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Spotify's Valuation Is Red-Lining (Rating Downgrade)📈 Spotify's Remarkable Comeback Spotify NYSE:SPOT has transformed itself from a money-losing audio platform into a disciplined, profit-generating tech firm. Through smarter podcast investments, layoffs, and better monetization strategies, the company recently swung from red ink to positive free cash flow and strong earnings — a major shift for long-frustrated shareholders. This operational turnaround helped fuel a massive rally: Spotify shares have surged nearly 140% since May 2024. 💵 Financials Look Strong... for Now Revenue jumped from $15 billion to $17.4 billion over the past year — a 16% increase. Spotify also improved gross margins from 25% to 31.6%, while net margins turned positive at 7%. Bottom-line earnings exploded from a $119 million loss to $1.25 billion in profit. These gains came from several smart moves: - Reduced payouts to creators (from 75% to 70%) - AI-generated content, like white noise playlists, cutting royalty costs - Ad growth in podcasts and better ad tech - Higher efficiency in infrastructure and operations Analysts now expect Spotify’s earnings to grow another 74% this year, 45% in 2026, and 30% in 2027. 💰 But Valuation Is Stretched Despite the impressive financial performance, Spotify's stock appears overheated. It now trades at: 117x trailing earnings 71x forward earnings 37x estimated 2027 earnings These multiples are far above historical norms — and could spell trouble if growth slows even slightly. The company is running out of levers to improve margins further, and rising operational costs may start to weigh on profits. Spotify also trades at its highest-ever price-to-sales ratio, indicating elevated investor expectations. If the company underdelivers, the stock could face a significant correction. ⚖️ Our Take: Time to Hold, Not Buy We still believe in Spotify's long-term story. Its subscription model, improving margins, and global scale offer compelling advantages. But after this big run-up, the stock no longer offers favorable risk-reward. We’re downgrading from "Strong Buy" to "Hold", suggesting investors with gains may want to trim positions and wait for a more attractive entry point. 📌 Bottom Line: Spotify has executed well — but the stock price now reflects near-perfect performance. A pause, or pullback, wouldn’t surprise us.
NYSE:SPOT
by PropNotes
2
Using 1 min time frame for entries on VX algo & day tradingwhat time frames do you use to confirm entries outside of a buy signal? If I am day trading, I will mainly use the 1 minute time frame to look for moving average support and resistance, and read the candle stick patterns as well from that chart. However, there are times I'll switch to a 5 minute and 10 minute time frame to take a look at levels for moving averages and see what the candle stick patterns are from there. So for example, today we had 3 of the x1 sell signals around 9:31, so we pull up the 1 min chart, we are getting confirm break of the 1st moving average support = bearish confirmation #1, follow by DHC = Bearish confirmation #2 , and the sell signal is already 3 confirmations, so we need to short ASAP.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by WallSt007
27
WTI Oil H4 | Potential bounce off a multi-swing-low supportWTI oil (USOIL) is falling towards a multi-swing-low support and could potentially bounce off this level to climb higher. Buy entry is at 64.84 which is a multi-swing-low support that aligns closely with the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement. Stop loss is at 61.80 which is a level that lies underneath a multi-swing-low support. Take profit is at 70.04 which is a pullback resistance. High Risk Investment Warning Trading Forex/CFDs on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Leverage can work against you. Stratos Markets Limited (tradu.com ): CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 63% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Stratos Europe Ltd (tradu.com ): CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 63% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Stratos Global LLC (tradu.com ): Losses can exceed deposits. Please be advised that the information presented on TradingView is provided to Tradu (‘Company’, ‘we’) by a third-party provider (‘TFA Global Pte Ltd’). Please be reminded that you are solely responsible for the trading decisions on your account. There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading. Any information and/or content is intended entirely for research, educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment or consultation advice or investment strategy. The information is not tailored to the investment needs of any specific person and therefore does not involve a consideration of any of the investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any viewer that may receive it. Kindly also note that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking or past performance statements. We assume no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of any of the information and/or content provided herein and the Company cannot be held responsible for any omission, mistake nor for any loss or damage including without limitation to any loss of profit which may arise from reliance on any information supplied by TFA Global Pte Ltd. The speaker(s) is neither an employee, agent nor representative of Tradu and is therefore acting independently. The opinions given are their own, constitute general market commentary, and do not constitute the opinion or advice of Tradu or any form of personal or investment advice. Tradu neither endorses nor guarantees offerings of third-party speakers, nor is Tradu responsible for the content, veracity or opinions of third-party speakers, presenters or participants.
TRADU:USOILLong
by Tradu
4
BITCOIN- MONSTER ORDERS IN THE BOOK -> You Know What This Means COINBASE:BTCUSD “Monster orders” are exceptionally large buy-limit orders clustered roughly 7 % beneath the current market price. Large buy-limit walls can act like a price magnet—deep liquidity attracts algos and traders hunting fills, often pulling price straight toward the level. Once the wall absorbs the selling pressure, the magnet flips: liquidity dries up, supply thins, and price can rip away from that zone with force. They create a visible demand wall in the order book, signalling that whales / institutions are ready to absorb a dip and accumulate at that level. Price will often wick into this zone to fill the wall, then rebound sharply—treat the 7 % band as potential support or entry. Such walls can act as liquidity traps : market makers may push price down to trigger retail stop-losses before snapping it back up. Confirm that the wall persists as price approaches and that spot + derivatives volume rises; if the wall disappears, it may have been spoofing. Always combine order-book context with trend, momentum and higher-time-frame support for higher-probability trades, Just like the extremely powerful indicators on the chart. 🚀 Marty Boots | 17-Year Trader — smash that 👍, hit LIKE & SUBSCRIBE, and share your views in the comments below so we can make better trades & grow together!
COINBASE:BTCUSDShort
by MartyBoots
85
End-of-Session Market ReviewToday was a solid trading day with some interesting moves across the markets: S&P 500: The market trended upwards from the open, gradually moving into and above the prior day’s value area, closing near the high of that range. NASDAQ 100: After some initial back-and-forth, it climbed above the prior day’s high and value area, showing strength into the close. Russell 2000: This market was quite choppy and balanced for a good part of the session, but eventually pushed up to close near the prior value area high. Gold: It stayed range-bound, moving between the CVA high and the prior day’s value area without breaking out. Crude Oil: We saw a significant drop right from the start, with prices falling about 1.5 points and ending the day lower, though still within the prior day’s range. Euro Dollar: It tested the CVA low, dipped below the prior day’s low, and then bounced back to close around that level. Yen Dollar: It started near the prior value area low, accepted below it by midday, and remained balanced in that lower range. Aussie Dollar: Initially, it held above the CVA area and tested a higher level before sharply dropping below the prior day’s low and then balancing in that lower area. In total, I took eight trades today. Two of them were in the Yen, both valid setups that didn’t work out and ended in stop-outs. I also took some long trades in the Aussie Dollar that I probably could have avoided since the market was choppy. On the positive side, I managed risk well and ended up with two winning trades that put me in the green by about $1,200. Overall, I’d rate today as an A- day. Moving forward, I’ll focus on staying out of choppy markets, paying attention to the developing value area, and possibly using Heikin Ashi bars for better clarity.
