Why Did The Market Bounce Today? Today the market bounced for 2 reasons....
1. Broadcom NASDAQ:AVGO received news of another OPENAI partnership. This multi year billion dollar deal caused the stock to bounce double digits. When this name rallies it causes liquidity to flow into the $SOXX. Semiconductors are still the heartbeat of this market and have propped everything up today.
The OPENAI headline seems to be running out of steam as the last 3 partnership announcements caused 3 stock to make new highs but AVGO did not take out its highs. This will be on watch.
2. The bond market was closed today allowing investors to not have to worry about catalysts or yields. There's an old saying on "when the cats away, the mice will play" .
The bond market is the much larger investment market aka the "cat" and this liquidity has clearly spilled over into smaller cap higher beta stocks.
Tomorrow we will see if the markets can take out the 20 day Moving average or if this pop gets sold into.
SPX (S&P 500 Index)
$SPY over $700 in the next ~2 weeks? A 9% move from low?Now that the downside target in SPY hit last week, I think it's time for the blow off top to take place.
I favor a move from here that brings us to the two upper resistance levels.
The next key date that I have on the chart is October 27th, as of now, I think it's possible that we see at least one of the two levels to the upside get hit prior to that for a final move in SPY.
The marked box is the resistance level and I don't really see price exceeding those levels.
If those levels are tagged, then I think that sets up a move lower to the bottom supports, but let's focus on the upside first.
S&P 500 (SPX) Simple Break Down The S&P (SPX) is sitting at a key turning point. Here’s what to watch for next:
If price drops below 6553, we could see it keep falling toward 6469 and if that breaks, then possibly down to around 6398.
But if price pushes above 6763, the next big target area could be 7237–7274.
So basically:
👉 Below 6553 = likely drop
👉 Above 6763 = likely climb
Right now, we’re in a tight spot where either direction could open up a strong move.
If you’re unsure how to trade around these levels or what kind of pullback makes sense, shoot me a quick DM
I can walk you through how I’m looking at setups and risk zones in plain English.
Mindbloome Exchange
Google Gap fill + wave 4?Google has had a great run into price discovery in wave III uptrend but now appears exhausted and ready for a short term pullback setting up new signals.
The gap looks likely to be filled as coinciding the wave IV Fibonacci targets and the S1 daily pivot.
RSI is making its way into oversold with plenty of room to fall. Price may fal as far as the 0.382 Fibonacci and retest the previous all time high!
Safe trading
SPX: Tariffs 2.0 slams marketSPX stumbles as trade tensions resurface, feeding volatility into Friday's close. Friday was a painful day on financial markets, with a correction of 2,71%. For one more time it all started with the announcement on social networks of the US President that the US will impose 100% tariffs on imports from China starting November 1st. The rest is history - around $2 trillion from markets was wiped out. A similar situation occurred in April this year, when the never-ending story about tariffs started. Finally, the market settled that around 40% tariffs on imports from China would not impact the US economy at the higher level. However, analysts are estimating that the 100% tariffs might hurt the US economy more severely.
Semiconductor stocks like Nvidia and AMD led Friday’s market decline. Nvidia fell 5% amid uncertainty over its efforts to gain approval from the U.S. and China to sell downgraded AI chips. AMD, which had recently driven the tech rally, dropped nearly 8%. Apple and Tesla also saw sharp losses, down 3% and 5% respectively. However, the pullback wasn’t limited to China-exposed names, it was a broad-based sell-off, with 424 of the S&P 500 stocks closing in the red. The magnitude of the drop forced institutional investors to de-risk across the board, selling other positions to cover losses and raise cash as tech dragged portfolios lower. Only a few defensive names, including Walmart and tobacco-related stocks, managed to end the day slightly higher.
The current question is what does Monday bring? On one side, investors might continue to perceive tariffs impact negatively, so the correction might continue. On the opposite side are investors who will be in the mood of wait-and-see if a current threat of 100% tariffs will actually come to effect, or some sort of agreement on the state levels will be achieved.
ES (SPX, SPY) Analyses, Key-Zones, Week (Mon 10/13 → Fri 10/17)Macro drivers to watch (ET)
Powell (NABE) — Tue 10/14 ~12:20. Markets will parse tone on growth/inflation. (Fed official calendar confirms time & venue.)
PPI (Sep) — Thu 10/16 8:30. First major U.S. inflation print of the week. (BLS “Next Release”.)
Advance Retail Sales (Sep) — Thu 10/16 8:30. Key read on demand into holiday season. (Census “MARTS” note; FRED release calendar.)
CPI (Sep) — not this week; rescheduled to Fri 10/24 8:30 due to the shutdown. (BLS reschedule notice; CPI schedule.)
Earnings kick-off (could move ES): JPM Tue 10/14, BAC Wed 10/15. (Company IR pages/press.)
Market conditions: U.S. bond market closed Mon 10/13 (liquidity thinner); NYSE equities open. (SIFMA; NYSE hours.)
