ES1! trade ideas
S&P500 about to BREAK downLook at the chart, its very EVIDENT. with this overbought and bullish sentiment, i expect the markets to CORRECT further. its still extreme greedy. You can see the support lines. S&P can correct somewhere between 5-9%. Be prepared.
SP:SPX TVC:SPX CBOE:SPX SPREADEX:SPX CBOE:XSP
OTEUM EXPERT CALL: SP500 – Jackson Hole Fade OTEUM EXPERT CALL: SP500 – Jackson Hole Fade 🏔️🐻
We’re looking for a SHORT(s) in spot and options for a macro swing down into Jackson Hole and the immediate aftermath 📉. Plan is to sell rallies into value (red box), ride the drift lower, and bank along staged targets. After that, we’ll be hunting the first-cut squeeze back up 🏦✂️🚀.
Risk: a surprise dovish leak / policy jawbone that front-runs the cut and squeezes shorts. Size smart, trail tight, don’t overstay.
#SP500 #ES #Macro #JacksonHole #ShortSetup #OTEUM
Day 17 — Trading Only S&P Futures | A+ Setup, Done by 10AMWelcome to Day 17 of Trading Only S&P Futures!
Today was all about conviction. I spotted a rare A+ setup: X7 ES buy signals, bullish market structure, and a buy right at MOB support. That kind of alignment doesn’t happen often — so I sized up 3x my usual and went long.
The trade worked perfectly, and I wrapped up the day by 10AM with +295.37, making this the fastest finish to a session I’ve ever had in this challenge.
📰 News Highlights
STOCKS CLOSE HIGHER, VIX DIPS AS NVIDIA NASDAQ:NVDA EARNINGS LOOM
🔑 Key Levels for Tomorrow
Above 6450 = Remain Bullish
Below 6435 = Flip Bearish
VIX Futures Positioning Sends Volatility Smoke SignalsIf real money exposure to the futures market is any guide, the VIX may be at or near a cycle low — implying that higher volatility could be on the horizon for Wall Street. Should a significant catalyst emerge, it could ripple through risk appetite across multiple asset classes.
Matt Simpson, Market Analyst at Forex.com and City Index.
MES1! WEEK 35 AUG 24TH LOOKING FOR MON, TUE, WED TO TRADE LOWER INTO THE DEAL RANGE TO RUN FURTHER UP.
CALANDER EVENTS
MON - 10AM - NEW HOME SALES (med)
TUE - 8:30AM - DURABLE GOODS (med)
- 10AM - CONSUMER CONFIDENCE (med)
WED----
THUR - 8:30AM - UNEMPLOYMENT (high)
- 10AM - HOME SALES (med)
FRI - 8:30AM - CORE PCE(high)
- 10AM - CONSUMER SENTIMENT(med)
STOCK
Look to be onside by Friday with options for next week's 1Q
ES (08/27): Analyses, Fundamental, SetupsPrice is consolidating under 6489 to 6495 with a firm shelf near 6483. Above 6489 on a 5-minute confirming close, bias favors continuation into 6504, 6518, then 6532. A 5-minute close back below 6483 opens rotation toward 6468, 6458, then 6453. Trade only during 09:45–11:30 ET and 13:30–15:30 ET. Stand down around the listed events.
Macro Docket (ET)
• 07:00 – MBA Mortgage Applications (weekly). Source notes Wednesday 7:00 AM ET. 
• 10:30 – EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report (standard Wednesday release time). 
• 13:00 – U.S. Treasury 5-Year Note Auction (Aug 27, 2025; size listed on TreasuryDirect). 
• After the close – NVIDIA Q2 FY26 results; conference call 5:00 PM ET (2:00 PM PT).  
• Durable Goods (July) is out: headline −2.8% m/m; ex-transport +1.1% (market still digesting). 
• Fed calendar: no Board-listed speech flagged for Wed at time of writing; I cannot confirm regional Fed schedules. 
Key Levels
• Breakout band: 6489–6495
• Line in the sand (shelf): 6483
• Support below: 6468, 6458, 6453, 6444–6448
• Upside magnets: 6504/6506, 6518–6520, 6532–6535
A++ Setup 1: Acceptance Long above 6489
• Trigger: First 5-minute close >= 6489 with follow-through (no immediate fade).
• Entry: 6490–6491 (momentum on signal).
• Initial SL: 6484 (about 6 pts; below shelf).
