cycles (e.g., HWC downtrend, MWC/LWC uptrend), use a wider stop-loss. The HWC’s power could reverse the LWC, lowering your win rate if stops are too tight. Expect volatility and plan accordingly.
Final Vibe Check
This Cycle Mastery Part 1 equips you to time MWC waves with precision, aligning HWC, MWC, and LWC for smarter entries. By mastering when to trade the first or second wave, you’ll avoid traps and maximize your edge. Part 2 will dive deeper with examples—stay tuned! At Skeptic Lab, we trade with no FOMO, no hype, just reason. Protect your capital—stick to 1%–2% risk per trade. Want Part 2 or another topic? Drop it in the comments! If this guide sharpened your game, hit that boost—it fuels my mission! 😊 Stay disciplined, fam! ✌️
💬 Let’s Talk!
How will you time your MWC waves? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let’s crush it together!






