Options expiration: standard monthly Fri 10/17. Expect pinning flows. (Cboe 2025 calendar.)
Setups (Level-KZ Protocol — 15m→5m→1m; NY kill-zones preferred)
TIER-1 (A++) — Rejection Short at 6790–6810 (NY AM)
Trigger: 15m full-body fails to hold above 6790–6810 → 5m prints a lower-high and re-closes back inside → 1m first pullback “pop-and-fail”.
Entry: 6796–6803 on the 1m failure.
Invalidation: Hard SL above the 15m fail-wick (guide 6814).
TPs: TP1 6738–6745, TP2 6690–6700, TP3 6625–6635.
TIER-1 (A++) — Quick-Reclaim Long at 6550–6560 (Asia/London → carry to NY)
Trigger: Liquidity sweep into 6550–6560, immediate 15m re-close back above 6600, 5m holds ≥6620, 1m higher-low entry.
Entry: 6602–6610 on the first pullback that holds.
Invalidation: Hard SL below the 15m sweep-low (guide 6544).
TPs: TP1 6690–6700, TP2 6738–6745, TP3 6768–6775.
TIER-2 (A+ Bounce) — 6590–6596 fast reclaim
Trigger: Wick through 6590–96 that immediately reclaims ≥6620 on 5m.
Entry/SL: Enter 6615–6622; SL below sweep-low −0.5pt.
Targets: 6690 then 6738–45. ¾ size.
TIER-3 (A Bounce) — 6515–6525 exhaustion flush
Trigger: Capitulation into the 4H PWL band with 15m reversal signal.
Entry/SL: Scale inside the band; SL below the 15m reversal wick.
Targets: 6590–96 then 6690. ½ size; only first touch.
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S&P 500 Faces Earnings Test Amid Shutdown Fog and Tariff FearsStocks Face Earnings Test as S&P 500 Heads for Worst Shutdown Performance Since 1990
The S&P 500 slipped on Friday, just two days after hitting a record high, as renewed tariff fears and the ongoing U.S. government shutdown weighed on sentiment.
This week marks a key test as major Wall Street banks open the third-quarter earnings season, potentially offering direction amid what analysts call a “vacuum of government data” due to the shutdown.
On Wednesday, the S&P 500 logged its 33rd record close of 2025, even as the shutdown that began October 1 dragged on. But Trump’s threat of a “massive increase” in tariffs on Chinese imports erased gains, leaving the index down 2% since the shutdown began — its worst such stretch since 1990, per Dow Jones Market Data.
The delay of key reports like CPI inflation data has added “fog” to the market, making it harder to gauge the impact of tariffs on core prices. Still, analysts expect solid Q3 results, especially from banks, with FactSet’s John Butters noting a rare increase in EPS estimates — the first since late 2021.
Volatility Returns — But Will Investors Buy the Dip?
October, historically the most volatile month, lived up to its reputation.
Friday’s drop left traders debating whether it was triggered by Trump’s post or simply profit-taking after record highs.
S&P 500 – Technical Outlook Merging with Fundamentals
The price dropped sharply by $165 within just six hours, reflecting strong volatility driven by both technical factors and fundamental uncertainty.
From now on, market movements are expected to remain highly sensitive, especially as third-quarter earnings season begins this week — a phase that could significantly influence the indices amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.
Technically, a short-term correction is expected toward 6550 – 6577 before renewed bearish pressure resumes.
However, if the price closes a 4H candle below 6484, it would confirm continuation of the bearish trend toward 6450 and 6425, with further downside potential toward 6347 and 6283.
On the other hand, as long as the price trades above 6506, buyers may attempt to correct the move upward toward 6550 – 6577.
A sustained break below 6484, however, would clearly reestablish the bearish momentum.
Pivot Line: 6506
Support Levels: 6450, 6425, 6348
Resistance Levels: 6550, 6570, 6620
Summary Expectation:
Next likely direction — bearish continuation, possibly after a minor corrective pullback toward 6,570 – 6,600, unless buyers reclaim control above 6,620.
S&P 500 (US500) Multi-Timeframe StrategyS&P 500 (US500) Technical Analysis | October 11, 2025 UTC+4 Multi-Timeframe Strategy
Closing Price: 6,508.2 | Market Context: Trading at all-time highs with institutional accumulation evident
Market Structure Analysis
The S&P 500 demonstrates robust bullish momentum, having broken through the critical 6,500 psychological barrier. Daily chart reveals a mature impulse wave in Elliott Wave terminology (Wave 5 extension), supported by expanding volume profiles. Wyckoff analysis indicates we're in a Phase E markup following successful re-accumulation between 5,800-6,200. The Ichimoku cloud on 4H timeframe shows price trading above all components (bullish alignment), with Tenkan-sen (9-period) at 6,485 providing dynamic support. Gann analysis using the Square of 9 identifies 6,528 as the next natural resistance level, with time-price squaring suggesting October 15-17 as a potential pivot zone.