• Targets: TP1 6505 (+15), TP2 6518 (+28), TP3 6532 (+42).
• R:R to TP1 approx 2.5.
• Management: Scale 1/2 at TP1; move to break-even only after new structure or a decisive close through TP1; then trail by last 5-minute swing or VWAP band.
• Invalidation: 5-minute close back below 6483 or persistent absorption under 6495.
A++ Setup 2: Shelf-Break Short below 6483
• Trigger: 5-minute close <= 6483 with clear rejection (no immediate reclaim).
• Entry: 6482 (momentum on signal).
• Initial SL: 6488 (about 6 pts; back inside range).
• Targets: TP1 6467 (−15), TP2 6458 (−24), TP3 6453 (−29).
• Short confirmation protocol: Start half size on the 5-minute break when the 15-minute trend was bullish; size to full only if a bearish 15-minute close prints within the next 3 x 5-minute bars. If within 2 x 5-minute bars there is no extension (new low) and price threatens a shelf reclaim, reduce or scratch to BE.
• Invalidation: 5-minute reclaim above 6489 or obvious absorption at 6468 forming higher lows.
Execution Rules (condensed)
• Windows: 09:45–11:30 ET and 13:30–15:30 ET.
• Risk: initial stop 6–8 pts; max 2 attempts per idea; day hard stop −2R; lock day at +3R; no scalps.
• News clock: no new risk within approx plus/minus 5 minutes of MBA (07:00), EIA (10:30), 5-yr auction (13:00).
• Close protocol: if trading late day, adjust sizing based on NYSE MOC imbalance (sub-$500M = tiebreaker only; >= $1B = can trade with confirmation; >= $2B = allow continuation holds into the cross).
ES (S&P 500 Futures) — Outlook for Thursday, Aug 28Macro Drivers
• Earnings Reports: Watch Best Buy, Dollar General, Ulta Beauty, Marvell, Affirm → consumer + tech sentiment drivers.
Economic Data:
• Q2 GDP (2nd estimate): Consensus ~3.1% YoY. Stronger print = bullish, weaker = bearish.
• Weekly Jobless Claims: Key labor health indicator → surprises can shift Fed rate expectations.
• Pending Home Sales (July): Forecast +0.5%. Housing often ties into rate expectations.
Sentiment Risks:
• NVDA earnings digested, but positioning still fragile.
• Treasury yields remain high → liquidity pressure.
• Political / Fed uncertainty adds headline risk.
⸻
Technical Key Levels (HTF Zone Mapping)
• ATH: 6508.75
• Major Liquidity Wall: 6500 (multi-timeframe rejection zone)
• Support Shelf: 6480–6483 (equilibrium & PMH)
• Deeper Support: 6459 → 6450–6452 (1H/4H shelves)
• Discovery Mode Fib Projections (above ATH):
• 1.272 = 6554
• 1.618 = 6580
• 2.0 = 6608
⸻
Setups for Tomorrow
1. Bullish Breakout — Discovery Mode Long
• Trigger: 30m close ≥6500 + 15m MOS extension.
• Entry Zone: 6500–6502.
• Stop: Below 6492–6493 (tighter of bar low or 6–8 pts).
• TP1: ATH 6508.75 (front-run 6507.75).
• TP2: Fib 1.272 ~6554.
• TP3: Fib 1.618 / 2.0 → 6580 / 6608 (runner, trail by 15m/30m structure).
⸻
2. Bearish Breakdown — Short Setup
• Trigger: 30m close ≤6483.
• MOS Confirmation: 15m close <6472.75.
• Entry Zone: 6479–6482.
• Stop: Above 6488–6490 (or 6–8 pts).
• TP1: 6459.
• TP2: 6450–6452.
• TP3: 6444 shelf (runner).
⸻
3. Chop / No-Trade Zone
• If ES trades inside 6483–6500 without breakout → no A++ setup. Stay sidelined.
ES Weekly Outlook (Aug 25–29) - Setup and Analyses for 08/25TL;DR: Biggest volatility magnets land mid-to-late week (NVDA Wed PM, GDP/Claims Thu, PCE Fri). For Monday, first decision is the 6492–6496 overhead band. Acceptance above = continuation; rejection = range rotation lower.
