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Mes1

Day 57 — Trading Only S&P Futures | +$27 & Staying DisciplinedRecap & Trades Day 57 — a slower day, but still a win for discipline. We had X7 sell signals flashing early, hinting at downside, but the market structure stayed bullish and DP buy signals kept showing up. I went long near the MOB zone at 11:30, got shaken out on a quick drop at 11:35, and eventually decided to step aside. Closed for a small gain of +$27.50. Lesson & Mindset Sometimes the right play is to walk away. When signals conflict, overtrading only leads to frustration. Days like this are great reminders that trading small and reviewing later can be just as productive as hitting big wins. News & Levels Main headline — S&P 500 hit a new record high today ahead of major tech earnings. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6885 bullish, below 6840 bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
Day 55 — Trading Only S&P Futures | +$452 | Rested and FocusRecap & Trades Day 55 — I finally caught up on sleep last night and it made a huge difference. Woke up focused, saw the bullish structure signal early, and just stayed on the long side all session. Didn’t fight the trend, didn’t short — just stayed in BTD mode and let the system do the heavy lifting. Ended the day +$452 and feeling great. Lesson & Mindset When you’re rested, you make better decisions. Sleep sharpens reaction time, patience, and emotional control — all critical traits for traders. Don’t underestimate rest as part of your trading system. News & Levels Today’s main headline: Bank reserves dropped below $3 trillion for the second week straight. That’s a macro factor to watch — tighter liquidity can ripple into equities soon. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6760 bullish, below 6735 bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
3
Day 54 — Trading Only S&P Futures | -$49 & Lessons on ExecutionRecap & Trades Day 54 — the signals were spot-on today but my execution wasn’t. I started with a bullish bias and kept trying to buy the dip when the structure was clearly bearish. Got stopped out around 6714 for -$540, and the market bounced right after — classic. Even so, the system nailed every call today — five for five accuracy. Lesson & Mindset The lesson is clear — you can have the perfect system, but if you don’t execute it perfectly, you can still lose. Don’t let bias override data. Flexibility beats certainty every time. News & Levels Big headline today: Google announced a major quantum computing breakthrough with its new Willow chip — this could reshape the AI hardware landscape. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6760 bullish, below 6715 bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
Rising Volatility Signals Emerging Risks For EquitiesFor all the headlines about inflation risk, interest rate uncertainty, and geopolitical instability, the S&P 500 hasn’t flinched much lately. Price ranges have narrowed, option premiums have deflated since April, and market volatility metrics remain stuck near cycle lows. However, short-dated MES weekly options expiring 24/October — typically more responsive to shifts in implied volatility (IV) — showed an upward shift in the IV smile early in the month, pointing to renewed demand for downside protection. Source: CME QuikVol Historical volatility remains below implied levels, leaving scope for realised volatility to rise to implied levels. Current options positioning suggests that the next volatility move is likely to emerge from downside risk. Source: CME QuikVol The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), reflecting 30-day expected volatility in the S&P 500, drifted toward 15 and stayed compressed for over a month. While this appeared stable, volatility is inherently mean-reverting — especially amid macro uncertainty, geopolitical risks, and year-end positioning. Economic data have not justified a hawkish Fed stance, and markets expect another rate cut at the 29 October meeting. Additional uncertainty stems from the government shutdown, which delayed the September CPI release and left investors without timely inflation guidance. This has amplified market sensitivity to new data and headlines. Meanwhile, Fed officials have turned more dovish, shifting attention from inflation to signs of labour market weakness. Source: CME FedWatch So far, the uncertainty has not prompted a broad flight to