Technical Indicators Confluence
RSI (14): Daily = 68 (approaching overbought but not extreme), 4H = 71 (caution zone).
Bollinger Bands: Price riding the upper band on 4H (expansion phase), suggesting continuation with potential volatility.
VWAP Analysis: Anchored from October 1st shows strong positioning above 6,465; volume profile indicates acceptance above 6,480 with 82% bullish volume dominance. Moving Averages: Golden cross intact (50 EMA > 200 EMA by 340 points), 21 EMA at 6,470 acting as immediate support. Harmonic pattern detection reveals a potential Butterfly completion near 6,550-6,580 zone (1.272-1.618 Fibonacci extension).
Critical Levels & Pattern Recognition
Support Structure: 6,485 (Tenkan-sen + 4H demand), 6,465 (VWAP anchor), 6,440 (daily pivot + Gann 45° angle), 6,400 (psychological + Wyckoff spring test). Resistance Zones: 6,528 (Gann Square of 9), 6,550-6,580 (Butterfly PRZ + 1.618 extension), 6,620 (weekly resistance). Pattern Alert: Watch for potential bull trap formation if price spikes above 6,580 on declining volume—this would signal exhaustion. Current candlestick structure shows consistent higher highs/higher lows with no reversal patterns (no shooting stars or bearish engulfing yet).
Intraday Trading Strategy (5M-4H Charts)
BUY ZONES: Primary entry: 6,485-6,495 (confluence of Ichimoku + VWAP support) | Stop Loss: 6,465 (risk 20-30 points) | Targets: T1: 6,520 (quick scalp, 25 points), T2: 6,545 (risk-reward 1:2), T3: 6,575 (swing extension). Secondary Entry: Aggressive long on breakout above 6,528 with volume confirmation (minimum 20% above 20-period average) | Stop: 6,510 | Target: 6,565-6,580.
SELL/SHORT ZONES: Counter-trend short only if rejection at 6,580 with bearish divergence on RSI + shooting star formation | Entry: 6,575-6,585 | Stop: 6,595 | Target: 6,520, 6,485. Intraday Bias: 75% bullish until broken below 6,465.
Swing Trading Strategy (Daily-Weekly)
Position Building: Accumulate on pullbacks to 6,440-6,465 zone (25-35% position) with 4-6 day holding period | Full position stop: 6,390 (swing low violation). Profit Targets: Conservative: 6,580 (exit 50%), Aggressive: 6,650-6,720 (monthly target based on Elliott Wave projection and Gann time cycles suggesting completion by October 28-31). Risk Management: Trail stops below each daily higher low; current trail at 6,465. If price closes below 21 EMA on daily (6,470), reduce exposure by 60%. Wave Count: Currently in Wave 5 of (5) of larger degree—expect final parabolic move but prepare for 8-12% correction when complete (target retracement to 5,950-6,050 zone).
Market Context & Catalyst Watch
Geopolitical landscape shows stabilization in Middle East tensions, supporting risk-on sentiment. Fed policy remains neutral (hold position), but monitor October 17th retail sales data and October 23rd PMI releases—strong data could push us to 6,650; weak data triggers profit-taking. VIX at 13.2 (complacency zone) suggests low fear but increases gap-risk. Volume analysis critical: Declining volume on new highs would confirm distribution (Wyckoff Phase E to Phase A transition)—watch for volume 25% below 20-day average as warning signal. Institutional flow data shows continued net buying but decelerating pace.
Execution Playbook
Monday-Tuesday: Expect consolidation 6,485-6,520; ideal for range scalping. Wednesday-Thursday: Gann time window suggests volatility expansion; breakout likely. Friday: Monthly options expiry could create pinning effect near 6,500. Best trades: Long on dips to 6,485-6,495 with tight stops OR breakout long above 6,528 on volume. Avoid: Chasing above 6,550 without pullback; shorting below 6,580 without clear reversal confirmation. Risk no more than 0.5-1% account per intraday trade, 2% for swing positions. This market rewards patience at support and aggression at breakouts—trade the plan, not emotions.
US govt Shutdown Impact on GOLD/BTC/SPX/NDX Overview📊 Scenario analysis
Assumed probabilities: 10-day (35%) / 20-day (40%) / 30-day (25%). These skew toward 20–30d expectation while allowing for a compromise CR late next week.
🗓️ 1) 10-day shutdown (quick CR by ~Oct 10)
• 🔑 Catalysts: market wobble + travel/FAA headlines + IPO freeze optics force a deal; leadership meeting produces a clean CR.
• 📉 SPX/NDX: -3% to -5% drawdown from pre-shutdown highs, then sharp relief. Mega-cap quality outperforms; small-caps lag on SBA loan pause.
• 💻 Bitcoin: -3% to -8% (high beta to equities, liquidity cautious); quick snapback if the deal lands and SEC footprint stays light.