CME:6E1!
by JBradleyTrades
21
Bitcoin Skyrockets as Everyone Now Wants a Piece. What Happened?If you took a few days off last week and went to get coffee this morning, you likely missed Bitcoin torching its all-time high and soaring into the uncharted. The world’s most popular digital asset took off in an unstoppable rocket ride, smashing records so fast that even the always-wired-in day traders couldn’t keep up. Bitcoin BITSTAMP:BTCUSD blasted through $122,000 Monday morning after gobbling up sell walls at $120,000 and $121,000 in less than one hour. That’s not a typo. That’s an actual snapshot of what happens when you mix onchain whale movements, fresh institutional FOMO, and traders rediscovering their appetite for risk. Billions upon billions swirled up and Bitcoin passed $2.3 trillion in market cap (ref: our Crypto Heatmap ). 🙌 Bow Down Before the King Bitcoin has officially reminded every altcoin who wears the crown when markets go haywire. While some tiny tokens get to pump 100% on hype alone, Bitcoin does it with the weight of its market cap behind it — which now surpasses the GDP of entire countries. Its dominance share has climbed back above 64%, a level we haven’t seen since the last time crypto Twitter argued whether “flippening” would happen by next Thursday (spoiler: it didn’t, and we mean 2021). And right now, all eyes are pinned on that round, meme-ready milestone: $125,000 or even $150,000. Why these levels? Because traders love round numbers. They’re clean, symbolic, and if that next ceiling shatters, the chain reaction of liquidated shorts and new leveraged longs can turn an orderly bull run into pure market mayhem. 📈 Institutional Hoarding: The Secret Fuel If you think this is just retail traders YOLO’ing in from their parents’ basement, think again. Onchain data showed earlier this month that this moon mission was being quietly underwritten by the big boys — institutional funds, overflowing Bitcoin ETFs , and corporate treasuries that once scoffed at Bitcoin as “magic internet money.” Does this mean Bitcoin is becoming boring? Not quite. It means the foundation for this rally is sturdier than the TikTok-fueled moonshots of yesteryear. Think steady inflows, regulated vehicles, and balance sheets that no longer flinch when they see “digital assets” on a line item. 👀 So, Why Now? Bitcoin doesn’t need much of a reason to get volatile — you know that. But a few more stars than usual aligned to give this surge its lift-off moment. First, the macro backdrop: US inflation is at 2.4% (next ECONOMICS:USCPI report coming Wednesday, pay attention to the Economic Calendar ), which makes a Fed rate cut more likely later this year. Lower rates mean cheaper dollars, weaker bond yields, and renewed appetite for risk assets. Oh, and don’t forget about gold OANDA:XAUUSD — the OG “no yield, no problem” hedge. Second, corporate treasuries are all-in on Bitcoin again. If Michael Saylor’s Strategy NASDAQ:MSTR (formerly MicroStrategy — we all know what business they’re really in) keeps adding coins and onboarding new public companies like GameStop NYSE:GME , you know the institutions smell long-term value. Add Trump’s full-throated crypto endorsement and you’ve got a narrative tailwind no trader wants to miss. 🥂 Record Highs Everywhere — COINcidence? Now let’s go back to those aligning stars. Bitcoin’s fresh all-time high didn’t happen in a vacuum. The S&P 500 SP:SPX , the Nasdaq Composite NASDAQ:IXIC , and Nvidia NASDAQ:NVDA — the world’s most expensive company — all clocked record closing highs last week. So, is this a “rising tide lifts all boats” moment? Or are we partying on borrowed time? Equities are riding a wave of hope that the Fed will start easing soon, and any whiff of a rate cut is pure oxygen for risk assets. But seasoned traders know that record highs can sometimes be the most dangerous places to FOMO in. Ask anyone who went all-in on dot-com stocks in 1999. 🏹 Eyes on the Big 120K — Will It Hold the Line? Short-term, the $120,000 milestone is the line in the sand everyone’s watching. Break it decisively, see if it holds above it for a week or so, and the floodgates of speculative capital might open for another leg higher. Stall out below it? You could see a healthy round of profit-taking and some bruised egos during quiet dinners. Macro factors will loom large: the Fed’s policy meeting, surprise tariff talks from the White House, or an unexpected bout of inflation could swing sentiment overnight. But for now, the mood is simple: bullish, frothy, and more than a little bit greedy. 💭 Final Take: From Moonshots to Maturity? The shift from whales to suits means fewer wild swings but steadier institutional demand. The days of “Lambo tomorrow” might be giving way to “slow grind higher for the next 5 years.” For the retirement portfolio, that’s not the worst outcome. For the traders who crave the adrenaline, there’s still plenty of room to catch the waves — just don’t expect them to come as easily or as frequently as they did in the wild west days. 📢 Your Turn: Moon or Swoon? Over to you: is Bitcoin ready to break out above $125,000 and send shorts scrambling for cover? Or is this just another overbought stall before a healthy pullback? Either way, grab your popcorn — and your stop-loss — because if there’s one thing crypto never does, it’s sit still for long. Drop your hot take below — and may your diamond hands be stronger than your coffee.
BITSTAMP:BTCUSD
by TradingView
21
ETH/BTC: Golden Cross Reloaded?This is ETH/BTC on the daily chart. A major event is about to unfold: the golden cross, where the 50MA crosses above the 200MA. The last time this happened was in early 2020, around the same price zone, right after a bounce off the 2019 low double bottom and a rejection from the 0.5 Fib level, which sits halfway between the 2019 low and the 0.786 Fib. In 2025, we’re seeing a strikingly similar pattern: – Price bounced off the 2019 low – Got rejected again from the 0.5 level – And now appears to be gathering strength to flip that level and the 200MA to confirm the Golden Cross Always take profits and manage risk. Interaction is welcome.