safety. Although the VIX has risen almost 60% this month, the S&P 500’s decline was just 1.2% as of 17 October. Markets appear hesitant to reprice risk aggressively without confirmation from data or the Fed — a shift that could accelerate near the 24/October CPI release. When Volatility Snaps Back Historically, volatility spikes have also driven sharp corrections in equity futures. Since 2022, the average duration of a VIX rise regime is about 22 days, with a 7% average correction in equity futures during that period. This trend offers multiple opportunities for traders. With a week left for key macro data to come out and almost two weeks left for the next Fed meeting, a short-term position to gain from volatility expansion could be expressed by deploying a straddle using CME’s E-mini S&P 500 (ES) weekly options. However, with VIX already elevated and reaching 28 late last week, further upside from long volatility trades appears limited. In contrast, a short equity futures position could still benefit from additional downside as uncertainty pressures equities. As of this analysis, VIX had been rising for 7 days, implying that IV could stay elevated for roughly another 15 days based on historical regime durations. Notably, the larger portion of S&P futures’ correction typically occurs during the latter half of this rising volatility phase. The average correction over the latter 15-days is almost 7x more than that observed in the first week of rising IV. And given the 1.3% decline so far in this cycle, there is still room for realised volatility to catch up via an additional 2.7% correction. As on 17/Oct, MES options expiring on 31/Oct serves to capture the remaining 15-day window. Concentrated activity across key strikes in this contract indicates that options traders are pricing in a potential decline of roughly 3% to 7.7% in equity futures. Source: CME QuikStrike In an expanding volatility regime, short S&P 500 futures offer an alternative way to express views on rising volatility. Straddles suit uncertain bias but require larger moves to overcome time decay. With expectations of further downside and higher realised volatility, short futures may be better aligned. Historical Example The inverse correlation between VIX and equity index futures supports a directional bias tied to IV expectations. Historical VIX spikes show extended periods of elevated IV, typically aligning with a 7% average drawdown in equity futures. A strategy that trades in line with the prevailing volatility trend can exploit this pattern. Assuming IV remains elevated, equity futures generally experience their steepest declines during the later part of rising VIX regime. Across the last eight major IV spikes, this relationship has held consistently. The following historical analysis examines a strategy that moves with the prevailing volatility trend. The approach assumes that implied volatility (IV) will remain elevated for an extended period, during which equity futures tend to decline more sharply. As shown in prior instances, this pattern held true across the last eight major IV spikes. A short MES futures position initiated seven days after a VIX spike has historically produced strong returns. For example, during the July 2024 volatility surge (highlighted in green above), entering short at 5600 on 18 July (7 days after VIX started to rise) and exiting 15 days later at 5247 on 5 August would have yielded a profit of (5600 – 5247) × $5 = $1,765. However, the strategy is not consistently profitable. During the September 2023 episode (highlighted in yellow above), a similar short position entered at 4368 on 21/September and exited 15 days later at the same level would have produced no gain, underscoring that historical tendencies serve as context, not certainty. Alternatively, if volatility stabilises and uncertainty eases, short positions could also underperform as equities resume their ascent. This content is sponsored. MARKET DATA CME Real-time Market Data helps identify trading set-ups and express market views better. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs tradingview.com/cme . DISCLAIMER This case study is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services. Trading or investment ideas cited here are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management or trading under the market scenarios being discussed. Please read the FULL DISCLAIMER the link to which is provided in our profile description.