• 🟡 Gold: +1% to +3%; fades a bit on resolution as real-rate anxiety reasserts. History shows shutdowns aren’t a reliable gold rocket on their own.
🗓️ 2) 20-day shutdown (through ~Oct 20) — “policy fog trade”
• 🔑 Catalysts: prolonged policy riders; BEA/Census blackout delays GDP/retail sales; SEC skeletal staff extends IPO drought. Fed guidance leans on forecasts, not fresh data.
• 📉 SPX/NDX: -5% to -8%. Factor rotation: low-vol/defensive > cyclicals; brokers/ECM-sensitive names soft; travel/airlines weak on FAA/TSA constraints.
• 💻 Bitcoin: -8% to -15% or flat-to-up if “crypto vs. Washington” narrative picks up while enforcement is thin — mixed precedent. This is the most two-sided asset here.
• 🟡 Gold: +3% to +6% as uncertainty premia build and central-bank-buying narrative stays intact. Stretching to $3,900–3,950 bullion target likely needs an added shock (ratings rhetoric, geopolitical flare).
🗓️ 3) 30-day shutdown (into late Oct) — “risk-off with rating overtones”
• 🔑 Catalysts: political stalemate; louder warnings about governance; issuance continues but optics around fiscal sustainability bite.
• 📉 SPX/NDX: -7% to -12%; HY spreads widen; VIX spikes; defensives/quality lead.
• 💻 Bitcoin: -15% to -25% on de-risking and liquidity run-down unless regulatory paralysis creates a “wild west” window and ETF inflows offset — low probability but non-zero.
• 🟡 Gold: +5% to +10%. A test of new cycle highs is plausible; hitting ~$3,900 quickly would likely require a ratings/FX scare, not just a shutdown.
________________________________________
🧭 What’s different this time
• 📉 Data blackout = policy uncertainty: Delays to GDP/retail sales/trade stats complicate Fed read-throughs — markets price fatter uncertainty premia.
• 📜 Regulatory throttle: SEC/CFTC “skeletal staff” → IPO drought and slower filings (headwind to brokers/ECM), even as EDGAR stays up.
• ✈️ Real-economy micro-pain points: FAA hiring/training halted → travel frictions; SBA lending paused → small-cap cash flow stress.
• ⚠️ Ratings optics: After Moody’s downgrade, governance headlines cut deeper than in prior shutdowns.
________________________________________
🤹 Contrarian angles
1. 🪙 “Bad data is no data” rally: If key prints are delayed, the market extrapolates a dovish Fed trajectory → curve bull-steepening and equities rally on rates, overpowering shutdown angst.
2. 💻 Crypto resilience: A lighter-touch SEC during a lapse can reduce headline risk; BTC has rallied during a shutdown before, though not consistently.
3. 🟡 Gold stall: If real yields back up on supply/duration worries rather than down on growth fear, gold can underperform despite the shutdown — history shows no clean positive beta.
4. 📈 Buy-the-resolution pop: Equities’ median post-shutdown performance is positive at 3–6 months — setting up a tactical sell the rumor / buy the cease-fire template.
________________________________________
💡 Trades & risk management tactical, 2–6 weeks
📉 Equities (SPX/NDX)
• 🛡️ Hedge now, monetize spikes: 4–6 week put spreads on SPX/NDX (≈25Δ/10Δ) sized for a -6–8% path; roll down if we breach the first support zone. Consider VIX 1–2M calls as convex tail protection.
• 🔄 Pairs/tilts: Underweight ECM-sensitive brokers; overweight staples/health-care utilities; short airlines vs. travel alternatives until FAA constraints clear.
💻 Bitcoin
• 🛡️ De-gear & collar: Reduce leverage; implement collars (sell 10–15Δ OTM calls to finance 20–25Δ puts). If we gap lower into -10% territory quickly, look to sell downside skew and pivot to short-dated call spreads into resolution.
🟡 Gold
• 📈 Own upside, respect mean-reversion: Use GLD call spreads (1–2M) targeting +4–8% with limited theta. $3,900–$3,950 bullion target is a stretch on shutdown alone; size for base-case +3–6% unless a ratings/geopolitical catalyst emerges.
📉 Small-caps / credit
• 🛑 IWM vs. QQQ underweight (SBA bottlenecks); keep HY credit hedged via CDX HY or HYG puts into Day 15+.
________________________________________
🔍 Levels & signposts to watch
• 🏛️ Policy tape: Any Senate movement on a “clean” CR; signs of healthcare rider compromise.
• 📅 Data calendar: Official notices on jobs/CPI/GDP timing (BLS/BEA/Census). A confirmed delay → more policy fog premium.
• ✈️ Micro stress: FAA/TSA updates; SEC operating status for registrations; SBA loan queue.
• ⚠️ Ratings rhetoric: Any agency commentary tying shutdown length to governance risk.