Long
by vagada
22
While You Were Watching NVIDIA, Oracle Quietly Ate the BackendEveryone's chasing the AI hype but Oracle is one of the only companies selling the picks and shovels behind the scenes. While headlines focus on NVIDIA, Meta, and ChatGPT, Oracle has been building the back-end massive AI-ready data infrastructure, hyper scale cloud partnerships, and GPU clusters feeding OpenAI and Nvidia workloads directly. This isn’t some pivot or marketing gimmick Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is quietly powering the largest LLMs in the world. And Wall Street is only beginning to price that in. Why Oracle’s Move Is Just Getting Started 1. AI Cloud Infrastructure – Not Just Software Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is integrated directly into OpenAI, NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Cohere LLM workflows. Ellison confirmed that AI demand on Oracle’s cloud is now booked out for years, including custom GPU clusters. OCI outperforms AWS in specific AI workloads at a lower cost. That’s a disruptor narrative in itself. 2. Earnings Momentum + Smart Money Rotation Oracle just printed double-digit YoY cloud growth, increased margins, and committed billions in CapEx classic early-growth behaviour. It’s now a value + AI hybrid, attracting funds rotating into defensible, profitable AI infrastructure plays. 3. Stage 2 Breakout – Repricing in Motion ORCL broke above its 2021 all-time high ($188) with conviction. Stage 2 began around $195–200, with high volume + range expansion. This is a textbook Stage 2 expansion phase not a short squeeze, not a blow-off top. Monthly structure confirms 23+ years of consolidation is complete. Technical Markup Summary - Stage 2 Breakout Level - $195–200 - Support Zone (Prior ATH) - $185–190 - Volume Confirmation - Highest range + volume since Dotcom era - Current Price Action - Early parabolic expansion = healthy trend Projected Price Targets - TP1 $275 Fib 1.618 + round number magnet - TP2 $310–320 Revaluation zone if earnings accelerate - TP3 $420+ AI AWS narrative fully priced in Why This Isn’t a Late Entry Most traders wait for headlines and miss the Stage 2 phase, which is where real money is made. Oracle is now being repriced for the role it’s actually playing in AI not just as a legacy tech name, but as a global infrastructure layer. This breakout isn’t the end it’s the beginning. Oracle is no longer just “that enterprise database company.” It’s becoming a core infrastructure provider for the AI era, with multi-year demand, sticky revenue, and strong technical structure. If you missed NVIDIA’s early breakout this may be your redemption arc. Defined support at $190 Open runway to $275+ This is a swing-to-position hold for high-conviction players. What's your thoughts?
NYSE:ORCLLong
by stakkd
9
How "Whales" Manipulate Markets: A Trader's Guide to SucceedEvery chart tells a story of institutional footprints. For most, it's chaotic noise. But when you understand the market's true engine — the constant need of "Smart Money" to capture vast amounts of liquidity to fill their orders — that noise turns into a clear map. This guide will teach you to read that map. We will break down the main types of manipulation and show you how to use them to identify high-probability zones for potential entries. So, why exactly is liquidity the fuel for these "Smart Money" players, which for simplicity, we'll call "Whales"? It's because a Whale holds the largest volume of funds in a specific asset and, unlike retail traders like us, it cannot open its huge position at any given moment simply because there aren't enough buy or sell offers on the market. To fill its orders, the Whale constantly carries out manipulations to capture additional liquidity. This isn't about deception or anything negative—it's how the market constantly forms its movements, how whales achieve their goals by moving from one liquidity pool to another, much like whales in the ocean hunt for plankton to get vital energy for long journeys from one feeding ground to another. Why will these principles of price movement through manipulation, which worked decades ago, continue to work forever? Because human nature doesn't change over time. The crowd is always driven by greed and fear, making it easy to manipulate. Therefore, manipulation is often the motive for the birth of a future move and is a key element in market mechanics. If you understand these mechanics, you will be able to see the footprints of whales on any chart and not only minimize your chances of becoming their food but also join their next move to get your share of the profit in the boundless ocean of market opportunities. Let's take a closer look at how whales carry out their manipulations and classify their types. The Whale is constantly in hedged positions. To fill its large-sum orders without impacting the price, it uses the principles of Sell to Buy (STB) and Buy to Sell (BTS) . The STB manipulation is used to accumulate long positions. To do this, the Whale opens an opposing short position, activating stop orders and liquidations of buyers, purchasing their positions at a favorable price. It also encourages other retail participants, especially breakout traders, to open short positions. Continuing to accumulate long positions, the Whale sharply moves the price up, liquidating short participants and absorbing their positions. After the price has moved up, the Whale is left with an open losing position from its short manipulation. To close it at breakeven or a small loss, the Whale needs to return the price back to the zone of its manipulation. This return is called mitigation . In the opposite case, when the Whale needs to drive an asset's price down, it uses the BTS manipulation . To fill its short positions, the Whale opens a long position, activating stop-losses and forced liquidations of sellers, and encouraging retail breakout traders to also open long positions. Continuing to accumulate short positions, the Whale aggressively moves the price down, absorbing and liquidating the positions of impatient longs. After the downward impulse is complete, the Whale is left with an open losing long position. Just as in the first case, to close it at zero or a small loss, the Whale needs to return the price to the manipulation zone, after which another markdown of the asset occurs, and the cycle can be repeated as many times as necessary. Thus, through manipulation, the Whale achieves two goals at once: It gets the most favorable price. It eliminates most of its competitors by liquidating their positions with an opposing move. Most of the time, the price movement between manipulations is unpredictable. Entering during this movement, for example, in the middle or end of an impulse or within a range, increases the chances that you will become a victim of the next manipulation and liquidity for the Whale. However, if you wait for the price to arrive at the manipulation zone, also known as a Point of Interest (POI) , and ensure that the Whale acknowledges this area (i.e., it has stopped there and is beginning a reversal), the probability of choosing the correct direction for a trade will be on your side. To help you recognize manipulation zones, let's look at their different types. 🔹 Order Block (OB) - A down candle (sometimes 2, rarely 3 candles) before an impulsive move up (in the case of a bullish OB), or an up candle (sometimes 2, rarely 3 candles) before an impulsive move down (in the case of a bearish OB). In most cases, this short, sharp move should sweep some form of significant liquidity. An additional confirmation of an Order Block is the immediate imbalance or Fair Value Gap (FVG) that follows it, because the Whale's intensive position accumulation and the associated impulse move don't allow enough time for all market participants' orders to be filled. 🔹 Demand/Supply Zones are similar in principle to Order Blocks but differ in that they have a more prolonged action, which can consist of many up or down candles, making these zones often significantly wider than OBs. Demand Zone - The last downward move before an intensive rally. Supply Zone - The last upward move before an intensive drop. Often, an Order Block can be found inside a Demand/Supply zone. 