CME_MINI:MES1!Short
by mintdotfinance
Day 53 — Trading Only S&P Futures | +$59 & Market Still WeirdRecap & Trades Day 53 — started the day catching clean plays off the X7 and DPBuy signals. Made some solid early gains, but later got stopped out after unexpected news from Trump hit the market. Overall, I finished +$59 — small day, but still green. I’ve noticed the market feels a lot more unpredictable since that big Friday crash — tons of chop and odd gamma behavior. Lesson & Mindset The takeaway: stay adaptive and don’t overtrade uncertainty. This isn’t the time to push size — it’s time to stay patient and observe until the structure normalizes. News & Levels Big story today — Gold saw its largest single-day drop in 12 years, down over 5%. That’s massive. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6760 bullish, below 6715 bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!Long
by DiYWALLST
Day 52 — Trading Only S&P Futures | +$145 & 0DTE WinsRecap & Trades Day 52 — woke up to an X7 buy signal that already ran hard premarket. I tried to grab a long at my preferred level, missed it by 2 points, and decided not to chase. That patience saved me from chop. I waited for resistance, watched the structure, and just let the algo play out. On the side, I took a few 0DTE option plays that hit +200%. It’s always satisfying when both systems line up — futures for structure, options for leverage. Lesson & Mindset Today’s takeaway: patience pays more than precision. Missing a trade is fine — what matters is staying aligned with structure, not emotion. News & Levels Headline: Trump said “China wants to talk, we like talking to China.” Markets might be pricing in some optimism on trade headlines again. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6700 bullish, below 6640 bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
Day 51 — Trading Only S&P Futures | +$177 Testing a New StrategyRecap & Trades Day 51 — I started late today since I had stuff to take care of in the morning. By noon, I decided to test a new “buy-the-dip” setup. The idea: if the market drops over 100 points from its highs without panic, I’ll start building long positions with a wide 100-point stop and multiple profit targets. Today was my first run testing it, and it worked pretty well — small win, but a big step in strategy development. Lesson & Mindset The key lesson: once you’ve built consistency, the next step isn’t more aggression — it’s refinement. Testing new setups helps expand your edge while maintaining control. News & Levels Headline: Trump declared “We’re in a trade war with China now” — a reminder that volatility can return anytime. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6700 bullish, below 6655 bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
Day 50 — Trading Only S&P Futures | Tornado Volatility ModeDay 50 — the market still feels insane after Friday’s 3× ATR move. Every tick feels like standing in a tornado — calm for a second, then chaos. I played defense, traded light, and survived with + $122. I expected things to settle by mid-week, but it’s clear we’re still in high-vol mode. I’m considering widening my stop-losses to 20 points to handle these swings. Lesson & Mindset The key takeaway today: not every session is about profit. Sometimes the win is walking away disciplined, keeping your account alive, and sticking to the plan. Fifty days in, that’s the real progress — showing up, no matter what. News & Levels Headline: Gold hit a record high above $4,200 — a reminder that fear and liquidity are still rotating fast. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6730 bullish, below 6665 bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
Day 49 — Trading Only S&P Futures | +$640 Cooling OffRecap & Trades Day 49 — after Friday’s crazy volatility, I decided to slow things down. The market was still moving 2–3× its normal range, so I only took setups around large moving averages and key Gamma zones. Executed clean, locked profits early, and ended the day +$640. Lesson & Mindset The main lesson today: discipline isn’t only about cutting losses — it’s about knowing when to press pause. After a big week of volatility, patience and smaller positions keep you in the game. News & Levels Headline: Bessent said the U.S.–China relationship remains strong — which helped keep markets steady today. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6735 bullish, below 6665 bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
Day 48 — Trading Only S&P Futures | Risk Down, Focus UpRecap & Trades Day 48 — I slept 10 hours to recover from the flu, woke up a bit foggy, and just eased into the day. Took my time reviewing market structure and waited for clean confirmation before taking any trades. The 11:40 VXAlgo DD Sell Signal lined up perfectly with the bearish flip and 10-min MOB zone — I shorted the recovery and let the market do the work. Missed a few bottom orders, but overall execution was clean and controlled. Lesson & Mindset The key lesson today: when you’re on a hot streak, the best move isn’t to press harder — it’s to protect the gains. That’s why I’m reducing my position size for the next few sessions. This isn’t about making more; it’s about keeping what I’ve earned. News & Levels Headline: The IRS plans to furlough 34,000 employees as the U.S. government shutdown continues — something to keep an eye on for market volatility. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6785 bullish, below 6765 bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!Short