________________________________________
📝 Bottom line
• 📉 Base path: A -5–8% equity drawdown with gold +3–6% and BTC -8–15% is the modal 2–4 week outcome if we run ~20 days.
• ⚠️ Tail path: At 30 days, governance optics + data blackout can push SPX/NDX -7–12%, BTC -15–25%, gold +5–10%.
• 🔄 Contrarian risk: A quick CR or a “no data → dovish” impulse squeezes shorts — be ready to pivot to a buy-the-resolution stance.
S&P 500 Watching 6,700 Support as Seasonal Tailwinds Strengthen.Hey Traders,
In today’s session, we’re keeping a close eye on US500 for a potential buying opportunity around the 6,700 zone. The S&P 500 remains firmly in an uptrend, with price currently in a healthy correction phase approaching a key support and trend confluence near 6,700.
Beyond the technical setup, seasonality adds a bullish layer — over the past 15 years, the S&P 500 has advanced 14 times in October to early November, averaging significant gain during this window.
If history rhymes, the current pullback could offer a compelling buy-the-dip opportunity into one of the market’s strongest seasonal periods.
Trade safe,
Joe.
SPX500 – Futures Rebound Amid Shutdown Uncertainty and AI RepricSPX500 – Overview | Futures Rebound After Market Pullback
U.S. stock futures edged higher on Friday after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite retreated from record highs.
Investors are re-evaluating the AI-driven rally, rate-cut expectations, and the ongoing government shutdown, now entering its ninth day.
The shutdown’s continuation delays key U.S. economic data releases, increasing uncertainty around the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.
Technical Outlook
The price tested its support zone and rebounded, but momentum remains mixed.
To confirm renewed bullish strength, SPX500 must break above 6,757, which would open the way toward 6,770 → 6,791.
As long as the price trades below 6,757, short-term bearish pressure may persist toward 6,738 → 6,730.
A confirmed break below 6,730 would extend the correction toward 6,716 and signal further downside potential.
Pivot Line: 6,757
Resistance: 6,770 · 6,791
Support: 6,738 · 6,730 · 6,716
Summary:
SPX500 is consolidating after the pullback, with near-term bias depending on a break of 6,757 or 6,730.
Traders should expect volatility as the shutdown drags on and the market reassesses Fed policy expectations.
ES (SPX, SPY) Analyses, Key Zones, Setups Fri (Oct 10)Session Roadmap (London → NY)
London (02:00–05:00 ET): Expect balance 6792–6807. A sustained London hold above 6802–6805 increases odds of a pre-NY probe into 6809–6812. A London slip below 6784.5 shifts risk to a VWAP check 6777–6780 and potentially 6766–6761 into NY AM.
NY AM (09:30–11:00): Two-way opening likely unless 6812 converts rapidly; watch 9:45–10:05 for the sentiment print impulse.
NY PM (13:30–16:00): If morning sets a trend, expect continuation toward RE1/RE2; otherwise back-to-value rotations inside 6780–6795.
TIER-1 (A++) — Breakout LONG above PDH/ONH
Trigger: 15m full-body close above 6810–6812, then a 5m hold/re-close with HLs.
Entry: 6810.75–6812.25 on the first clean retest/hold.
Invalidation (hard SL): 6804.75 (below retest & today’s open region).
TPs: TP1 6821.75 (RE1), TP2 6834.00, TP3 6841.25.
TIER-1 (A++) — Breakdown SHORT through Y-VAL/PDL
Trigger: 15m full-body close below 6766.5 and then 6760.75, with a 5m retest 6764–6766 that fails.
Entry: 6764.00–6766.00 on the rejection.
Invalidation (hard SL): 6772.50 (back above value shelf).
TPs: TP1 6748.50, TP2 6736.50, TP3 6729.00.
TIER-2 (A+ Bounce) — Quick-reclaim LONG at Value Shelf
Trigger: Fast flush into 6777–6780 with a 1m reclaim of 6780.5 and 5m re-close above.
Entry: 6778.00–6780.50 after the reclaim.
SL: 6771.25.
TPs: TP1 6792.75 (Asia H pivot), TP2 6805.50 (today’s open/nearby shelf), runner eye 6810–6812 if momentum.
TIER-3 (A Bounce) — Exhaustion-flush LONG at PDL
Trigger: Liquidity sweep 6758–6752 that reclaims 6761 on 1m and 5m holds.
Entry: 6754–6756 on the reclaim.
SL: 6750.75.
TPs: TP1 6777.75 (VWAP), TP2 6789–6792 (pivot band).
===
Price-Path Scenarios (most to least likely)
Balance → Break Probe: Early churn inside 6792–6807; successful lift through 6810–6812 post-10:00 unlocks 6821.75 (RE1).
Fade to Value: Early rejection at 6809–6812 leads to a drift back into 6784/80 → 6777.75; buyers defend value and keep the range intact.