⸻
Key Levels (current structure)
Resistance (sell zones)
• R3: 6512–6515 (stretch)
• R2: 6505
• R1: 6492–6496 ← primary decision zone
Support (buy zones)
• S1: 6482–6487 ← intraday shelf
• S2: 6473–6475 ← prior NY swing low
• S3: 6442–6443
• S4: 6429
• S5: 6411
• S6: 6402
• S7: 6370–6375 ← deeper demand
⸻
Monday 8/25 – Scenario Map
Bullish Continuation
• Trigger: 5-minute close & hold above 6492–6496 (no quick reclaim).
• Path: 6505 → 6512/6515; allow for momentum extension if Tuesday’s data are benign.
• Invalidate: Fast reclaim below 6487 after breakout.
Range → Fade
• Trigger: Clear rejection at 6492–6496 (seller response + lower high on 5-minute).
• Path: 6482–6484 → 6473–6475; loss of 6473 opens 6443 → 6429.
• Invalidate: Reclaim/hold > 6490 on a 5-minute close.
Timing note (Mon): Morning housing print around 10:00 ET can nudge yields/ES; treat the first spike cautiously.
⸻
Week at a Glance (ET)
Mon 8/25
• 10:00 – New Home Sales (Jul)
Tue 8/26
• 8:30 – Durable Goods (Jul, advance)
• 9:00 – S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Prices (Jun)
• 10:00 – Conference Board Consumer Confidence (Aug)
Wed 8/27
• 1:00 – U.S. 5-Year Note Auction
• 5:00 pm – NVIDIA (NVDA) earnings (key AI/mega-cap impulse)
Thu 8/28
• 8:30 – GDP (Q2, 2nd est.)
• 8:30 – Initial Jobless Claims
• 10:00 – Pending Home Sales (Jul)
• 1:00 – U.S. 7-Year Note Auction
Fri 8/29
• 8:30 – PCE & Core PCE (Jul)
• 9:45 – Chicago PMI (Aug)
• 10:00 – Univ. of Michigan Sentiment (Final, Aug)
⸻
Playbook & Risk (how I’ll trade it)
• Wait for the first confirming 5-minute close at the trigger; no entries on wicks.
• Shorts: 5-minute confirmation is enough unless flipping a firmly bullish 15-minute trend (then require the 15-minute validation to size up).
• Management: Time-stop 15–20 min without progress; max 2 attempts per idea.
• Windows: Prefer NY AM (9:45–11:30 ET) and PM (13:30–15:30 ET). Avoid fresh risk ±3–5 min around scheduled releases.
• Into big events: Stay lighter into NVDA (Wed PM) and PCE (Fri AM); let the print set the tone.
⸻
What I’m Watching
• Rates path after Powell → if inflation cools, dips likely get bought; a hot PCE flips that.
• Auction tones (Wed/Thu 1:00) → quick yield swings can drive intraday ES rotations.
• Breadth & leaders → if AI/mega-cap strength broadens, upside extends; if leadership narrows into NVDA, expect chop.
ES (A++) — Plan, Key Levels & Fundamentals for Tue, Aug 26Market context (quick read)
Price closed beneath the mid-range pivot (6,466–6,468) after repeated rejections from the 6,478–6,483 supply shelf. Immediate downside magnets are 6,457 → 6,453 → 6,441; deeper LVN/demand sits 6,398 → 6,370. Overhead, a squeeze can develop if we accept back above 6,48x toward 6,495 and the 6,50x handle.
Key levels (how to use them)
• 6,487–6,495 (PDH/PWH) – Last distribution. Acceptance above can extend to 6,505/6,510; rejection often rotates back to 6,48x.
• 6,478–6,483 (Supply shelf / bull-bear line) – Reclaiming/holding this band flips bias up; failure keeps pressure lower.
• 6,466–6,468 (Pivot shelf) – Doorway between upper/lower halves of the day’s composite.
• 6,457 (Monday’s low) – First support; loss opens 6,453 quickly.
• 6,453 (NYPM Low) – Breakdown confirmation level; below it, sellers typically press 6,441.
• 6,441 (AS Low / demand) – First HTF demand; acceptance below shifts auction to the lower deck.
• 6,398 → 6,370 (LVN / PWL) – Deeper targets if momentum expands.
Primary A++ setups (rule-based)
1. Acceptance Short (A++)
• Trigger: First 5m close < 6,452.
• Entry: 6,452 → 6,449 continuation.
• Initial SL: 6,460 (≤8 pts).
• TP1: 6,437 (+15) • TP2: 6,425 (+27) • TP3: 6,398 (+54).