🔹 Range - Also a manipulation zone and essentially an Order Block, but unlike an OB, this manipulation can last for a very long time when the Whale lacks sufficient liquidity from a quick manipulation and accumulates its large position by collecting internal and external liquidity through the range. Ranges, just like Order Blocks and Demand/Supply zones, are points of interest for the Whale to close its losing hedged positions and continue moving towards its goals. Conditions for Applying and Validity of Manipulation Zones An important condition for applying manipulation zones is that they can only be used once . That is, if the price has come to a zone and reacted to it, upon a second arrival, that zone is no longer valid. For convenience in marking used zones, I shorten them to the point of the first touch so as not to consider them anymore, but to understand which way the order flow is directed—a very important concept that, unlike structure, shows the true direction of the Whale's movement. Order flow is manifested by the price reacting to manipulation zones from below in an uptrend and from above in a downtrend. It is also very important to understand that it makes sense to identify and use manipulation zones as one of a trade's entry conditions only from below for an uptrend and from above for a downtrend . Any counter-trend zones formed in the path of a trend are highly likely to be broken and serve as liquidity. In ranges, manipulations formed after deviations can be used for entries from both sides. Only manipulations that were formed at the beginning of an impulsive price move can be considered valid for entry. That is, they must be the manipulations that directly triggered the start of the move; in Smart Money terminology, they are often called the "origin" . Any manipulation in the middle or end of a move will most likely serve as liquidity on the way back to mitigate the origin zone. How long does a manipulation zone remain relevant? It remains relevant until a new structural element (a higher high or a lower low) is formed , especially if the price has already come close to the manipulation zone, for example, into the FVG before the zone. This most likely means the Whale has already finished its business there and closed one of its losing hedged positions at a small loss. When the trend changes, such a zone will act as liquidity, not a POI. So, a manipulation zone will not always be mitigated; often, a reversal occurs from the FVG before it. However, entering from an FVG is much less reliable than from an Order Block, Demand/Supply zone, or Range. I personally skip such entries and wait for a new manipulation zone to form and be mitigated; they happen on the market constantly. A good bonus that further strengthens the probability of a setup working out during the mitigation of manipulation zones is a liquidity sweep upon reaching them. Consider the context and supplementary conditions. Although manipulation zones are the strongest areas for price reversals, they should always be used in conjunction with other supplementary conditions and tools, for example, with Fibonacci retracement levels or liquidity sweeps. "Context" implies any other conditions that can either confirm or contradict the likely direction of price movement. For example: in which phase of correction is the price? For a long, safe entries can only be considered from the discount zone (below the 50% Fib level); for shorts, only from the premium zone (above the 50% Fib level). Is there significant, un-swept liquidity nearby, such as previous daily, weekly, or monthly highs/lows, or an untouched Asian session high/low? What upcoming news could affect the asset and hit the stop before the setup plays out? At what time of day did the price mitigate the manipulation? Taking context into account is a crucial and integral part of analysis in the search for entry points. Due to the fractal nature of market charts, manipulations can be seen on any timeframe. On weekly and daily timeframes, manipulation zones can be used for swing trading or investment purchases. 4-hour and 1-hour timeframes will show potential entries from manipulations for intraday trading or holding positions for several days. 5-minute and 1-minute timeframes will show manipulations in the form of order flow for final entry confirmation. Whatever type of analysis you use for your trading, understanding the nature of market manipulations and practicing their recognition will allow you to be one step ahead of most market participants and open your trades with an understanding of which way institutional capital is most likely to move next. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you found this guide helpful, support it with a Boost! 🚀 Have a question or a "lightbulb moment" from this article? Share it in the comments! I read every single one. 💬 ► Follow me on TradingView for more educational content like this and to not miss my next detailed trade idea . ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by TheWhaleSM
65
Full Breakdown of My Trading Strategy Dow Futures DaytradingI will be detailing my strategy to both help others and to help myself fine tune my strategy. My strategy is one of market maker cycles. The end goal: to trade off of the Daily chart by drilling down to the 15 minutes for entries. Everything revolves around the Daily chart. The only indicator I use is ATR, other than that, pure price action. I use opening prices a lot in my trading. Starting with the MONTHLY chart: Every month has the following- An opening price A first trading day A last trading day These are things that ALL traders see and can't misinterpret. I will use June as the basis for my examples. I try to figure out what kind of monthly candle is likely to form. Bullish, Bearish or Doji. I use ATR to try to figure out the likely size also. For Dow Futures, a typical Monthly candle is around 3000 ticks +/- Going to the Daily chart, I mark the beginning of the month and the end of the month. The meat of the strategy, and the one quite frankly is the most difficult and the most discretionary, is reading price action on the Daily chart to determine what the next daily candle is likely to do and where it opens at. No strategy is 100% accurate and I do take losses from being wrong. With proper risk management ( I will detail my personal risk management later ) you can still make tons of money being 50% right. Not everyday is meant to be traded and quite frankly, most days are pure trash. Over 55% of all Daily candles are small, resting Doji days. You are looking for the expansion daily candles. Starting with the first trading of June: 1. May 29th, Large Doji day and and formed a mother bar 2. May 30th, another doji day and still inside the previous bar 3. June 2nd, opened up in middle of inside bar, Bias for day is Long. Buy near the bottom of the inside bar and a break of Yesterday's Low. This is an actual trade I took. Once I saw the Doji candle on the 15 minute break below yesterday's low I entered in Long. I will go over stops and targets later. For now, I am explaining how I find my bias and locations. The next day: start the process over again. Look at the Daily and the context of the bars. Look for swing points, Daily highs and lows. Key Daily bars as signals. I usually like to do this 5 minutes after Asia opens just to see where price opens at. I then mark the daily open with a cyan blue line. If I am Long bias then I want to buy under the open at key levels. I use SP as swing point, a daily high or low that has not been broken yet. Tuesday, I would have a Long bias again. Because we opened still inside of the mother bar and I see highs not broken, I want to trade in that direction. What is a key level on this Tuesday? I see the monthly open right underneath. The big question I would ask myself on this Tuesday is where in that move can I get in on a pullback for the Long trade? The market gives you an entry here. I did not take that trade, I WILL show you the trade I did take on this day. After NY opened, I saw the spike into the monthly open and a doji right ON the open. I slammed Long. Especially, the three swing points to be used as the direction. Now on to trade management. Stops, Targets. I have the same bracket for every trade, so the only variable is my entry. Once I enter, I set my ATM strategy. I use the 15 minute ATR to determine my stop loss. This part is also up to the individual trader and is discretionary. I will show you MY strategy. Take a zoomed-out view of the 15-minute chart with the 14 period ATR, mark the clusters of the peak ATR readings from NY sessions. In this case it is between 70-90. I tend to go towards the upper limit, this case 90. I then use 1.25-1.5 times of this reading based on my account and position sizing. In June AND in July, I am using 120 tick stops. My targets are all strictly 2.5 risk to reward of what my stop is plus or minus a few ticks for commissions. Since I am using 120 tick stops, my targets are therefore, 300-310 ticks. Going back to my Tuesday trade, the trade management would be a set 2.5R all or nothing. Enter the trade and walk away. Go read a book or play PS5. Go to gym. It will either hit stop, target or close out at 4pm NY close. 2 Winning trades wipes away 5 losers. I have losers all the time with a 50% win rate. I can expect 8 losing trades in a row at any given time. Something I have experienced multiple times. Now on to my money management strategy. The holy grail of this entire system. Quite frankly, how you enter and your strategy at the end of the day doesn't amount to much. How you manage your money is where professionalism is achieved. Take your starting account balance, divide it in fours. I will use a 10,000 account as simple math. 10,000 2500 Level 1 14.5R 2500 Level 2 11.5R 2500 Level 3 9.5R 2500 Level 4 8.5R I risk 1.75% per trade and each level will stay fixed until the next level is reached. In this example, Level 1 will be using $175 risk per trade and a 2.5 risk to reward, $440 reward. You will keep risking $175 per trade until you hit your $2500 profit goal to advance to Level 2. In this case this will take you 14.5R Now you are on Level 2, you find your new account balance is now $12,500. Find 1.75% of this = $220. Keep using $220 risk until you hit another $2500 in profits. This will take you 11.5R. Keep repeating these steps until you have hit all 4 profit levels and your account has doubled. Your new account balance is now $20,000. You will start this process over again. To double your account you will need a total of 44-45R. At a conservative approach of 5-7% monthly gain, you can expect to double your account in 8 months +/- depending on how good you can get. The number one major key to ALL OF THIS IS One trade per Daily candle. You lose on that day, move on and come again tomorrow All profit targets need to be hit or close out at 4pm depending on price
CBOT_MINI:YM1!Education
by Dow_Jones_Maestro
22
NSDQ100 Bullish breakout retest?Donald Trump escalated trade tensions again, threatening a 35% tariff on Canadian goods shortly after reopening trade talks, and floated doubling global tariffs to 20%. This reinforces his aggressive protectionist stance and puts renewed pressure on allies like Canada and Vietnam, the latter blindsided by a 20% levy. Meanwhile, US-China relations may be entering a critical phase, with a possible Trump-Xi summit hinted at by Marco Rubio during talks in Malaysia. On the geopolitical front, Trump is signaling a harder line on Russia, previewing a “major statement” and backing expanded sanctions as the US sends more weapons to Ukraine. This raises global uncertainty, especially for energy and defense sectors. Conclusion for NSDQ100 trading: Rising trade tensions and geopolitical risks may dampen market sentiment and lead to volatility in tech-heavy Nasdaq stocks, particularly those reliant on global supply chains. While traders have grown numb to tariff talk, the cumulative pressure suggests a downside risk is building. In the short term, maintain a cautious stance—watch for potential pullbacks and heightened intraday volatility as policy clarity remains elusive. Key Support and Resistance Levels Resistance Level 1: 22940 Resistance Level 2: 23060 Resistance Level 3: 23180 Support Level 1: 22410 Support Level 2: 22300 Support Level 3: 22130 This communication is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as any form of recommendation as to a particular course of action or as investment advice. It is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument or as an official confirmation of any transaction. Opinions, estimates and assumptions expressed herein are made as of the date of this communication and are subject to change without notice. This communication has been prepared based upon information, including market prices, data and other information, believed to be reliable; however, Trade Nation does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. All market prices and market data contained in or attached to this communication are indicative and subject to change without notice.
TRADENATION:USTEC
by TradeNation
18
Not All Pin Bars Are Created EqualA Two-Step Filter to Find the Ones That Actually Matter We’ve all seen them. Long wicks, tight bodies, price rejecting a level. The classic pin bar. Textbook stuff, right? But here’s the problem. Pin bars show up all over the chart. Some lead to clean reversals. Most do absolutely nothing. The trick isn’t spotting them. It’s knowing which ones to trust. This is where a simple two-step filter can help. By asking two key questions, you immediately improve the quality of your trades and cut down on the false positives. Step One: Where Did It Happen? Before you look at shape or size, ask yourself one thing. Did this pin bar form at a meaningful level? Context is everything. A pin bar that forms into thin air, mid-range or in the middle of chop might look good, but it’s rarely reliable. What you’re looking for is reaction from structure. That could mean: • A clean horizontal support or resistance level • A prior swing high or low • A daily VWAP or anchored VWAP from a key event • The edge of a range or value area • A trendline tested multiple times In short, the level gives the pin bar a reason to exist. It becomes a reaction, not a random candle. Mark the level before the candle forms. This stops you from retrofitting significance where there isn’t any. Example: Here we can see how the volume weighted average price (VWAP) can add meaningful context to a pin-bar setup. In this case, USD/CAD retraced against the prevailing downtrend and tested the VWAP anchored to the recent swing highs. At that point, price formed a clear pin-bar reversal, signalling rejection and potential continuation with the broader trend. USD/CAD Daily Candle Chart Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results Step Two: What’s Happening Under the Hood? Once you’ve got a pin bar at a meaningful level, it’s time to look deeper. One of the best ways to do that is by dropping down to a lower timeframe, like the 5-minute chart, and replaying the session that created the candle. Why? Because daily candles can hide a lot. A clean pin bar might look like a strong rejection, but on the intraday chart, it might just be a low-volume fakeout or one impulsive move during quiet hours. On the other hand, a pin bar backed by real market structure is far more likely to hold. Here’s what to look for on the lower timeframe: • Was there a liquidity grab or stop run into the level? • Did price pause, base or reverse with intent? • Were there multiple attempts to push beyond the level that failed? • Did volume spike during the rejection? When a pin bar reflects a genuine intraday battle, not just a random wick, it often tells you more about the intentions of real participants. Example: In this example, GBP/USD forms a bearish pin-bar at a key area of swing resistance on the daily chart. Dropping down to the 5-minute timeframe helps reveal what actually happened inside that candle. On this lower timeframe we can see that price initially pushed above resistance but failed to hold, triggering a steady wave of intraday selling pressure. This move was followed by a mild pullback during the latter half of the US session and into the New York close, reinforcing the idea of rejection and offering insight into the mechanics behind the pin-bar. GBP/USD Daily Candle Chart Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results GBP/USD 5min Candle Chart: How the Daily Pin-bar Formed Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results Bonus Filter: What’s the Trend Context? You could also add a third layer if you want to refine even further. Is the pin bar counter-trend, or is it a pullback within trend? Counter-trend pin bars at key levels can work, but they’re lower probability and often take more time to play out. Pin bars that form as part of a pullback to structure in the direction of the prevailing trend tend to move more cleanly. This is where using something like a 20 EMA or anchored VWAP can help frame the setup. Putting It All Together Next time you see a pin bar, pause. Don’t rush in. Ask yourself: • Did this happen at a level that matters? • Does the intraday story back up the candle? If the answer is yes to both, now you’ve got something worth trading. Not just another wick in the wind. Pin bars can be strong signals, but only when they reflect real intent. This two-step filter helps you cut through the clutter and focus on the ones that do. Disclaimer: This is for information and learning purposes only. The information provided does not constitute investment advice nor take into account the individual financial circumstances or objectives of any investor. Any information that may be provided relating to past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results or performance. Social media channels are not relevant for UK residents. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 85.24% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Education
by Capitalcom
7
Airbnb: Downtrend Set to Resume SoonSince our last update, Airbnb has experienced a rebound, which diverted the stock from the anticipated sell-off. However, the price is expected to soon resume its downward trajectory and, as the next key step, break through support at $108.60. This move should complete turquoise wave 3, with all subsequent waves of this downward impulse likely to unfold below this level. Ultimately, the stock is expected to finish the broader correction of the beige wave II. 📈 Over 190 precise analyses, clear entry points, and defined Target Zones - that's what we do.
NASDAQ:ABNBShort
by MarketIntel
9
A bit of profit taking on NVDA and then up again?NASDAQ:NVDA is the most talked about and everyone is capitalizing on that. Let's take a look. NASDAQ:NVDA Let us know what you think in the comments below. Thank you. 75.2% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The value of investments may fall as well as rise and the investor may not get back the amount initially invested. This content is not intended for nor applicable to residents of the UK. Cryptocurrency CFDs and spread bets are restricted in the UK for all retail clients.
NASDAQ:NVDA
by Marketscom
5
Breakout vs Fakeout: How to Spot the DifferenceHello, Traders! 🖖🏻 There’s probably no phrase that triggers more mixed emotions in crypto trading than: “Looks like we’re breaking out!”. Because let’s be honest…For every clean breakout that follows through with momentum… …there’s a fakeout waiting to trap overconfident entries. So, how do you tell the difference? Let’s break it down! 🧱 What Is a Breakout? A breakout occurs when the price moves decisively beyond a key level, such as support, resistance, a trendline, or a range boundary, and holds. What makes it a REAL breakout? Volume Expansion: More participants step in as the price moves through the level. Strong Candle Closes: Especially on higher timeframes like 4H or 1D. Follow-Through: The market doesn’t just poke above the level. It builds on it. No Immediate Rejection: You don’t see a sharp wick straight back below. Example from BTC (2021): Look back at January to February 2021. BTC had been stuck under the $42K–$43K resistance for weeks. Every push got sold off, until it didn’t. When the breakout finally came, it was clean. The massive daily candle closed right through the level. Volume exploded. And there wasn’t even a polite little retest, price just launched straight toward $58K, leaving anyone waiting for a pullback completely behind. Pure trend breakout energy. Everything lined up: the context, the volume, the structure — textbook 🤌🏻 🪤 What Is a Fakeout? A fakeout, on the other hand, looks like a breakout… until it isn’t. The price briefly moves beyond a key level, but then snaps back inside the range, often trapping late buyers (or sellers) and triggering stop-losses. Common Signs of a FAKEOUT: Low or Declining Volume (at the breakout moment). Quick Rejection with a Long Wick (especially on intraday charts). Failure to Hold Above the Level on Retest. Divergence Between Timeframes: For example, a 15M breakout that looks strong while the 4H still shows consolidation. Classic BTC example: This one was sneaky! After BTC hit its all-time high around $65K, the market started looking shaky. Price tried to recover by pushing back into the $58K–$60K zone, a pretty critical level at the time. It looked like a breakout attempt… but something was off. No real volume. No strong candle closes. And then, BOOM, hard rejection. The price popped just enough above resistance to lure in breakout traders (and probably clear out some stop-losses)… then completely reversed. And not just a minor pullback, this fakeout basically triggered the entire leg down toward $30K. Classic liquidity grab. The kind of move that looks like strength for a second… until it absolutely isn’t. 🕵️‍♂️ Key Differences: Breakout vs Fakeout (Checklist) 🧠 What Causes Fakeouts in Crypto? Honestly, fakeouts aren’t some kind of accident. They’re almost baked into how crypto markets work. Part of it comes down to simple liquidity hunting. The market knows exactly where traders tend to place their stop losses, right above resistance or just below support. Price often spikes into those zones, triggers stops, fills larger orders for bigger players… and then reverses completely. Another reason? A lack of real conviction. Sometimes, it’s mostly retail traders chasing a move. Price pokes above a key level, but there just isn’t enough momentum to sustain it. Without bigger buyers or sellers stepping in, the move collapses right back. And let’s be honest. When everyone on Crypto Twitter is watching the exact same level, fakeouts become almost inevitable. The more obvious the setup, the more likely it gets front-run, faded, or manipulated. Plus, a huge mistake? People ignore the higher timeframe context. A breakout on the 15-minute chart might feel exciting… but if the 1D or 4H is still clearly in a downtrend, that breakout is fighting against the bigger picture. No surprise it fails. Fakeouts happen because the market’s job is to make most people wrong, at least for a moment. 🧭 Final Thought Breakouts and fakeouts are part of the same game: they involve both liquidity and psychology. The market rewards patience, context, and waiting for confirmation. Sometimes, missing the first candle can save you from being a liability to someone else. So, next time an asset “breaks out,” take a second look. Is it really moving with force? Or is it just another trap waiting to be sprung? What’s the last fakeout that caught you off guard? Drop your story in the comments. Let’s compare lessons learned!
Education
by WhiteBIT
6
GBP/AUD - Bearish Flag (10.07.2025)The GBP/AUD Pair on the M30 timeframe presents a Potential Selling Opportunity due to a recent Formation of a Bearish Flag Pattern. This suggests a shift in momentum towards the downside in the coming hours. Possible Short Trade: Entry: Consider Entering A Short Position around Trendline Of The Pattern. Target Levels: 1st Support – 2.0671 2nd Support – 2.0607 🎁 Please hit the like button and 🎁 Leave a comment to support for My Post ! Your likes and comments are incredibly motivating and will encourage me to share more analysis with you. Best Regards, KABHI_TA_TRADING Thank you. Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
Short
by KABHI_TA_TRADING
49
Understanding Elliott Wave Theory with BTC/USDIntroduction to Elliott Wave Theory: Elliott Wave Theory is a popular method of technical analysis that seeks to predict the future price movement of financial markets. Developed by Ralph Nelson Elliott in the 1930s, the theory is based on the idea that market movements follow a repetitive pattern, driven by investor psychology. At the core of Elliott’s theory is the idea that markets move in a 5-wave pattern in the direction of the trend, followed by a 3-wave corrective pattern. These waves can be seen on all timeframes and help traders identify potential entry and exit points in the market. Key Concepts of Elliott Wave Theory: 1. Impulse Waves (The Trend) 2. These are the waves that move in the direction of the overall trend. They are labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and represent the price movement in the main direction of the market. * Wave 1: The initial move up (or down in a bearish market). I like to mark up the first wave how I do my Fibs, from the point where price showed a major impulse. * Wave 2: A correction of Wave 1 (it doesn’t go lower than the starting point of Wave 1). * Wave 3: The longest and most powerful wave in the trend. * Wave 4: A smaller correction in the direction of the trend. * Wave 5: The final push in the direction of the trend, which can be shorter and weaker than Wave 3. 3. Corrective Waves (The Pullbacks) 4. After the five-wave impulse, the market enters a corrective phase, moving against the trend. This corrective phase is generally a 3-wave pattern, labeled A, B, C: * Wave A: The initial correction, typically smaller than Wave 3. * Wave B: A temporary move against the correction (it often confuses traders who think the trend has resumed). * Wave C: The final move against the trend, usually the strongest and most aggressive. How to Implement Elliott Wave on BTC/USD: Let’s break down how you can apply the Elliott Wave Theory to BTC/USD using a simple example. 1. Identify the Trend 2. Start by identifying the current market trend for BTC/USD. Are we in an uptrend or downtrend? This will determine whether you’re looking for a 5-wave impulse up (bullish) or down (bearish). 3. Locate the Waves 4. Look for the five-wave structure in the trend direction. Once you identify a potential impulse move, label the waves accordingly: * Wave 1: A new uptrend starts. * Wave 2: A small pullback (usually less than the size of Wave 1). * Wave 3: A significant surge in price, often the most volatile. * Wave 4: A smaller pullback or consolidation. * Wave 5: The final push higher, which might show signs of exhaustion. 5. Corrective Phase 6. After completing the 5-wave impulse, expect a corrective 3-wave pattern (A, B, C). These corrections typically last longer than expected and can often confuse traders. * Wave A: Price starts to reverse. * Wave B: A retracement that may confuse traders into thinking the trend is resuming. * Wave C: A strong pullback that brings the price even lower. 7. Use Fibonacci Levels as confluence 8. One of the most powerful tools in Elliott Wave analysis is Fibonacci retracement levels. You can use these to predict potential levels where Wave 2 and Wave 4 could end, or where Wave C might complete the correction. Common retracement levels are 38.2%-50% for Wave 4, and 50-61.8% For Waves 2 and B but keep in mind, these wave can retrace up to 100% before the wave analysis becomes invalid. But ideally these points are where you look to make an entry. Wave 2 Example: This one hit the golden spot (0.5-0.618) perfectly and continued to push upward. Wave B and C Example: This example hit closer to the 0.786 level which is also a key level for retracement. Wave 4 Example: This one hit the golden spot (0.382-0.5) for Wave 4 perfectly before continue the bullish momentum. I try to use the RED levels below (1.1 and 1.2) as my invalidation (Stop Loss) levels and the GREEN levels (-0.27 and -0.618) as my Take Profit levels. Depending on your goals you can also use Fib Levels 0.236 and 0 as partial Take Profit levels. 9. Confirm with Indicators 10. To validate your Elliott Wave counts, use other indicators like the RSI (Relative Strength Index), MACD, or Moving Averages. For example, a Wave 3 might occur when the RSI is above 50, indicating strength in the trend. In this example you can see the RSI cross the 50 threshold and the 3rd Wave form. Continuation after the Wave is complete: Tips for Trading with Elliott Wave Theory: * Stay Flexible: Elliott Wave Theory is not set in stone. If the market doesn’t follow the expected pattern, adjust your wave counts accordingly. * Don’t Rely on One Timeframe: A 5-wave structure on one timeframe may be part of a larger wave pattern on a higher timeframe. Always analyze multiple timeframes. * Wave Personality: Waves don’t always look the same as stated earlier. Wave 2 can retrace up to 100% of Wave 1 and Wave 4 should generally not overlap Wave 1 or this may invalidate the Wave structure. * Risk Management: Always use proper risk management techniques. No theory is perfect, so make sure you have a stop-loss in place to manage your risk. Conclusion: Using Elliott Wave Theory on BTC/USD: The Elliott Wave Theory can be a powerful tool for analyzing and forecasting price movements. By identifying the 5-wave impulse and 3-wave corrective patterns, you can gain insights into potential market direction. Just remember to use it alongside other tools and indicators for confirmation, and don’t forget to manage your risk. As you apply it to BTC/USD or any other asset, remember that the market doesn’t always follow the "ideal" patterns, and flexibility is key. Practice on different timeframes, refine your skills, and use the theory as a part of your overall trading strategy. Final Thoughts: If you're just starting, don't get discouraged if you miss a wave or two. Trading is a journey, and with patience and practice, you'll begin to spot these patterns more naturally. Whether you’re analyzing Bitcoin's price action or any other asset, Elliott Wave Theory can give you a deeper understanding of market psychology. Good Luck and Happy Trading!
COINBASE:BTCUSDEducation
by WrightWayInvestments
41
Using the New 2025 TradingView Screener to find Golden CrossesIn this video, I show you how to use the new TradingView 2025 screener to quickly find stocks forming a golden cross and how to add the 50 and 200 simple moving averages to your charts for clear visual confirmation. A golden cross happens when the 50 moving average crosses up through the 200 moving average. Many traders (both fundamental and technical) watch for this pattern as a sign that a stock (or even whole market) may be shifting from a downtrend to a new uptrend. Using the TradingView Screener we can quickly find Golden crosses to help filter for potential momentum setups without having to scan hundreds of charts manually. They are not magic signals, but when combined with your own analysis, they can help you spot bigger picture trends that are gaining strength. I walk through step-by-step how to set up your screener to catch these crossovers and add them to your watchlist. If you want to keep your trading process simple while still catching moves early, this is a practical tool worth adding to your workflow. I also show a few quick tips on how to clean up your filters to reduce the number of stocks you have to go through. Hope you find this useful. Please like and follow if you do :)
NASDAQ:IBOCEducation
by zAngus
5
Quantum Computing - Why BTC isn't the biggest worryYou’ve probably heard that quantum computing could break Bitcoin’s encryption—and that’s true. But here’s the thing: Bitcoin might not even be the biggest target. The real risks? Financial systems, national security, healthcare, and even the internet itself. These areas rely on the same encryption methods that quantum computers could crack, and the fallout could be far worse than a Bitcoin hack. Let’s break it down. 1️⃣ Financial Systems: A Global Crisis Waiting to Happen Imagine if hackers could: Drain bank accounts at will. Manipulate stock markets. Fake trillion-dollar transactions. This isn’t just about stolen crypto—it’s about economic chaos. Banks, stock exchanges, and payment systems all depend on encryption. If quantum computers break it, we’re looking at a meltdown way bigger than Bitcoin’s $3 trillion market. 2️⃣ National Security & Internet Privacy: A Hacker’s Dream Governments and militaries use encryption to: Protect classified intelligence. Secure communications between leaders. Guard critical infrastructure (power grids, water supplies). If quantum computers crack these codes, entire nations could be exposed to cyberwarfare. Your private data? At risk too—email, messaging, even your online banking could be decrypted years later. 3️⃣ Healthcare, Supply Chains & IoT: The Hidden Vulnerabilities Medical records could be leaked, exposing sensitive health data. Smart devices (like home security systems) could be hacked. Supply chains might collapse if logistics networks are breached. These systems weren’t built with quantum threats in mind—and upgrading them won’t be easy. 🔴 The Bigger Picture: A "Civilizational Upgrade" Switching to quantum-resistant encryption is like rebuilding the internet’s foundation. It’s necessary, but messy. Some experts compare it to the Y2K bug—but way harder. 🔷 So, Is Bitcoin Safe? Not entirely—about 25% of all Bitcoin could be stolen if quantum computers advance fast enough. But compared to the risks facing banks, governments, and hospitals? Bitcoin might be the least of our worries. 🔷 What’s Next? Governments & companies are already working on fixes (like NIST’s post-quantum cryptography standards). The transition will take years—and hackers might exploit weak spots along the way. Staying informed is key. If you’re in tech, finance, or security, this affects you. ℹ️ Want to Dive Deeper? Deloitte’s take on quantum computing & Bitcoin Forbes on quantum risks beyond crypto 🤷‍♂️ Bottom line? Quantum computing is coming—and while Bitcoin has risks, the real danger lies in the systems we all depend on every day. ❔What do you think? Will we be ready in time? Let me know in the comments! 🚀
COINBASE:BTCUSDEducation
by Profit_Through_Patience
27
Why Traders Freeze: The Psychology Behind Not Cutting LossesFirst up: let’s address the elephant in the room. Loss aversion — that great human flaw. From the moment your ancient ancestor decided to poke a saber-toothed tiger to see what happens, the brain has been hard-coded to avoid pain at all costs. Loss aversion is literally in your DNA — studies show people feel the sting of a loss twice as intensely as the pleasure of an equivalent gain. When you see that trade slip into the red, your rational brain may say, “Cut it, the setup is invalid, live to trade another day.” But your emotional brain — the one still grunting in a cave — is screaming, “It might come back! Hold! HOOOLD!” So you sit, frozen. 🌱 Hope: The Most Expensive Four-Letter Word Hope is the silent killer of trading accounts. You think you’re being patient as you decide to give the trade “room to breathe.” But what you’re really doing is outsourcing your exit strategy to technical tools, news headlines, and anything that’s not your own choice, hoping something will rescue your losing position. This is how tiny losses can turn into portfolio ruin. Just ask anyone who’s held a small-cap memecoin down 90% because the “team has potential.” 🧊 Analysis Paralysis: When the Chart Becomes a Maze Another reason traders freeze? Overanalysis. One bad candle and suddenly you’re toggling between the 1-minute, 5-minute, and daily chart like you’re hacking into the Pentagon. And your trendlines? You’re probably drawing them wrong . More data rarely leads to more decisive action. It just feeds your brain conflicting signals until you’re convinced you see a bounce that isn’t there. Meanwhile, the loss grows. And grows. And then you’re back to hope. Rinse, repeat. 😬 The Ego Monster: Admitting You’re Wrong Here’s the harsh truth: cutting a loss means admitting you were wrong. For traders, whose entire identity can hinge on being “smart money,” that feels like public humiliation. The ego monster wants you to be right more than it wants you to be profitable. So instead of taking the small L, you’ll cling to the trade because closing it out would force you to look in the mirror and say, “I was wrong and I need to do better.” 🏴‍☠️ From Risk Management to Revenge Trading Once you’ve frozen long enough, you reach the next stage of the bad-losing cycle: revenge trading . Now you’re not just trying to recover your loss; you’re out to punish the market for “taking” your money. Spoiler alert: the market doesn’t know you exist, and it certainly doesn’t care. Maybe this is the gambler’s mindset disguised as a “strategy?” 📉 Blame the Tools? Not So Fast Some traders love to blame outside factors like the Economic calendar or their indicators when they freeze. “My RSI didn’t signal this! The MACD betrayed me!” Indicators are just tools — they don’t make decisions for you. You do. Hiding behind tools means you refuse to take accountability. It’s a convenient excuse that can keep you stuck in the same losing habits. Better to master the one tool that matters: your discipline . ✂️ The Beauty of the Hard Stop All hail the hard stop — the trader’s seatbelt. It’s not attractive, it’s mechanical, but it’s often the only thing standing between you and a potentially blown-up account. The reason some traders can survive the market for decades isn’t because they’re never wrong — it’s because they’ve learned to make their stops non-negotiable. A stop-loss is you telling your brain, “Hey, I’m not smarter than the market, so I’ll automate the decision before I get emotional.” It takes the agony out of cutting a loss because you’ve already decided on the outcome before your lizard brain can intervene. ⚖️ Small Losses Are the Cost of Doing Business Want to feel better about cutting that loss? Think of it as your tuition fee. Every trader pays a certain cost to the market — it’s the cost of playing the game. No one gets every trade right. The pros just get better at losing small. Those big-shot money spinners you look up to? They didn’t build their empire by never losing. They’re pros at getting out when they’re wrong. The difference between a pro and a blow-up isn’t the winning trade — it’s the ruthless discipline on the losing ones. 🧘‍♂️ Finding Comfort in Discomfort There’s no magic trick to make loss-cutting feel good. It always stings. But you can train your brain to see a small loss as a win for your long-term survival. Write it down. Journal the trade . Log the emotion. Over time you’ll realize that the trades you exit early rarely haunt you. 🏁 Face the Fear, Keep the Account And finally, freezing in front of a loss doesn’t protect you — it likely means you’ll pay more than you should. Next time your gut says, “Maybe it’ll come back…” ask yourself: “Do I want to be right, or do I want to trade another day?” Your job is to trade well and stay in the game for as long as possible. Your turn, traders : what’s your biggest “should’ve cut it sooner” horror story? Drop it below — we promise not to say we told you so.
SP:SPXEducation
by TradingView
19
Let’s talk about technical analysis & stops.Technical analysis is not your decision-making process — it’s a tool to help you structure better trading decisions by studying past price movements to anticipate likely future moves. 👉 Every time you look at a chart, you should decide: ✅ Do I want to trade at all? ✅ What’s my entry? ✅ Where’s my stop (when does my thesis fail)? ✅ What’s my target (where will I take profits)? ________________________________________ 🛑 Where to put your stop? Take the S&P 500 daily chart. It’s been trending up strongly. Many traders use an exponential moving average (EMA) as a dynamic stop. But: • A 9 EMA often stops you out too early on strong trends. • Adjusting to a 15 or 16 EMA could keep you in the trade longer, letting your winners run. In tools like TradingView, you can visually adjust the EMA and see in real time how it would have kept you in or taken you out. ________________________________________ 💡 Key takeaway: When price closes below your EMA stop — that’s your signal to exit and lock in profits. Use TA to structure your trades, not just spot pretty patterns. ________________________________________ 💬 What’s your favourite method for setting stops? Disclaimer: The information posted on Trading View is for informative purposes and is not intended to constitute advice in any form, including but not limited to investment, accounting, tax, legal or regulatory advice. The information therefore has no regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any specific recipient. Opinions expressed are our current opinions as of the date appearing on Trading View only. All illustrations, forecasts or hypothetical data are for illustrative purposes only. The Society of Technical Analysts Ltd does not make representation that the information provided is appropriate for use in all jurisdictions or by all Investors or other potential Investors. Parties are therefore responsible for compliance with applicable local laws and regulations. The Society of Technical Analysts will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any information on this site.
CBOE:SPXLong
by The_STA
11