Bear Extension (data-shock needed): Clean 15m close below 6766.5/6760.75 opens 6748.50 with potential follow-through to 6736.50.
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.
ES (SPX, SPY) Analyses, Key Zones, Setups for Thu, Oct 9Market Drivers (ET)
• 08:30 — Fed Chair Powell: pre-recorded welcoming remarks at the Community Bank Conference. risk flag
• 08:30 — Initial Jobless Claims: suspended while the federal government remains shut down; will publish only if funding is restored before release time.
• 08:35 — Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Bowman: opening remarks (same conference).
• 09:45 — Treasury Sec. Bessent remarks & fireside chat (conference item; headline risk is modest).
• 10:30 — EIA Weekly Natural Gas Storage (standard Thursday slot).
• 11:30 — Treasury 4- & 8-week bill auctions (regular Thursday bills).
• 13:00 — Treasury 30-Year Bond (reopening) auction.
• All day: Other conference sessions (payments, community-bank panels; closing remarks late afternoon) may generate minor tape headlines.
A++ Setups (NY kill-zones: 09:30–11:00 & 13:30–16:00)
1) Breakout Continuation LONG (Tier-1 A++) — 6,809 unlocks
Trigger: 15m full-body close above 6,809, then 5m holds a retest 6,803–6,806 and re-closes up.
Entry: 1m higher-low on the retest hold.
Invalidation: Hard SL just below the 15m trigger-wick (±0.25–0.50 pts).
Targets: TP1 6,828–6,832, TP2 6,844–6,848, stretch 6,895± if trend day forms.
2) Rejection SHORT (Tier-1 A++) — Fail at 6,803–6,809
Trigger: Sweep/fail above 6,803–6,809 → 15m closes back inside ≤6,803; 5m forms a lower-high and re-closes down.
Entry: 1m LH after the 5m re-close.
Invalidation: Hard SL a tick beyond the rejection wick.
Targets: TP1 6,789, TP2 6,766–6,759, stretch 6,738–6,733.
Market Update and Trading Insight
Overnight Analysis:
As we enter the London session, we should expect a balanced trading range between 6,789 and 6,806. If we can hold above 6,797 as we transition into the European market, this may set the stage for a pre-New York move targeting the 6,803 to 6,809 area. Any shallow pullbacks that maintain the 6,797 to 6,799 support level will likely keep the bullish trend intact.
08:30 ET (Powell Speech - Pre-recorded):
The potential for significant market movements at this timing appears modest. Since there is no jobless claims data this week, we anticipate that the typical volatility around 08:30 will be lighter than usual. Should Powell's comments come across as neutral, expect trading activity to focus more on market levels and flows rather than on hard data.
2-3% selloff incoming? Down to $651-655? Then BTD to $700+We've finally hit my target of $672 and while I still think we'll get downside after hitting this target, I don't think the sell will be as dramatic (yet).
I know everyone got bulled up after the price action today, but I think it's wise to be cautious here. Both the chart and the flows are telling me that we're likely to see a bearish move before we see more upside in markets.
I'm not looking for anything crazy, but I think 2-3% down to that $651-655 level is likely.
Then I think that will be a dip buying opportunity and that it's likely that many stocks (including SPY) can see new highs.
I've marked off new resistance levels should this idea play out.
Losing the support levels on the chart would be a caution for lower prices.
The Campbell's Company "Volume" guys out there, this is for YOU!" Volume of trade measures the total number of shares or contracts transacted for a specified security during a specified time period. It includes the total number of shares transacted between a buyer and seller during a transaction. When securities are more actively traded, their trade volume is high, and when securities are less actively traded, their trade volume is low."
ES (SPX, SPY) Futures Analyses, Key Zones, Setups for Wed, Oct 8The E-mini S&P 500 (ES) is currently exhibiting a primary uptrend on the higher timeframes while consolidating just below a significant resistance level between 6,785 and 6,795. As we approach the New York morning session, the prevailing expectation is for a range-to-trend expansion, dependent on whether the 6,758–6,795 range is broken. The 6,785–6,795 zone should be regarded as the immediate focal point for decision-making.
Event & Risk Calendar (ET)
• 07:00–07:15 — MBA Mortgage Applications (weekly).
• 10:30 — EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report (standard Wednesday release).
• 14:00 — FOMC Minutes (Sept 16–17 meeting). Expect volatility expansion on release.
A++ Setups (Tier-1, Level-KZ 15/5/1)
1. Trend-Continuation LONG at R1 break
Trigger: 15-minute full-body close above 6,795, 5-minute pullback holds 6,785–6,795, 1-minute higher-low confirms.
Entry: 6,788–6,795 on the retest/hold.
Invalidation: 15-minute body back below ~6,785.
Targets: TP1 6,818–6,825; TP2 6,858–6,866; TP3 6,898–6,905.