• Management: If no extension within 2×5m bars, reduce/scratch; hard invalidate on 5m close > 6,457.
2. Acceptance Long (A++)
• Trigger: First 5m close ≥ 6,480–6,483.
• Entry: 6,480–6,483.
• Initial SL: 6,474 (6–9 pts; keep ≤8 if entering near 6,482).
• TP1: 6,495 (+12–15) • TP2: 6,505/6,510.
• Management: Invalidate on 5m close < 6,478 or no progress within 2×5m bars.
Fundamental “Risk Clock” — Tue, Aug 26 (ET)
• 08:30 — Advance Durable Goods Orders (July), U.S. Census Bureau. Official schedule lists Aug 26 at 8:30 a.m. ET. 
• 09:00 — S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index (June). SPDJI notes release 9:00 a.m. ET on the last Tuesday; FRED lists the next release date Aug 26, 2025.  
• 09:00 — FHFA House Price Index (June + Q2 report). FHFA calendar confirms Aug 26 (Quarterly with monthly tables). 
• 10:00 — Conference Board Consumer Confidence (Aug), next release Tue, Aug 26, 10:00 a.m. ET. 
• 10:00 — Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index (Aug). Richmond Fed schedule shows Tue, Aug 26 (10:00 a.m. typical). 
• 13:00 — U.S. Treasury 2-Year Note Auction. Official offering announcement sets auction date Aug 26, 2025; competitive close is typically 1:00 p.m. ET (non-comp 12:00 p.m. ET). 
• Bills (same day) — Treasury “Upcoming Auctions” lists 17-Week and 4-Week bills for Aug 26. 
This week’s broader context: Markets are watching NVIDIA and other tech/retail earnings plus Friday’s PCE inflation read; these can shift risk appetite around our levels. 
⸻
Playbook integration (how the data can affect execution)
• Stronger durables / firmer confidence: If yields back up into the 2-year auction, equity indices often lean heavy—watch for rejection under 6,466–6,468 and a 5m break < 6,452 to trigger the short plan. (Scenario guidance, not a guarantee.)
• Softer durables / cooler housing prints: If risk appetite improves and we accept ≥ 6,480–6,483, use the long plan toward 6,495 → 6,505/6,510.
• Auction hour (12:50–13:10 ET): Expect a brief liquidity air-pocket; avoid fresh entries into the print and reassess after the first post-auction rotation. (Auction timing per Treasury norms above.) 
S&P 500: Bullish! Buy It!In this video, we will analyze the following FX market for the week of Aug 25 - 29th:
S&P 500 (ES1!)
The S&P 500 ended the week with strong bullish momentum, closing above the previous 3 days. The structure is bullish on the HTFs, and there is not good reason to look for sells.
Buy the bullish price action.
No sells until there is a definitive bearish break of market structure!
Enjoy!
May profits be upon you.
Leave any questions or comments in the comment section.
I appreciate any feedback from my viewers!
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Thank you so much!
Disclaimer:
I do not provide personal investment advice and I am not a qualified licensed investment advisor.
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Conduct your own due diligence, or consult a licensed financial advisor or broker before making any and all investment decisions. Any investments, trades, speculations, or decisions made on the basis of any information found on this channel, expressed or implied herein, are committed at your own risk, financial or otherwise.
Trading on NASDAQ Futures 3 min chart & using S&P 500 1 min I have been trading futures for 2 years now and I have recently notice that using the 3 min chart on Tradovate to execute trades and using on TRADINGVIEW on the 1 min chart on the S&P 500 chart has increase my winning trades. I use the momentum from the S&P 500 to enter the trade when I see a good Bull Or Bear flag setup. I never enter a trade the first 30 seconds of the new candle I always wait the second 30 seconds of the candle to enter. Must be patient for a good set up do not over trade, start small until you get better. I started trading with 1 micro now I trade with 5 mini at a time min, I use Apex 150k accounts but I recommend starting with the 50K accounts. I took Patrick Wieland course for a cheap $200 dollars it was worth every penny. This course is a good starting point but you must still make it your own and the only way is to put in the screen trading time. The course will not show you everything like identifying traps in real time. Do not get trapped or you will get blown up. I use 1:1 as 7.5 points stop lost and 7.5 winning target on 5 mini. That is a $750 winner or $750 loser. i like taking no more than 10 trades a day if i hit my profit goal of $1,500 i will walk away and close the computer.
