May 31, S&P500 Premarket Plan and Missal
Subsmission
Image 1. ES profiles, RTH Thursday to ETH Friday as of 8h35EST
Looking back, the 5274 pivot (balance low) played an important role - twice. This was resistance at open by one tick, and later in the day by a few points. I stress the need for patience in this game - there will always be another opportunity. And if you find yourself getting consistently stopped out by a few points, would it not be better to next time target your entry price, but then perhaps two points beyond that?
Missing a trade is better than losing money.
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Minister’s Missal
Notes are as of 8h35EST. Thursday’s trade saw the winds shift in sellers’ favor, with full acceptance below prior (ten day!) balance. The weekly timeframe is in balance, with short-term daily OTFD. It is up to sellers now to maintain the short-term momentum into lower targets, with defense of 5275.
Before I move on, what do you notice about areas A and B in the image below?
Image 2. SPX daily bar chart
Comments here are drafted ahead of the PCE data release at 8h30EST. Levels of reference are unchanged however, with buyers looking to spend time above 5275 to reject the breakdown of structure, targeting closes above 5300. This would effectively negate bearish action.
Image 3. ES daily profiles
Sellers look to capitalize on this new momentum. This will be achieved with time below 5240, a prior daily high and the VAL of the mini-balance beginning May 10 which preceded the post-CPI gap. The main mission below is a repair of poor structure to 5216. This is a casual reminder that I am mostly a profile trader; levels are easier to identify and are generally quite precise. This is evidenced by a high R:R from my study of key structural levels in from the prior two months. Blue bars are the rate of incidence of trades returning greater than 4 R:R.
Image 4. Personal statistics on trades leaning on preselected structural levels
I strongly suggest you maintain a daily journal and statistical log to help you identify favorable trades. I will share the meaning of the labels above at a future time although most are easily identifiable!
Overnight inventory is mixed as of writing. I will consider daily pivot 5252 - Thursday’s break of balance and key psych level. Stay on the right side of the trade.
Friday Plan and Levels
Pivot 5252. Expecting range of 30 points with a possible 10 point extension.
a) Defense of pivot, time above 5262 20D SMA targets gap fill 5279. Further above is NPOC 5292 and potentially progress into key psych zone 5300-07 on strong momentum. Close above rejects bearish action.
b) Time below 5265 and consecutive closes below pivot targets a break of PDL 5240 on volume. That introduces possibility of trade into NPOC 5231 and structural repair to single 5216, where longer-term buyers are likely to be encountered. Any close below 5212 would solidify bearish momentum into next week.
c) VIX levels consistent - bears now want to see prints above 14.65 and buyers suppressing bearish action below 13.90. Proxy pivots for the indices may be found in AAPL at 190, and NVDA (which I think is leading the show) at 1125.
Image 5. 4H ES levels
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Sold puts at 5217. Your 5216 was golden....didn't think it would make it there but it sure did. I needed that. Thanks so much. I didn't pivot and buy down there...but shorted again at the very end of the day. We shall see....