by DiYWALLST
2
Day 47 — Trading Only S&P Futures | Rested, Focused, ProfitableRecap & Trades Day 47 — I finally got 8 hours of sleep, and the difference was night and day. I was patient, calm, and focused from the start. I waited for clean signals, took only high-quality setups, and didn’t force a thing. The result? A 14-trade win streak and +$6,250 across all accounts. No stress, no chasing — just clean, structured execution. Lesson & Mindset The biggest lesson today: you can’t trade well when you’re exhausted. Sleep isn’t optional — it’s a performance enhancer. When your body’s recovered, your emotions are stable, your patience returns, and your focus becomes laser sharp. News & Levels Headline: The U.S. government shutdown is forecasted to last nearly 24 days. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6785 bullish, below 6765 bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
Day 46 — Trading Only S&P Futures | -$1,452 | Fatigue & FocusRecap Day 46 — not my best. I was running on low sleep, started patient, but missed the bearish flip and got caught buying at the 5-min MOB that didn’t hold. TradeCopia started glitching too, opening wrong positions across accounts — that threw me off mentally and I lost focus. Eventually, I stepped away, reset, and came back to trade the Gamma zone at 6747, which helped recover part of the losses. Lesson & Mindset Lesson of the day: fatigue kills awareness. When you’re tired, you hesitate, second-guess, and ignore the signals. Consistency requires recovery just as much as execution. News & Levels Headline: Oracle reported a $100 million loss tied to Blackwell chip rentals — a reminder of how tech volatility still drives the macro picture. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6785 flip bullish, below 6740 flip bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!Short
by DiYWALLST
Day 45 — Trading Only S&P Futures | +$4,921 | Best Day YetDay 45 — one of my best days yet. After a big workout weekend, I came in with strong mental clarity. Right at 8:30, VX Algo flipped bullish, and I went long off the 9am MOB zone premarket. Got stop hunted right after the open, but risk was small, so I reloaded on the next setup — a 5-min MOB long with confirming buy signals — and that’s where the day took off. Lesson & Mindset The lesson today: preparation and mindset matter more than anything. When your body and mind are in sync, execution becomes automatic. News & Levels Headline: AMD and OpenAI spark a wild tech rally as S&P 500 hits another record. Tomorrow’s levels: Above 6765 stay bullish, below 6740 flip bearish.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
A look at the MES1! (SPX)Chart Time Frame: 1 Hour Current Price: 6763 after setting recent ATH at 6800 Daily Candle: Top Heavy Doji with open / close entire in the body of previous candle. 📈 Price Action & Technical Analysis EMA 8 (thin cyan): ~6733 – Above price. Negative Slope. EMA 21 (med cyan): ~6775 – Above price and EMA 8. Negative Slope. Rotation zone created on 1H and lower TF (EMA 8 crossed EMA 21). Crossover has not happened on higher TF's at time of post. EMA 50 (thick cyan): ~6765 – Above current price; Flattening out. Structure: Bullish Trending since April lows. 📈 RSI (14 Close) Current: 43 (57 MA) Interpretation: Below neutral (50), momentum is weakening. 📈 MACD (12, 26, 9) MACD Line: 1; Signal Line: 4.2; Histogram: -3.2 Interpretation: MACD is growing bearish, histogram showing increasing intensity, yet still above 0. 🎯 Key Levels Support: various possible trend lines shown (Purple). Price action Monday will determine their validity. Swing low at 6681. Resistance: Overhead moving averages. ATH at 6800. 🧨 Volatility Outlook VIX - After a decline, showing signs of inflection. Currently trending upwards on the daily TF. Government shutdown and headline risk are of some concern to short term price action. Short Term: A sudden opening of the government could certainly cause a bullish event. I could also imagine certain headlines that would cause a short term bearish event. Longer term: govt shut downs have typically preceded bullish gains. 📈Macro/Fundamental Analysis Interpretation: We are in between earnings seasons and with a Gov shutdown, void of Gov Data. DXY - Pulled back significantly this year. I personally expect it to continue. This could provide a tail wind to equities pricing. 📆 Economic Calendar / Earnings Schedule Econ Calendar: Relatively Light Next Week Wednesday - 3PM EST - FOMC Minutes. Dot Plot could cause some action as the minutes are dissected. Friday - 10AM - Michigan Consumer Sentiment Report. A big miss (up or down) could cause some action. 🔍 Summary 🔻 Trend: Long bull run - might be getting stale; Might just be getting started. You decide. 🧩 Momentum: Very high on longer TFs, Turning down on the lower. 🧠 Tactics: Short Term - I love a 'rotation zone trade'. If price bounces back up into the EMA 21/8 spread zone, I would be looking for some day trade shorts.