ES - Weekly Trading Plan - August 25th - 29thIn last week's plan I wrote the following " Plan for next week is that we need to hold 6390, 6369. for us to continue higher. Ideally, we do not lose 6452 with 6426 being the breakout and 6390 the low of the week." We spent the first 2 days range bound and lost 6452 on Tuesday around 10am and flushed down and institutions started to buy at the 6369 level on Wednesday-Friday in anticipation of the 10am Jackson Hole meeting.
I wrote on Friday at 4:30am EST - "I missed the overnight flush of yesterday afternoon 6370 low (2:30am) and now price is coming into the overnight session resistance of 6399.25. I need to identify either a move to retest 6412, back test 6399 and then buy on the support for a move to test 6420. Ideally, we could sell off back to the 6364 level or even better 6350, scare retail investors and then wait for a reclaim of 6364 to get back in and ride up."
What did price do when it reclaimed the 6399 level? It built a nice bull flag between 6399-6407 from 4:30am-9:30am and instead of flushing one more time, institutions bought heavily at 10am and we rallied up the levels and then started to build a structure for the next move.
What is the plan for this week? When you look at the 2hr, 4hr, 8hr chart and zoom out, you can see that the trend is up and that we will probably need to digest Friday's rally and most likely chop around ideally above 6468, 6452 levels with 6429 being the lowest level we would want to test. Then we can retest the 6508 level and continue higher this week with 6522, 6547 my main targets with 6596 if bulls really want it.
IF, we lose 6369, my lean is that we will continue lower and a new market trend could be starting to unfold with 6245 the big area for us to hold to stay bullish in the bigger picture.
I will be posting my Daily Trade Plan for Monday before the session open.
ES - August 27th - Daily Trade Plan7:15am EST - Daily Trade Plan
Yesterday I wrote the following:
"IF, price can reclaim and clear 6453, we should be able to test 6464, above there we should target 6470, 6482, 6487, 6496, 6508 then 6522, 6547 as my main targets and bulls can still reach 6562, 6581, 6595 if they really want it!"
We cleared 6453 on the 3rd attempt from the overnight test of resistance. At 9:30am, price took out all the retail stops down to 6444 and then resumed the rally with us hitting the first 3 targets above.
Overnight we are building our next base for the continued push higher with 6478-6489 as the range. We have tested 6489 2X overnight and I could see us doing the same thing as yesterday at the open, flush 6478, take out stops and rally higher. IF, price does not come lower and clears 6489, I will look for a back test opportunity to get long. 6496 is the first big resistance, I expect price to test a few times before going higher, but it doesn't have to.
I always like to frame my daily possibilities of price by the following statement:
IF, price can reclaim and clear 6489, we should be able to test 6496, above there we should target6508 then 6522, 6547 as my main targets and bulls can still reach 6562, 6581, 6595 if they really want it!
IF, price loses 6478, a quick flush and reclaim will take us longer. Ideally, price does not go any lower than 6464 to keep the bull case moving higher.
Update will come out at 10am EST.
ES Futures LONG Setup | 6462 → 6556
# 🚀 ES Futures LONG Setup | 6462 → 6556 🎯 (1:2 R\:R)
### 📝 Market Bias
* **Conditional Bullish** into US open.
* Higher-timeframe trend strong (price > 10/20/50/200 SMAs).
* **BUT** intraday momentum still mixed (MACD bearish) + thin overnight liquidity.
👉 **Trade ONLY if liquidity & momentum confirm at open.**
---
### 🎯 Trade Idea
**Setup:** Conditional LONG (market open only)
* 📍 **Entry:** 6462.25 (acceptable range 6455 – 6475)
* 🛑 **Stop Loss:** 6415.15 (0.75 × ATR = 47.10 pts)
* 💰 **Take Profit:** 6556.45 (2 × stop = 94.20 pts)
* ⚖️ **Risk/Reward:** 1 : 2
* 💪 **Confidence:** 60%
**Risk/Reward per Contract:**
* ❌ Risk = \$2,355
* ✅ Reward = \$4,710
---
### 📊 Position Sizing
* Formula: `contracts = floor((account_size × risk%) / (stop_pts × $50))`
* Example:
* \$100k acct @ 2% risk → 0 contracts (use micro/mini).
* \$200k acct → 1 contract.
* \$250k acct → 2 contracts.
---
### 📈 Scale & Exits
* Take **50% profit @ 6509.35** (1× stop).