Risk: Hard SL = relevant 15-minute wick low −0.25–0.50 pts; take 70% at TP1, runner to BE; max 2 attempts per level.
2. Rejection-Fade SHORT at R1 failure
Trigger: Probe into 6,785–6,795 fails: 15-minute rejection close back below, 5-minute lower-high forms, 1-minute pullback fails.
Entry: 6,785–6,792 on failure.
Invalidation: 15-minute body acceptance above ~6,795.
Targets: TP1 6,756–6,761; TP2 6,744–6,749; TP3 6,727–6,733.
Risk: Same management as Setup 1 (wick-anchored SL; 70/30 at TP1; max 2 attempts).
The Market Doesn't Care About Your Thesis"The market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent." - John Maynard Keynes
A month ago, I wrote about the brutality of trading and introduced a concept I called the "trading pandemic" - when a chain of events clouds judgment, breaks confidence, and brings down even the best traders.
Life has a dark sense of humor. Shortly after publishing that post, I found myself living through exactly what I'd described.
The Storm That Found Me
Last week, I took significant losses. Not from ignorance. Not from recklessness. But from something far more dangerous: the very conviction that makes me a disciplined trader became the weight that pulled me under.
My thesis wasn't built on hopium or hunches. It was constructed on macro fundamentals:
The Setup:
IG:BITCOIN halving cycle suggesting the rally should fade by September
TVC:GOLD due for a correction as recession stress builds
SP:SPX primed for a rollover amid a macro death cross between inflation ECONOMICS:USINTR and unemployment ECONOMICS:USUR
The U.S. government shutdown on October 1st - echoing 2008 crisis conditions
And the blackout of key data reinforcing the uncertainty
Everything pointed to significant market stress. The fundamentals weren't just bearish - they were screaming. I waited patiently for the setup. I did the analysis. I had conviction backed by historical parallels and macro reality.
Then the market did what it does best: it ignored the script and wrote its own story.
When the Market Rewrites the Rules
Week two of October, IG:BITCOIN didn't just hold - it broke through ATH. TVC:GOLD continued its relentless climb. SP:SPX kept grinding higher with controlled strength that suggested continuation, not exhaustion.
Not with the kind of instability you'd expect during a government shutdown. Not with the fear you'd anticipate when economic data goes dark. But with the kind of structural strength that signals something bigger is happening beneath the surface.
What I started seeing instead was a completely different story unfolding:
Dedollarization accelerating faster than models predicted
Sovereigns accumulating TVC:GOLD at record pace
Institutional capital flooding IG:BITCOIN breaking cycle theory entirely
SP:SPX pricing in policy accommodation before stress even surfaced
Assets moving as if they're pricing in a paradigm shift, not a recession
The thesis wasn't wrong about stress in the system. It was wrong about how markets would price that stress.
Maybe this resolves later and my macro read proves correct on a longer timeframe. Maybe this controlled bull market is just an extended distribution before the real move down. Or maybe - and this is the hardest thing to accept - the market is telling me the playbook changed, and I'm still trading the old game.
I expected liquidation, but the market priced transformation.
The Paradox of Deep Conviction
Here's what last week reminded me: The same deep macro understanding that separates sophisticated traders from noise traders is also the double-edged sword that can cut you down.
You don't forget that conviction without risk management is dangerous. You know this. I know this. But when your thesis isn't just technical - when it's built on macro lens, death crosses, historical crisis parallels, cycle theories - conviction doesn't feel like opinion anymore. It feels like inevitability.
And that's when you start making exceptions:
"The 2008, and year 2000 parallels are undeniable - history doesn't lie"
"Government shutdown + data blackout = liquidity stress is coming"
"Dedollarization and sovereign gold buying confirms the global system is cracking"
" TVC:GOLD can’t keep climbing into a deflationary panic."
" Halving cycles has been the most accurate prediction of IG:BITCOIN for over a decade."
You're not abandoning your principles. You're just... trusting the depth of your research. This isn't a coin flip - you've done the macro work. You understand what's happening at a structural level.
But sometimes, conviction blinds you to what price is screaming: the rules changed.
When Fundamentals and Price Disagree
Here's the hardest pill to swallow: You can have an airtight macro thesis and still get destroyed if the market is playing a different game than the one you're analyzing.
I wasn't wrong to study the 2008 crisis parallels. I wasn't wrong to watch the unemployment-inflation death cross. I wasn't wrong to position for stress when the government shut down and economic data went dark. I wasn't even wrong about sovereign de-risking - that's actually happening.
But I was wrong about what markets would do with that information.
The markets didn’t ignore stress they front-ran the policy response.
Assets aren't climbing despite the fundamentals - they're climbing because of what those fundamentals imply about the future of fiat currencies, monetary policy, and the global financial system.
TVC:GOLD isn't rallying because everything's fine - it's rallying because sovereigns are losing faith in dollar hegemony
IG:BITCOIN isn't breaking halving theory because technicals matter less - it's breaking them because institutional adoption is rewriting the cycle dynamics
SP:SPX isn't ignoring the shutdown - it's pricing in that monetary policy remains accommodative no matter what happens
I was positioned for crisis.
The market was positioning for transformation.
Same data, entirely different interpretation and timeline...
When Knowing Isn't Enough
Nothing I learned this week was new. I got reminded.
Reminded that macro analysis tells you what might happen, not when or how markets will price it.
Reminded that historical parallels inform probabilities but don't dictate outcomes - especially when structural forces are shifting.
Reminded that when fundamentals say "crisis" but price action says "transformation," you don't fight price - you reassess your interpretation of the fundamentals.
Reminded that the market doesn't humble you because you're ignorant. It humbles you because you forgot that being right about the problem doesn't mean being right about the solution markets will price in.
The irony? The conviction that comes from deep macro research, from understanding sovereign behavior, from recognizing historical patterns - that same conviction blinds you to the moment you stop asking "What if markets are pricing this differently than 2008?" and start insisting "I know what's coming because I know what happened before."
The Trading Pandemic, Revisited
The trading pandemic isn’t when you’re lost.
It’s when you’re certain - certain enough to ignore what price is saying.
You stop asking “What if this time it’s different?” and start defending why it shouldn’t be.
You stop respecting liquidity dynamics and start fighting them.
And when you’re already drained personally or emotionally, that conviction turns to concrete. You don’t bend - you break.
The Double-Edged Sword
Here's the brutal truth: What makes us sophisticated traders - deep macro research, historical pattern recognition, fundamental analysis - is precisely what makes the storm hit us harder when markets reprice the narrative.
The trader who randomly bought IG:BITCOIN , TVC:GOLD , and SP:SPX in September and held? They're up significantly.
Not because they saw the shift - but because they had no thesis to be wrong about.
But when you lose after being this prepared - after reading every indicator, watching every pattern - it shakes more than confidence. It shakes identity.
Because if you can be this right on fundamentals and still be this wrong on timing, what does that say?
It says the market just handed you a gift wrapped in pain: the reminder that understanding the fundamentals doesn't guarantee understanding how markets will discount those fundamentals.
What the Market Reminded Me
Not taught. Not showed. Reminded.
That 2008 parallels matter less when the monetary system itself is being questioned
That a macro death cross doesn’t guarantee a crash - it can precede a reflationary melt-up.
That government shutdown + data blackout doesn't always trigger fear - it can mean "Fed will do whatever it takes"
That Bitcoin breaking halving cycles isn't a bug - it might be the feature of institutional adoption
That being unable to get updated economic data doesn't stop markets from pricing in what they expect that data to show
That when fundamentals and price diverge, price is telling you your interpretation is early
The Humbling Truth
Maybe my macro thesis resolves later - markets realize the stress, panic ensues, and the correction comes. Maybe this controlled bull market across IG:BITCOIN , CAPITALCOM:GOLD , and equities is just a longer distribution phase before reality hits.
Or maybe I'm watching the market tell me in real-time that we're not repricing a 2008-style crisis - we're repricing the end of dollar dominance, and I'm still trying to trade it like 2008.
Either way, it doesn't matter right now. What matters is that I was positioned for my version of the story, and the market is writing its own.
The government shut down October 1st. Data went dark. And instead of fear, markets priced in transformation. Instead of crisis, they priced in paradigm shift.
I was trading the problem. They were trading the solution.
Moving Forward
The losses hurt not because I didn’t know better - but because I did.
I knew that fundamentals don’t dictate timing.
I knew liquidity rules all.
But I trusted the thesis more than the tape.
Maybe it all reverses. Maybe it doesn't. But my job isn't to insist on my macro thesis - it's to respect what's happening right now and position accordingly, even when it contradicts everything my research suggests should happen.
The infinite game continues. The conviction that hurt me last week is the same conviction that's made me successful countless times before. I'm not trying to kill the macro analysis. I'm trying to keep it humble in the face of price action.
Final Word
The market only truly beats the trader who quits.
But it tests the trader who stays by reminding them, again and again, that mastery isn't having the right macro thesis. It's respecting price action even when - especially when - it contradicts every fundamental you've studied.
October 1st came. Government shut down. Data went dark. Death crosses formed. 2008 parallels aligned. Halving Cycle completed.
And yet, here we are - breaking every rule the old playbook taught us.
My thesis might still be right eventually. But "eventually" doesn't pay the bills, and it certainly doesn't save your account when you're positioned for a crisis and the market is pricing a transformation.
This week was expensive tuition for a lesson I already knew:
The market can remain irrational - or perhaps perfectly rational in a way you don't yet understand - longer than you can remain solvent betting against it.
Rise, remember, and keep playing the infinite game. 💚
Can it happen?Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. The author is not a registered financial advisor. Trading and investing in financial markets involve substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.






