CME_MINI:MES1!
by WillNixTrading
Day 44 — Trading Only S&P Futures | +$2,542 Quick WinsI followed the bullish flips and buy signals right after the open, took longs, and hit profit targets quickly. There was also a clean backtest bounce at the MOB around 9:42. After those trades, I locked in +$2,542 across all accounts and stepped away for meetings — avoiding the noise and chop that came later. 🔑 Key Levels for Tomorrow Above 6755 = Stay Bullish Below 6740 = Flip Bearish 📰 News Highlights UBS RAISES GOLD, SILVER PRICE FORECASTS AGAIN
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
Day 43 — Trading Only S&P Futures | Fresh RecordsDay 43 of Trading Only S&P Futures is done — and despite fighting through the flu, I finished +$1,069 across all accounts. The morning was tough with negative gamma and a few bad trades, but patience was the difference-maker. Once bullish structure aligned with positive gamma, I trusted my levels, bought the dip at MOB, and it worked out beautifully. 📰 News Highlights DOW, S&P 500 AND NASDAQ CLINCH FRESH RECORDS 🔑 Key Levels for Tomorrow Above 6745 = Stay Bullish Below 6730 = Flip Bearish
CME_MINI:ES1!Short
by DiYWALLST
Day 42 — Trading Only S&P Futures | +$821 While SickDay 42 of Trading Only S&P Futures is wrapped up with +$821 across all accounts. Even while battling the flu, I stuck to the process: waited for price to hit MOB, took the clean play, and locked in early. The rest of the day was more about protecting focus than chasing trades. 🔑 Key Levels for Tomorrow Above 6745 = Stay Bullish Below 6715 = Flip Bearish 📰 News Highlights S&P 500 closes above 6,700 on bets of limited shutdown impact
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
Day 41 — Trading Only S&P Futures | Beating the WhipsawDay 41 of Trading Only S&P Futures closes green across the board: +$1,866 across all accounts, with +$409 booked on my main account. The market felt wild today with whipsaw moves all over. Instead of forcing trades, I waited it out and stayed patient near breakeven. Toward the end of the session, I finally got high-probability setups — and that made the day. My trade copier app glitched out, so execution wasn’t perfect across accounts, but the main lesson here is clear: patience beats trying to fight the chop. 📰 News Highlights DOW, S&P 500 and NASDAQ end higher as government shutdown looms 🔑 Key Levels for Tomorrow Above 6720 = Flip Bullish Below 6695 = Flip Bearish
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
1
Day 40 — Trading Only S&P Futures | -$2,515 LossDay 40 of Trading Only S&P Futures closes with another red day, down -$2,515. I started the day with losses from an overnight trade but worked back to breakeven after a few solid setups. Then came the turning point — I bet on structure flipping bullish, set multiple buy-the-dip orders with stops just under 6701, and got wicked out two points before the bounce. That single trade set the tone for the rest of the session. On top of that, I was fighting a headache all morning, so instead of tilting, I stepped away, left orders at key levels, and let the market do its thing. This challenge isn’t about perfection — it’s about consistency and learning, even on tough days. 📰 News Highlights US economic data releases to pause in government shutdown, Bureau of Labor Statistics says.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
3
Day 39 — Trading Only S&P Futures | -$2,465 DrawdownDay 39 of Trading Only S&P Futures ends with a tough -$2,465 loss. The morning started strong — I was green on my first three trades with bullish signals at the open. But by 10am, unexpected news about a government shutdown and rate cut doubts shook the market. I got shaken out, lost my morning gains, and ended the day deep in the red. In hindsight, if I had trusted my analysis, kept my MOB buy-the-dip orders, and stayed patient, I would’ve finished green. Instead, I let the news trigger me and broke discipline. 🔑 Key Levels for Tomorrow Above 6705 = Flip Bullish Below 6675 = Flip Bearish
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
3
Day 38 — Trading Only S&P Futures | +$1,935 WinI’m trading one system, one ticker — S&P 500 futures — every single day for a full year. I journal every session to track progress, reflect, and sharpen my execution. If you’re serious about building consistency and treating trading like a business, you’re in the right place. Stick around — at the end, I’ll break down the key levels I’m watching for tomorrow. Let’s go. Recap & Trades Day 38 was different — I woke up late, wasn’t feeling well, and missed the morning’s big drop and recovery. Instead of forcing trades, I stayed patient on the sidelines. By the afternoon, DL and DD signals lined up beautifully. That’s when I stepped in, executed clean trades, and finished the session +$1,935. Proof that sometimes the best edge is waiting until the market gives you alignment.
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
Day 37 — Trading Only S&P Futures | +$1,559 Bearish BreakdownDay 37 of Trading Only S&P Futures is wrapped up with a strong green day — finishing +$1,559. The session didn’t start smooth. Running on 4 hours of sleep, I accidentally put in a buy order instead of a sell order at the 1-min MOB level. That mistake cost me some early profits, but once I flipped short, the bearish structure was undeniable. From there, it was all about riding the trend down — stacking shorts as sell signals and structure aligned. A strong reminder that even with mistakes, discipline and following the signals can still turn the day around. 🔑 Key Levels for Tomorrow Above 6725 = Flip Bullish Below 6708 = Remain Bearish
CME_MINI:ES1!
by DiYWALLST
1
VWAP/OR Setups & Macro Crosscurrents (Sept 24, 2025)The S&P 500 (MES1!) is currently in a volatile state as Wednesday’s trading session commences. Macro headwinds have dampened expectations for further rate cuts, leading to weakness in Big Tech yesterday. On the other hand, sector tailwinds have emerged, with Micron reporting strong Q4 earnings and Boeing and Palantir forming an AI partnership. These developments have generated after-hours optimism, supporting the performance of semiconductors and AI-related stocks. This volatile environment presents opportunities for scalpers. The volatility around VWAP/OR levels, coupled with liquidity-driven inflections, creates fertile ground for scalping. Chart Context (MES1! – 15m & 5m overlays): VWAP serves as a key pivot point, with multiple reclaims and rejections occurring overnight. The ORH stands at 6720.50, while the ORL is at 6719.75. As of pre-market, the VWAP is also at 6719.75. High-volume nodes at 6710–6722 act as scalp magnet zones. The overnight low at 6701.50 remains the downside inflection point. Scalping Plan: - Long bias above VWAP/OR breaks with volume. Target 6728 to 6735+. - Fade VWAP rejections back to OR. Quick 1–2pt rotations. - Avoid chop inside VWAP compression. Risk Management: - Use half-size into the open; scale only on confirmed breakout. - Hard stop: sustained trade below 6701.50. - Event risk: 10:00 AM New Home Sales, 4:10 PM Mary Daly speech. Takeaway: Scalpers should focus on reacting to market movements rather than predicting future trends. The ongoing debate between Powell and Micron is likely to lead to whipsaws in the market. Therefore, it’s crucial to adhere to VWAP/OR discipline, respect liquidity pockets, and let the market tape confirm the direction of the trade.
CME_MINI:MES1!
by TheFuturesPlaybook