* Hold rest to **6556.45 TP**.
* Move stop to breakeven after scaling.
---
### ⚠️ Key Risks
* Very thin overnight liquidity → slippage risk.
* MACD still bearish; must improve at open.
* Price near 20-day highs → upside limited.
* Event/headline risk at open.
---
### ✅ Pre-Conditions (MUST at Open)
* Strong liquidity/volume vs overnight.
* Price holds above SMA10 & SMA20.
* Preferable: MACD histogram improves in 15–30 mins.
❌ If conditions fail → NO TRADE.
---
### 📌 Trade JSON (For Algo/Notes)
```json
{
"instrument": "ES",
"direction": "long",
"entry_price": 6462.25,
"stop_loss": 6415.15,
"take_profit": 6556.45,
"size": 1,
"confidence": 0.60,
"entry_timing": "market_open",
"point_value": 50,
"signal_publish_time": "2025-08-25 15:47:27"
}
```
---
### 🔖 Hashtags
\#ES #SP500 #FuturesTrading #OptionsTrading #SwingTrade #DayTrading #TradeSetup #MarketOpen #RiskReward #PriceAction #TechnicalAnalysis #SmartMoney #StockMarket #TradingSignals #ScalpSetup
Nq & Es Premarket comment 26-08-2025Good morning everyone,
Price is approaching the equilibrium level, having already entered a daily FVG. For this reason, I will be looking for potential long setups — but only if, after the 09:30 NY open, I see price finding support at this key level below the purple line.
I will wait for proper confirmation before entering, in order to ensure a high-quality long trade.
Wishing everyone a successful trading session.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This analysis reflects personal market observations and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice.
How Beginners Should Start Trading Futures (Step by Step)### Why Trade Futures?
### 1. **One Market to Master**
- With stocks, you’ve got **thousands of tickers** to scan every day.
- With options, you add complexity: strike prices, expirations, Greeks.
- With futures, you can focus on **just one instrument**—like the S&P 500 (ES/MES)—and trade it daily.
👉 This eliminates overwhelm and accelerates mastery.
---
### 2. **Golden Age of Prop Firm Funding**
- Right now, prop firms are everywhere, offering retail traders a chance to trade with firm capital.
- For **$200–$500 evaluation cost**, you can get access to **$25K–$250K funded accounts**.
- That means a **$2,000–$2,500 effective credit line** to trade without risking your own savings.
- If you’re consistent, you can withdraw profits—keeping up to 90% depending on the firm.
👉 This makes the risk-to-reward of getting funded in futures unmatched compared to stocks or options.
---
### 3. **Simplified Leverage (Without Options Greeks)**
- Futures give you leverage, but without the **Delta, Gamma, Theta, Vega headache**.
- Every point in MES = $5. Every point in ES = $50. That’s it. Clear, transparent, easy to calculate.
- You know your risk and reward instantly—no need to fight with implied volatility or time decay.
---
### 4. **No PDT Rule, No Time Decay**
- Stocks: if you have less than $25K, you’re handcuffed by PDT rules.
- Options: even if you’re right, you can still lose because of **theta decay**.
- Futures: no PDT rule, no theta burn. You can take as many trades as you want, and your position value won’t decay over time.
---
### 5. **Low Capital to Start**
- Stocks often require large amounts of cash to move the needle.
- Options can be cheaper per contract, but carry hidden risks.
- Futures let you start with as little as **$2K** and realistically scale to $10K+ in months with discipline.
👉 Combine that with prop funding, and you’re essentially trading institution-sized accounts with minimal upfront cost.
---
### 🔑 The Big Picture
Trading futures gives you:
- **Focus** (one ticker, one system).
- **Leverage** without complexity.
- **Funding opportunities** that minimize personal risk.
- **Flexibility** (24/5 market access, no PDT, no decay).
That’s why many traders see this moment as the **“golden age” of retail futures trading**—you can start small, get funded quickly, and scale without needing Wall Street connections or a huge account.
---
### Step 1: Pick the Right Instrument
Start small and scale up:
- **/MES (Micro E-Mini S&P 500):**
- Best for beginners.
- Each point = $5.
- 10 MES = 1 ES.
- **/ES (E-Mini S&P 500):**
- Larger contract, each point = $50.
- Best for experienced traders or bigger accounts.
- **Other contracts:** NQ, YM, RTY, Gold, etc. (but start with MES to master one market).
---
### Step 2: How Much Risk to Take
- **Rule of thumb:** Risk **<10% of your account per trade.**
- Example: $2,000 account → risk $200 or less
- Example: $50,000 prop firm account = $2,000 or $2500 accounts because that’s your drawdown limits.
- **Daily max loss rule:** If you lose 3 trades in a day, step away. Protect your capital. ($600)
- Futures move fast—so use **bracket orders** (stop loss + profit target set together).
---
### Step 3: When to Trade
Most volume & volatility happens during these times (EST):
- 🟢 **U.S. session:** 9:30 AM – 12 PM (best for beginners).
- 🌍 Asia: 9:30 PM & 4 AM.
- 🇪🇺 Europe: 3 AM & 11:30 AM.
Stick to U.S. morning hours first—cleanest moves, best liquidity.
---
### Step 4: Use a System, Not Guesswork
At DIYWallSt, we trade with **VX Algo**, a system built to keep things simple:
- ✅ Market Structure (Bullish/Bearish flips).
- ✅ RSI signals (oversold/overbought).
- ✅ Super MACD (color-coded trend confirmation).
- ✅ Moving Averages (dynamic support & resistance).
Beginners should only enter when at least **2 signals confirm** the setup.
---
### Step 5: Getting Started Without Big Risk
Don’t want to risk your own money yet? Use a **Prop Firm Account**:
- **Apex Trader Funding:** Flexible, easy to start, bracket orders built in.
- **Topstep:** Consistency rules, great training ground.
- Pass an evaluation, trade with their money, and keep up to 90% of profits.
---
### Step 6: Tools You’ll Need
- **Brokerage:** Tradovate (beginner-friendly) or IBKR (advanced/global).
- **Charting:** TradingView + VX Algo indicators.
- **Journal:** Track every trade—P/L, emotions, signals, lessons learned.
---
### Quick Risk Examples
- **/MES moves 10 points = $50 gain/loss.**
- **/ES moves 10 points = $500 gain/loss.**
- That’s why beginners start with MES—it gives room to learn without blowing up.
---
### Final Words
Trading futures can change your life—but only if you treat it like a business.
- Start small (MES).
- Risk less than 1% per trade.
- Trade only when your system gives you signals.
- Journal everything.
👉 Stick with it, and you’ll avoid the mistakes that wipe out 80% of new traders.
Day 16 — Trading Only S&P Futures | Rocky Start, Strong FinishWelcome to Day 16 of Trading Only S&P Futures!
Started the session following bullish structure while the market whipped up and down, which made it tricky to hold conviction early. Toward the end of the day, a short at 6482 finally gave clean follow-through, helping me turn a rocky start into a solid +296.25 finish.
The price action was choppy at times but still provided opportunities if you stayed patient.
🔑 Key Levels for Tomorrow
Above 6415 = Remain Bullish
Below 6405 = Flip Bearish
08/25 idea for S&P500My idea is all around 0prints around 6.437~32, because price has to rebalance that gaps eventually.
So if price show weakness on upper side about without taking new buyers on lower side i'll think about a sell on new agression formed last day around the last agression sell. Of course watching for confirmed sellers.
If price breaks im not interested in trading around 6459~38, theres a low volume node above the zero prints.
For me it has to rebalance 0ps at 37~32 or even better: take news buyers on a possibke mitigation sell zone around 6425~32.
ID: 2025 - 0168.18.2025
Trade #16 of 2025 executed.
Trade entry at 151 DTE (days to expiration).
Excellent fills this morning, well under mid, and I suspect we could see SPX drop in the coming days. Typically when my fills are better than mid, these trades take some heat at the beginning. ZERO risk to the upside, no imminent danger until 6000 gets disrespected.
Working GTC orders for target profit of 5% ROI.
Happy Trading!
-kevin
Nq & Es Premarket comment 25-08-2025Good morning everyone,
We are currently trading within a premium zone, and for that reason I believe price should first move lower into a discount area before continuing higher, given the broader uptrend.
Specifically for Nasdaq (NQ), I would like to see price reach the purple line, which represents the equilibrium level, before looking for long setups. Until then, I am not searching for long trades.
As for the S&P (ES), the situation is similar, but since it is showing stronger bullish structure, I do not expect it to reach its equilibrium level as easily.
Wishing you all disciplined and successful trading.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This analysis reflects personal market observations and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice.