QE vs QT: The Invisible Force Behind Every Pump and Dump !Hello Traders 🐺
In this idea, I want to talk about macroeconomics and how QE and QT actually impact the economy and financial markets — and more importantly, how both pro traders and even non-professionals can benefit from understanding these basic concepts in their trading journey and even their everyday life.
So make sure to stick with me until the very end, because if you still don't know about these key metrics, this is going to be extremely helpful — and I promise I’ll keep it simple.
🔄 First... What Are QE and QT Anyway?
It’s simple:
QE (Quantitative Easing) = Pumping money into the system 💸
QT (Quantitative Tightening) = Sucking money out of the system 💀
That’s it.
The Fed either injects liquidity — or pulls it back.
And that liquidity is the real fuel of the market —
Not your RSI, not your fib levels, not your favorite influencer's altcoin pick.
🟩 What Is QE?
When the Fed wants to support the economy (like during a crash or recession), it prints money and buys government bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and more.
This increases liquidity → makes borrowing easier → and drives people toward risky assets like stocks and crypto.
✅ Benefits of QE:
Boosts markets (stocks, crypto, real estate — all of it)
Supports employment and economic growth
Weakens the dollar → makes exports stronger
❌ Downsides of QE:
Can lead to inflation or even hyperinflation if overused
Creates asset bubbles (aka pumps with no real fundamentals)
Weakens long-term purchasing power
In short:
QE = Bullish AF for markets — but dangerous if left unchecked.
🟥 What Is QT?
QT is the opposite.
When the economy overheats or inflation gets out of control, the Fed stops printing — and even starts removing liquidity from the system.
They let bonds expire or sell them off, reducing the amount of money circulating.
✅ Benefits of QT:
Helps bring inflation down
Cools off overheated markets
Restores balance after aggressive QE periods
❌ Downsides of QT:
Slows down the economy
Crashes risk assets (like BTC, tech stocks, etc.)
Can trigger a recession if done too fast or too long
QT = Bearish pressure for almost every chart you trade.
💡 Now that you understand QT and QE, let's talk about how we can use this in our trading.
To help you visualize it better, I’ve marked the QT and QE periods on the chart.
And as you’ll see, there’s a perfect correlation between Fed policy decisions and the BTC chart.
It almost looks like their policies decide exactly where and even when the tops and bottoms happen!
Let me explain it step by step — because while it might sound complicated, it’s actually very easy to understand:
📉 Example: The QT Period from 2017 to 2019
From October 2017 to September 2019, the Fed was in full QT mode — and we had three major phases in the market.
Phase 1:
When the Fed first announced QT, BTC was around a red monthly resistance line after a huge parabolic run-up.
Right after the announcement, BTC entered a sharp correction — all the way down to the monthly support.
(Shown with a red ellipse on the chart)
Phase 2:
BTC started to prepare for its next move — it accumulated below a bullish structure and slowly positioned itself for the next wave.
📉📈 Phase 3: The Big Corona Dump + QE Restart
Then came the third and most important phase of QT in the BTC chart:
The COVID crash — a sudden, brutal dump across all markets.
Sound familiar? Yeh, same pattern…
Immediately after the crash, the Fed announced QE and started pumping liquidity again → and we saw that huge parabolic run everyone remembers.
🔁 Now Here’s the Plot Twist... We’re Repeating the Same Pattern
Let’s break it down:
A huge crash after QT announcement (phase 1)
Market accumulation below a bullish structure (phase 2)
One final shakeout — just like the COVID dump — which I personally call Black Monday 2025 👀
And now… the Fed has hinted that they're ready to step in to stabilize the markets if needed ( phase three )
Guess what? Another round of QE could be coming...
In this idea, I tried to explain how QE and QT work — and show you the hidden forces behind every bull and bear cycle.
If you enjoyed this, make sure to follow and stay tuned for more.
And as always, never forget our rule:
🐺 Discipline is rarely enjoyable, but almost always profitable 🐺
🐺 KIU_COIN 🐺
Community ideas
Ethereum Hits Critical Resistance — Is a Drop to $1400 Next?Introduction
Ethereum has been in a sustained downtrend over the past weeks, struggling to gain any real bullish traction. After a sharp decline last Sunday, the market remains under pressure, and although we’ve seen short-term attempts to recover, the broader trend still points downward. Technical indicators and price structure suggest this may not be over, with both Fibonacci levels and momentum oscillators hinting at further downside potential.
Resistance from the FVG and Fibonacci
Last Sunday, Ethereum dropped over 10% in a single move, forming a large 4-hour Fair Value Gap (FVG) in the process. This gap signaled a strong imbalance between buyers and sellers, with sellers clearly in control. Earlier this week, ETH managed to retrace up to the 50% level of that FVG but faced immediate rejection, highlighting the strength of the resistance. Currently, price is once again moving into the FVG zone and has reached the golden pocket Fibonacci level between $1650 and $1664. This area often acts as a key pivot for price direction. If bulls manage to break through, the next logical target would be the 0.786 Fibonacci retracement at $1724, potentially completing the fill of the FVG.
Stochastic RSI weakening on the daily timeframe
While the short-term price action shows some bullish effort, the daily Stochastic RSI tells a different story. It has now almost entered the overbought zone, suggesting that Ethereum’s current upward move may be running out of steam. This indicator often precedes a shift in momentum, and if history repeats itself, we could soon see bears stepping back in. With ETH still unable to break recent highs, the setup favors a continuation of the downtrend. If selling pressure resumes, we could be looking at a move down to the $1400 level, or potentially even lower.
Thanks for your support.
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GOLD Price Analysis: Key Insights for Next Week Trading DecisionIn this video, I break down the key forces pushing gold to record highs. Learn how factors such as US-China trade tensions, global inflation pressures, and geopolitical uncertainty—combined with a weakening US Dollar and safe-haven demand—are reshaping the gold market.
In this quick analysis, we cover:
🔹 Inflation & Economic Uncertainty: How rising prices and central bank policies continue to drive interest in gold.
🔹 Trade Tensions & Geopolitical Risks: The impact of US-China disputes and global instability on market sentiment.
🔹 US Dollar Weakness: Why a softer USD is making gold a more attractive asset for international investors.
🔹 Technical Insights: Pinpointing key price levels and exploring potential trend continuations or reversals ahead of US retail sales data.
Disclaimer:
Forex and other market trading involve high risk and may not be for everyone. This content is educational only—not financial advice. Constantly assess your situation and consult a professional before investing. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
#GoldMarketAnalysis #Inflation #TradeTensions #GeopoliticalRisks #TechnicalAnalysis #GoldTrading
ASX Weekly Market Wrap: XJO, LYC, IMD, NST, APA & CHC in FocusASX Weekly Market Wrap: XJO, LYC, IMD, NST, APA & CHC in Focus
In this week’s market analysis, we break down key price movements and trends across the #ASX, with a close look at the XJO and standout stocks like Lynas Rare Earths (#LYC), Imdex (#IMD), Northern Star (#NST), APA Group (#APA), and Charter Hall (#CHC). We explore current momentum, trend direction, and price action indicators to help you spot opportunities and make more confident trading decisions. Whether you're paper trading or actively investing, this is your must-watch guide for the week ahead.
NASDAQ 100 outlook and the 90-day tariff pauseThe US has paused the highest tariffs for 90 days, but markets remain under pressure from global trade tensions, and the Nasdaq 100 remains bearish. So what are the levels we need to watch next?
This content is not directed to residents of the EU or UK. Any opinions, news, research, analyses, prices or other information contained on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. ThinkMarkets will not accept liability for any loss or damage including, without limitation, to any loss of profit which may arise directly or indirectly from use of or reliance on such information
Why you should WAIT for trades to come to YOU!In this video, we dive deep into one of the most underrated but powerful habits that separates consistently profitable traders from the rest: waiting for the trade to come to you.
It sounds simple, even obvious. But in reality, most traders—especially newer ones—feel the constant urge to do something. They scan for setups all day, jump in at the first sign of movement, and confuse activity with progress. That mindset usually leads to emotional trading, overtrading, and eventually burnout.
If you've ever felt the pressure to chase price, force trades, or trade just because you're bored… this video is for you.
I’ll walk you through:
1. Why chasing trades destroys your edge—even when the setup “kind of” looks right
2. How waiting allows you to trade from a position of strength, not desperation
3. The psychological shift that happens when you stop trading to feel busy and start trading to feel precise
4. How the pros use waiting as a weapon, not a weakness
The truth is, trading is a game of probabilities and precision. And that means you don’t need 10 trades a day—you need a few good ones a week that truly align with your plan.
Patience doesn’t mean doing nothing, it means doing the right thing at the right time. And when you develop the skill to sit back, trust your process, and wait for price to come to your level… everything changes. Your confidence grows. Your equity curve smooths out. And most importantly, your decision-making gets sharper.
So if you're tired of overtrading, feeling frustrated, or constantly second-guessing your entries—take a breath, slow it down, and start thinking like a sniper instead of a machine gun.
Let the market come to you. That’s where the real edge is.
The Flag Chart Pattern ExplainedHello, traders! 👋🏻
If price action had a way of saying, “HOLD MY BEER, I’M NOT DONE YET,”— it would be through a flag pattern. This classic continuation setup is where strong trends take a breather before launching their next move. Whether you're seeing a bullish flag chart pattern or a bearish flag pattern, you’re looking at a market that’s just catching its breath before running again.
Let’s break down how this works and what to watch for!
What Is a Flag Pattern?
A flag pattern forms when the market makes a strong move (called the “flagpole”), then consolidates in a narrow, counter-trend range that looks like a flag. Eventually, the price breaks out in the direction of the original trend.
Think of it like a runner sprinting, slowing down to recover, and then taking off again. That pause? That’s your flag.
There Are Two Main Types:
🟢 Bull Flag Pattern (Bullish Flag Pattern)
It appears after a sharp upward move. The flag part slopes downward or moves sideways.
It also might signal a continuation of the bullish trend. This is the kind of setup that gets traders excited — it’s all about momentum.
🔴 Bear Flag Pattern (Bearish Flag Pattern)
It appears after a sharp downward move. The flag part slopes upward or consolidates sideways. It also might signal a continuation of the bearish trend. When the market pauses in a falling trend, the bear flag pattern warns that sellers are just regrouping before the next drop.
How to Recognize a Flag Chart Pattern
Spotting a Flag Trading Pattern Is Fairly Straightforward — Just Look For:
✔ A Strong Price Move (the Flagpole)
✔ A Tight Consolidation That Slopes Opposite the Trend
✔ Lower Volume During Consolidation
✔ A Breakout in the Direction of the Original Trend
📊 Real Example: BTC Flag Pattern in 2024
Take a look at the chart above. From October to March 2024, Bitcoin made a massive upward move from around $40,000 to $72,000+ — this was the flagpole.
Then, from March through November 2024, BTC entered a long, downward-sloping consolidation channel, forming the flag itself. Despite the lower highs and lower lows, the pullback was contained within parallel trend lines — a classic setup.
Once the price broke above the top of the flag, it kicked off a second leg, surging to a new all-time high above $108,000. That breakout confirmed the bullish flag pattern and rewarded traders who recognized the structure early.
This BTC move is a textbook example of how a bull flag chart pattern plays out in real markets — offering clean entry signals and strong momentum if the pattern completes.
There are variations, too — like the rising flag pattern, which can appear in both bullish and bearish conditions, depending on the context. Some traders even debate whether a flag pattern is a continuation or a subtle reversal flag pattern — so CONTEXT MATTERS.
Final Thoughts: Trust the Flag, Not the Noise
The flag chart pattern is a reminder that not every pullback means the trend is over. Sometimes, it’s just the market catching its breath. Whether you’re spotting a bull flag pattern in a crypto rally or a bear flag pattern in a downtrend, learning to trade these setups can possibly add precision to your strategy.
So, next time you see a price taking a nap in a narrow channel, ask yourself: Is this a bullish flag chart pattern gearing up for another leg up? Or is it a bearish flag pattern just waiting to drop the floor out? Let the structure tell the story and the trend do the rest.
This analysis is performed on historical data, does not relate to current market conditions, is for educational purposes only, and is not a trading recommendation.
Gold Faces Key Resistance – Will the Uptrend Continue?📊 XAU/USD Daily Technical Outlook – April 10, 2025
Gold has recently seen a strong rally, reaching an all-time high of $3167 per ounce. However, it encountered significant resistance at the upper boundary of its ascending channel, leading to a sharp pullback after the release of strong U.S. employment data, which boosted the dollar and exerted selling pressure on gold.
Currently, gold is trading around $3050, with key support levels at $2956, $2860, and $2790, which could act as potential bounce points if the decline continues.
📈 Current Market Structure:
After reaching the all-time high, the price has corrected lower. As it approaches the support levels mentioned above, the market may see fresh buying opportunities if these levels hold strong.
🔹 Key Resistance Levels:
$3100: Immediate resistance. A break above this level could signal a resumption of the uptrend.
$3167: All-time high. A breakout above this level would open the door for further gains.
🔸 Key Support Levels:
$2956: First support. The price may bounce at this level if it holds.
$2860: Major support. A failure to hold above this level could lead to further declines.
$2790: Strong support. A drop below this level would signal a shift in the market's direction.
📐 Price Action Patterns:
As the price approaches key support levels, there could be reversal patterns forming, indicating a potential price bounce. It’s crucial to monitor the price action at these levels to spot potential entry opportunities.
🧭 Potential Scenarios:
✅ Bullish Scenario:
If gold manages to hold above $2956 and bounce, the uptrend may resume toward the resistance levels mentioned above.
❌ Bearish Scenario:
If gold fails to maintain the key support levels, the correction could continue, with further declines toward lower support levels.
📌 Conclusion:
Gold is currently testing crucial support levels. Monitoring how price behaves at these levels will be key to determining the next direction. Traders should keep an eye on any economic developments that may affect market sentiment.
💬 What’s your outlook for Gold? Will it continue its uptrend or experience further corrections? Share your thoughts below.
Fear and Greed: How Extreme Emotions Can Wreck Your TradesThere’s an old saying on Wall Street: Markets are driven by just two emotions — fear and greed. It’s been quoted so many times it’s practically cliché, but like most clichés, it’s got a thick slice of truth baked in.
Fear makes you sell the bottom. Greed makes you buy the top. Together, they’re the dysfunctional couple that wrecks your portfolio, sets your confidence on fire, and leaves you staring at your trading screen, wallowing in disappointment.
But here’s the good news: you’re not alone. Everyone — from the newbie scalper with a $500 account to the fund manager with a Bloomberg terminal and a caffeine drip — fights these exact same emotional demons.
Let’s break down how fear and greed mess with your trades, and more importantly, what to do about it.
The Greed Trap: From Champagne Dreams to Margin Calls
Add some more to this one… this one’s going to the moon . Suddenly, you’re maxing out leverage on a hot altcoin because your cousin’s barber said it's “the next Solana.”
This is how traders end up buying tops. Not because they lack information — we’ve got more charts, market data , and indicators than ever before — but because they chase the feeling. The high. The fantasy of catching a once-in-a-lifetime move. Safe to say that’s not investing, that’s fantasy trading.
Greed doesn’t show up in your P&L right away. At first, it may reward you. You get a few wins. Maybe you double your account in a week. You start browsing the million-dollar houses. You post a couple of wins on X. You’re unstoppable… until you’re not.
Then comes the inevitable slap. The market reverses. You didn’t take profits because “it’s just a pullback.” Your unrealized gains evaporate. You panic. You sell the bottom. And just like that, you’re back where you started — only now with a bruised ego and fewer chips on the table.
The Fear Spiral: Paralysis, Panic, and the Art of Missing Every Rally
Fear doesn’t need a market crash to show up. Sometimes all it takes is a bad night’s sleep and a red candle.
Fear tells you to cut winners early — just in case. Fear reminds you of every losing trade you’ve ever taken, every blown stop loss, every time you told yourself, “I knew I should’ve stayed out.”
It’s what makes you exit a long position at break-even, only to watch it rip 20% after you’re out. It’s what keeps you on the sidelines during the best days of the year. It’s what turns potential gains into chronic hesitation.
And the worst part? Fear disguises itself as “discipline.” You think you’re being cautious, but you’re really just self-sabotaging under the banner of risk management. Yes, there's a difference between being prudent and being petrified. One saves your capital. The other strangles it.
The Greed-Fear Cycle: The Emotional Roundabout That Never Ends
Here’s how the emotional hamster wheel usually goes:
You start with greed. You chase something because it looks like easy money.
You get smacked by the market. Now you’re afraid.
You hesitate. You miss the recovery.
You get FOMO. You jump back in… late.
The cycle repeats. Only now your account is lighter, and your confidence is shot.
Wash. Rinse. Regret. Repeat.
This cycle is what turns many promising traders into burnt-out bagholders. It’s not a lack of intelligence or strategy — it’s the inability to manage emotions in a game where emotions are everything.
The Emotional Gym
You can’t eliminate fear and greed — they’re wired into our monkey brain. But you can train your emotional responses the same way you train a muscle.
How? Structure, repetition, and brutal honesty.
Start with a trading journal . Not a Dear Diary, but a cold, clinical log of what you did and why. Include your emotional state. Were you excited? Anxious? Overconfident? Bored? (Yes, boredom is a silent killer. It’s how people end up revenge trading gold futures at 2AM.)
Review it weekly. Look for patterns. Did you always overtrade after three green trades in a row? Did your losses happen when you broke your own rules? Bingo. Now you have something to fix.
The Rules Are the Ritual
Every seasoned trader eventually realizes this: rules are freedom. The more emotion you remove from the decision-making process, the more consistent your results.
Set rules for:
Entry criteria
Risk per trade
Stop placement
When to sit out
Then — and this is key — follow them even when you don’t feel like it. Especially when you don’t feel like it. If it feels uncomfortable, that’s usually a sign you’re on the right path. You’re breaking your old habits.
And if you break a rule? Cool. Own it. Log it. Learn from it. No need to self-flagellate, but don’t pretend it didn’t happen. This is the emotional weightlifting that builds your trading spine.
Story Time: The Trader Who Cried “Breakout”
Let me tell you about Dave. Dave loved breakouts. He’d buy every single one, no matter the volume, structure, or trend. His logic? If it breaks the line, it’s going up. Simple.
One week, Dave hit it big on a meme stock that doubled in a day. His greed kicked in hard. He started adding leverage, sizing up, swinging for the fences.
You can guess what happened. Three fakeouts later, Dave blew half his account. So he stopped trading. Fear took over.
Weeks passed. He watched from the sidelines as clean setups came and went. When he finally got back in, he was so timid he under-sized every position and exited too early. He made nothing — but the emotional damage cost him more than the red trades ever did.
Dave didn’t lose because he lacked a strategy. He lost because he was letting emotions drive. And when fear and greed are in the driver’s seat, they don’t use the brakes.
Be the Trader Your Future Self Will Thank (Not Tank)
Markets may sometimes be chaos wrapped in noise wrapped in hype (as we’ve seen with the recent drama around Trump’s tariffs ). There will always be something to fear, and always something to chase. But if you can stay calm while others are panic-buying Nike stock NYSE:NKE or rage-selling the S&P 500 SP:SPX , you’ve already got an edge.
The best traders aren’t fearless or greedless. They’re just better at recognizing when those emotions show up — and they don’t let them steer the ship. They’ve built processes to trade through uncertainty, not react to it.
So next time you feel that itch to click “Buy” at the top or “Sell” at the bottom, pause. Ask yourself: Is this my setup — or is this just emotion pretending to be insight? Take another look at the Screener , scroll through the latest News , and take a minute to think it over.
Final Thoughts: Feelings Aren’t Signals
Trading is emotional — but trading on emotion is a fast track to regret.
Fear will always be there. So will greed. But you don’t have to let them wreck your trades. Build systems. Log your trades. Know yourself. That’s how you survive the jungle with your capital — and sanity — intact.
And if nothing else, remember this: Warren Buffett didn’t get rich by panic-buying breakouts on a Tuesday morning.
Let's hear it from you now — how do you deal with fear and greed in your trades? Or are you still fighting them in the wild?
How to Build a Super Pitchfork with Reaction & Trigger LinesIn this educational video tutorial, I guide you through the process of setting up a Super Pitchfork using the Bitcoin daily chart. This method is inspired by Patrick Mikula’s work in " The Best Trendline Methods of Alan Andrews. "
I demonstrate how to:
- Create and project reaction lines
- Generate bullish and bearish trigger lines
- Apply a personal timing technique for pitchforks based on Michael Jenkins’ methods by squaring significant pivots to the median line, reaction lines, and upper parallel to produce time-based reaction points anticipating potential market turns.
This walkthrough is for traders who already have a foundational understanding of pitchforks.
Inspired by the work of Patrick Mikula, this is how I personally apply and expand on the Super Pitchfork method in my own charting.
Learn 3 Best Time Frames for Day Trading Forex & Gold
If you want to day trade Forex & Gold, but you don't know what time frames you should use for chart analysis and trade execution, don't worry.
In this article, I prepared for you the list of best time frames for intraday trading and proven combinations for multiple time frame analysis.
For day trading forex with multiple time frame analysis, I recommend using these 3 time frames: daily, 1 hour, 30 minutes.
Daily Time Frame Analysis
The main time frame for day trading Forex is the daily.
It will be applied for the identification of significant support and resistance levels and the market trend.
You should find at least 2 supports that are below current prices and 2 resistances above.
In a bullish trend, supports will be applied for trend-following trading, the resistances - for trading against the trend.
That's the example of a proper daily time frame analysis on GBPCHF for day trading.
The pair is in an uptrend and 4 significant historic structures are underlined.
In a downtrend, a short from resistance will be a daytrade with the trend while a long from support will be against.
Look at GBPAUD. The market is bearish, and a structure analysis is executed.
Identified supports and resistances will provide the zones to trade from. You should let the price reach one of these areas and start analyzing lower time frames then.
Remember that counter trend trading setups always have lower accuracy and a profit potential. Your ability to properly recognize the market direction and the point that you are planning to open a position from will help you to correctly assess the winning chances and risks.
1H/30M Time Frames Analysis
These 2 time frames will be used for confirmations and entries.
What exactly should you look for?
It strictly depends on the rules of your strategy and trading style.
After a test of a resistance, one should wait for a clear sign of strength of the sellers : it can be based on technical indicators, candlestick, chart pattern, or something else.
For my day trading strategy, I prefer a price action based confirmation.
I wait for a formation of a bearish price action pattern on a resistance.
Look at GBPJPY on a daily. Being in an uptrend, the price is approaching a key resistance. From that, one can look for a day trade .
In that case, a price action signal is a double top pattern on 1H t.f and a violation of its neckline. That provides a nice confirmation to open a counter trend short trade.
Look at this retracement that followed then.
In this situation, there was no need to open 30 minutes chart because a signal was spotted on 1H.
I will show you when one should apply this t.f in another setup.
Once the price is on a key daily support, start looking for a bullish signal.
For me, it will be a bullish price action pattern.
USDCAD is in a strong bullish trend. The price tests a key support.
It can be a nice area for a day trade.
Opening an hourly chart, we can see no bullish pattern.
If so, open even lower time frame, quite often it will reveal hidden confirmations.
A bullish formation appeared on 30 minutes chart - a cup & handle.
Violation of its neckline is a strong day trading long signal.
Look how rapidly the price started to grow then.
In order to profitably day trade Forex, a single time frame analysis is not enough . Incorporation of 3 time frames: one daily and two intraday will help you to identify trading opportunities from safe places with the maximum reward potential.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
Ultimate Guide to Smart Money ConceptsWhat Are Smart Money Concepts?
Introduction:
If you’ve been trading for a while, you’ve probably noticed that sometimes the market moves in ways that just don’t make sense. You’ve got your technical analysis all set, but the market seems to go in the opposite direction. That’s where Smart Money Concepts (SMC) come in.
At its core, SMC is all about understanding how big players in the market (think hedge funds, institutions, and banks) move prices. These players have massive amounts of capital and information, and they don’t trade like the average retail trader. Understanding their behavior can help you see where the market is going next before it happens.
What is Smart Money?
In the world of trading, smart money refers to the institutional investors who move markets with their huge orders. Unlike retail traders, who might be relying on indicators or patterns, smart money trades based on liquidity, market structure, and order flow.
While retail traders are typically reacting to price movements, smart money is the one causing those moves. They’re out there seeking out places where they can accumulate positions or distribute them. The tricky part is that they’ll often make the market go in one direction just to trap retail traders and get them to take positions before flipping it back to where they wanted it to go in the first place.
Key Concepts in Smart Money Trading
1. Market Structure
Market structure refers to the way price moves in a trend. It’s essentially a pattern of higher highs and higher lows for an uptrend, or lower highs and lower lows for a downtrend.
Smart money uses these patterns to their advantage. When they see the market creating a series of higher highs and higher lows, they’ll take advantage of that momentum to push prices further, knowing retail traders will follow along.
But when they want to reverse the market, they’ll push it in the opposite direction, creating a market structure shift or a break of structure, which signals that the trend is over and a new one is starting.
2. Liquidity
Liquidity refers to the amount of orders available to be filled at different price levels. Smart money knows exactly where retail traders are likely to place their stops or buy orders.
They’ll often push the price to these levels, triggering those stops and collecting the liquidity. Once that liquidity is grabbed, they’ll reverse the price and move it in the intended direction.
A common way to spot liquidity is by looking for equal highs or equal lows, where traders often place their stop-loss orders. These are often areas smart money will target.
3. Order Blocks
Order blocks are areas on the chart where institutions have placed big orders. These are key levels that represent where price might return to later, and they can act as areas of support or resistance.
Order blocks are usually found after big price moves. Institutions place these orders to either accumulate positions or offload them, and price often comes back to these levels to fill orders that were left behind.
4. Fair Value Gaps (FVG)
Fair value gaps, or imbalances, are price areas where the market moves quickly, leaving gaps between candlesticks. These gaps represent areas where the market has moved too fast for regular orders to fill, and price tends to return to these levels to fill the gaps.
Smart money knows that these imbalances are critical areas for future price action, and they’ll use them to re-enter the market after a move has been completed.
Why Does Smart Money Matter?
Understanding smart money concepts is like learning to think like an institution. Instead of chasing after price based on typical retail indicators, you start looking for the big moves that smart money is making. You begin to notice when the market is setting traps for retail traders, and how these large players accumulate positions before pushing price in a big way.
With SMC, you stop guessing and start anticipating. By looking for liquidity zones, order blocks, and market structure shifts, you can get in sync with the big players and follow their moves, not fight them.
Conclusion
Smart Money Concepts are all about shifting your perspective. Instead of thinking like a retail trader looking for quick breakouts, oversold/overbought conditions, or chasing trends — start looking at the market as the big players do. Pay attention to where the liquidity is, identify key order blocks, and use market structure shifts to guide your trades.
By learning to spot these key signs, you’ll stop being the one who’s trapped and start being the one who’s in sync with the smart money.
Ready to trade smarter? Keep an eye on those order blocks and liquidity zones — they’re where the real money is made.
Next Steps
- Start practicing by reviewing charts through the SMC lens.
- Keep refining your understanding of market structure, liquidity, and order blocks.
- Stay patient, smart money trades aren’t about quick wins, but about positioning yourself for big moves.
__________________________________________
Thanks for your support!
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What are Tariffs? How They Work and Why They Matter to You?For centuries, tariffs have played a crucial role in global trade, safeguarding domestic industries, shaping international relations, and influencing economic policies. While they often dominate headlines during trade wars and economic policy debates, many people still don’t fully understand what tariffs are, why they are used, and how they impact the economy.
This comprehensive guide covers:
⦿ What tariffs are and how they work
⦿ Different types of tariffs
⦿ Why governments impose tariffs
⦿ The economic, political, and social effects of tariffs.
⦿ Historical and modern examples
⦿ The debate between protectionism and free trade
⦿ Tariffs in different economic systems
⦿ The future of tariffs in a globalized world
By the end of this article, you’ll have a decent understanding of tariffs and their role in the global economy.
🤔 What Are Tariffs?
A tariff is a tax imposed by a government on imported goods and services. The primary purpose of tariffs is to increase the cost of foreign products, making domestically produced goods more attractive to consumers. This serves several economic and political functions, such as protecting domestic industries, generating government revenue, and addressing trade imbalances.
👍 How Do Tariffs Work?
A government sets a tariff rate on imported goods (e.g., 25% on foreign cars).
Importers must pay this tax when bringing goods into the country.
This increases the cost of imported goods, enhancing the competitiveness of domestic alternatives.
Domestic industries benefit from reduced foreign competition.
The government collects revenue from the tariff.
🦸♂ Who Pays the Tariff?
Importers: These businesses or individuals directly pay the tariff when they bring goods into the country. This increases their costs.
Businesses: Since importers face higher costs, businesses that rely on imported goods often pass these costs onto consumers by increasing prices.
Consumers: Ultimately, the general public bears the cost as they pay higher prices for goods affected by tariffs.
🔎 Types of Tariffs
Governments employ various tariffs depending on their economic goals and trade policies. Some of these are:
1️⃣ Ad Valorem Tariffs
An ad valorem tariff is a percentage-based tariff calculated on the value of the imported goods. The tax amount increases or decreases with the price of the product.
Example: A 10% tariff on imported TVs means a $1,000 TV incurs a $100 tariff.
Usage: Commonly used for luxury goods, automobiles, and consumer electronics.
2️⃣ Specific Tariffs
A specific tariff is a fixed fee charged per unit of imported goods, regardless of price.
Example: $3 per barrel of imported oil.
Usage: Often used for commodities like oil, wheat, and alcohol.
3️⃣ Compound Tariffs
A compound tariff includes both a percentage-based tax (Ad valorem) and a fixed fee on imports (Specific). This means importers pay a fixed fee per unit as well as a percentage of the item’s value.
Example: A 5% tax plus $2 per imported cheese wheel.
Usage: Applied to goods where both quantity and value affect the market, such as food products and industrial materials.
4️⃣ Tariff-Rate Quotas (TRQs)
A TRQ allows a limited quantity of an imported good to enter at a lower tariff rate. After the quota is reached, extra imports are taxed at a higher rate.
Example: One of the most well-known examples of a TRQ is the U.S. Sugar Tariff-Rate Quota. The United States allows a certain quantity of sugar to be imported each year at a lower tariff rate. Any sugar imports within the quota limit are subject to a low tariff (e.g., 5%).
However, once the quota is exceeded, any additional sugar imports face a much higher tariff (e.g., 20%). This system ensures that domestic sugar producers remain competitive while still allowing controlled imports to meet demand.
Another example is the European Union's TRQ on Beef Imports. The EU permits a specific amount of high-quality beef imports (e.g., from the U.S. and Canada) at a lower tariff. Once this quota is filled, any additional beef imports are taxed at a significantly higher rate. This policy helps protect EU cattle farmers while maintaining trade agreements with international suppliers.
5️⃣ Protective Tariffs
A protective tariff helps local industries by making imported goods more costly, reducing foreign competition.
Example: The U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on Chinese steel to protect domestic steel manufacturers.
Usage: Commonly used in industries facing strong foreign competition, such as steel, automotive, and textiles.
6️⃣ Revenue Tariffs
A revenue tariff is mainly designed to raise money for the government, not to shield local industries.
Example: In the 19th century, tariffs were the main source of revenue for the U.S. government before income taxes were introduced.
Usage: Often applied to goods that do not have strong domestic competition but are widely consumed, such as alcohol and tobacco.
❓ Why Do Governments Impose Tariffs?
1️⃣ Protecting Domestic Industries
Tariffs shield local businesses from cheaper foreign competitors, helping domestic industries grow.
Example: U.S. steel tariffs in 2018 benefited domestic steel manufacturers.
2️⃣ Generating Government Revenue
Before modern taxation systems, tariffs were a key source of revenue for governments.
Example: In the 1800s, tariffs accounted for 90% of U.S. federal revenue.
3️⃣ National Security Concerns
Some industries, like defense and technology, are crucial for national security, and governments impose tariffs to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
Example: The U.S. limits imports of rare earth minerals to ensure a domestic supply chain for defense technologies.
4️⃣ Retaliation in Trade Wars
Countries impose tariffs to address unfair trade practices or economic conflicts.
For instance, during the trade war between the United States and China, both countries imposed taxes on each other's goods
5️⃣ Preventing Dumping
Dumping occurs when a country exports goods at below-market prices to eliminate competition.
Example: The U.S. imposed tariffs on Chinese solar panels due to concerns about dumping.
⚖️ Pros and Cons of Tariffs
Pros
✅ Protects local jobs and industries
✅ Encourages domestic production
✅ Generates government revenue
✅ Enhances national security by reducing reliance on foreign goods
Cons
❌ Increases prices for consumers
❌ Can lead to trade wars and economic retaliation
❌ Encourages inefficiency in domestic industries
❌ Disrupts global supply chains
📕 Historical and Modern Examples of Tariffs
1. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act (1930)
The U.S. imposed tariffs on over 20k imported goods.
Result: Other countries retaliated, global trade dropped by 66%, and the Great Depression worsened.
2. Trump’s Tariffs on China (2018-2020)
The United States levied tariffs on $360 billion worth of Chinese goods.
China retaliated, affecting U.S. agriculture exports.
Result: Some U.S. industries benefited, but consumers faced higher prices.
3. The European Union’s Tariffs on U.S. Goods (2021)
The EU imposed tariffs on American whiskey, motorcycles, and jeans in response to U.S. steel tariffs.
Result: Brands like Harley-Davidson saw reduced sales in Europe.
⚙️ Tariffs vs. Free Trade: The Big Debate
The debate between tariffs and free trade is a fundamental discussion in global economics and trade policy. This debate revolves around whether governments should impose tariffs (taxes on imported goods) or embrace free trade (minimal to no restrictions on imports and exports).
◉ Free Trade (No Tariffs)
Free trade is the unrestricted movement of goods and services across borders without tariffs or other trade barriers. Advocates argue that it fosters economic efficiency and global cooperation.
✅✅ Advantages of Free Trade
Lower Prices for Consumers – Without tariffs, imported goods are cheaper, leading to more affordable products.
Increased Economic Growth – When countries trade freely, they specialize in what they do best, leading to higher productivity and economic expansion.
More Competition = Better Products – Companies must compete on quality and innovation rather than relying on government protection.
Stronger Global Relations – Open markets encourage cooperation between nations, reducing the risk of economic conflicts.
Access to More Goods and Services – Consumers enjoy a greater variety of products at lower costs.
❌❌ Disadvantages of Free Trade
Job Losses in Unprotected Industries – Domestic industries that can't compete with cheaper imports may shrink or shut down.
Dependence on Foreign Suppliers – A country may become overly reliant on other nations for essential goods (e.g., medical supplies, electronics).
Potential Trade Deficits – Countries that import more than they export may struggle with imbalances in trade.
◉ Protectionism (Using Tariffs)
Protectionism refers to economic policies that restrict imports through tariffs, quotas, or other barriers to shield domestic industries from foreign competition.
✅✅ Advantages of Tariffs
Protects Local Jobs and Industries – Domestic businesses have a better chance to compete without being undercut by cheaper imports.
Reduces Dependence on Foreign Competitors – A country can maintain its own manufacturing and production capabilities, especially in critical industries like steel, energy, and food.
Generates Government Revenue – Tariffs provide a source of income for governments, which can be reinvested in public services.
Prevents Dumping – Tariffs discourage foreign companies from flooding the market with artificially cheap goods to destroy domestic competition.
❌❌ Disadvantages of Tariffs
Higher Prices for Consumers – Since imported goods are taxed, businesses pass the extra costs to customers.
Risk of Trade Wars – When one country imposes tariffs, others retaliate, leading to economic conflicts that hurt all parties involved.
Encourages Inefficiency – Without foreign competition, domestic companies may become complacent and innovate less.
Disrupts Global Supply Chains – Many industries rely on international suppliers; tariffs can increase production costs and delays.
❇️ The Future of Tariffs in a Globalized World
As economies become more interconnected, tariffs are often seen as barriers to global trade.
Emerging industries, such as digital services, face new trade policy challenges that traditional tariffs do not cover.
With globalization, many nations favor free trade agreements (FTAs) like USMCA and the EU single market to reduce trade barriers.
Climate-related tariffs, such as carbon border taxes, may become more common as nations try to incentivize environmentally friendly trade practices.
📌 Closing Thoughts
Tariffs remain one of the most powerful - and controversial - tools in economic policy. Like a thermostat for trade, they can be adjusted to protect domestic industries, but risk overheating the economy with unintended consequences.
History shows that while tariffs can provide temporary relief for specific sectors, they often create ripple effects across the entire economy. The steel tariffs of 2018 helped some American mills reopen, but made cars and appliances more expensive for everyone.
Neither free trade nor tariffs are perfect solutions. A balanced approach, where tariffs are selectively used for strategic industries while promoting open markets in others, is often the best path.
Each country must decide based on its economic strengths and priorities. For example, developed nations might push for free trade, while developing nations use tariffs to protect growing industries.
As trade policies continue evolving, understanding tariffs gives citizens and businesses crucial insight into how globalization affects prices, jobs, and economic security. The debate isn't about whether tariffs are "good" or "bad," but rather when and how they should be used strategically.
What are your thoughts on the ongoing U.S. tariff war? Share your opinions in the comments! 📩
Understanding the Downside Market and who controls priceA downtrend starts with Dark Pool Buy Side Institutions slow rotation to lower inventory of a stock or ETF. The rotation bends the trend into a rounding pattern that is visible on the stock or ETF chart. The goal of the Dark Pool rotation is not to disturb the uptrend while they are slowly selling shares of stock over several months time. The bending of the price is a signal that the Dark Pools are in rotation. If a chart has Peaks and Valleys trendline pattern that is NOT Dark Pools. Controlled TWAP orders are automated and controlled by the events of that day.
At some point professional traders and the Sell Side Institutions will recognize the hidden rotation and start setting up sell short trades.
The upside requires more and more buyers to keep the trend moving upward. However, the downside does NOT require more and more sellers. All that is required is a void of buyers and the stock will start a downward correction on the short term or intermediate term trend.
A void of buyers also creates the opportunity for High Frequency Trading companies who are Maker/Takers to sell short. The sell short orders fill the queues of the market before it opens and then the computers of the stock exchanges gap the stock down to a first level of some buyers. HFTs, Hedge Funds and Big Money Center Banks Sell short and place their automated buy to cover order way below causing the stock price to plummet.
Then smaller funds VWAP orders trigger and the stock collapses.
What I am trying to teach is the sell side and the buy side are totally different.
They are NOT mirror images of each other.
Trump’s Tariffs & the Silent Setup — Why This Could Be Bigger ?Hello Traders 🐺
I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s Black Monday 😂 because honestly, it was brutal for all investors.
But corrections like this are always necessary — and I want to talk about that in this idea with a bit more detail.
Also, I’ll update you on the current situation of BTC.D, because as I told you in my last update, the market is about to create a bear trap on the BTC.D chart.
I already shared the proof for this prediction before the dump — you can check it here:
So now, let’s talk about the economic reason behind the dump, and then I’ll go over the technical side of the chart.
This idea I’ll explain how we can use macroeconomic data in our trading decisions.
So make sure to read it carefully and see how you can apply it to your strategy ✅
Do deep corrections always mean danger?
Not necessarily.
Let’s go back and remember some of the biggest crashes in financial history —
The COVID dump or even the famous Black Monday.
If you ask yourself now, “What was the smartest move back then?”
You’ll probably say:
Buy. Accumulate. Because that was the bottom — and we never saw those prices again.
And guess what?
The current state of the market is no different.
So why do I believe Trump’s new tariff policy could actually be bullish?
Let me break it down simply for you:
🔥 The Tariff War: Why it started
For years, most countries had easy access to the U.S. consumer market — the largest in the world — with little or no tariffs.
But U.S. manufacturers didn’t enjoy the same freedom when exporting abroad — they faced heavy tariffs, while also struggling with intense competition inside their own borders due to lack of import restrictions.
So what happened?
✅ The new tariffs brought two key benefits:
1️⃣ Forced negotiations:
Other countries now have to either remove or reduce their own export tariffs to keep trading with the U.S.,
or else they lose access to a market that’s extremely consumption-driven.
2️⃣ Advantage to U.S. domestic production:
If foreign exporters lose access, U.S. producers finally get room to breathe,
and can grow competitively inside their own market.
💰 What happened after tariff fears hit?
In the past month, markets reacted with fear.
A massive amount of capital flew out of financial markets and inflation-hedged assets,
the dollar strengthened, and recession fears grew.
But here’s the twist...
What if Trump had started printing money before this shakeout?
If liquidity was still high, printing more would’ve:
Crushed the dollar
Destroyed consumer buying power
Sparked inflation again
But right now, after money has already been squeezed out of markets and the dollar is strong,
the Fed has a clean path to restart QE (quantitative easing) without tanking the dollar’s value.
So what's next?
Lower interest rates, stimulus packages, subsidies — all will likely come soon.
This time, Trump can inject liquidity exactly where he wants it to go:
Straight into U.S. industry, not into meme coins and junk assets.
With fewer export tariffs, American factories will be more competitive,
U.S. exports could rise, and the country will rely less on foreign production.
And what does this mean for the markets?
Simple.
Once the Fed pivots back to easing, markets will react violently to the upside.
So, as I always say:
Don’t waste this opportunity. Use these prices wisely.
now let's come back into the chart :
As I told you before , BTC.D now is testing the blue monthly resistance line and also hit the rising wedge upward resistance line and in my opinion there is a big chance to see a massive bull market incoming...
I hope you find this idea valuable and as always remember :
🐺 Discipline is rarely enjoyable , but almost always profitable 🐺
🐺 KIU_COIN 🐺
Silver H4 | Heading into a pullback resistanceSilver (XAG/USD) is rising towards a pullback resistance and could potentially reverse off this level to drop lower.
Sell entry is at 30.83 which is a pullback resistance.
Stop loss is at 32.20 which is a level that sits above the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement and a pullback resistance.
Take profit is at 28.80 which is a multi-swing-low support.
High Risk Investment Warning
Trading Forex/CFDs on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Leverage can work against you.
Stratos Markets Limited (www.fxcm.com):
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 63% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Stratos Europe Ltd (www.fxcm.com):
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 63% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Stratos Trading Pty. Limited (www.fxcm.com):
Trading FX/CFDs carries significant risks. FXCM AU (AFSL 309763), please read the Financial Services Guide, Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination and Terms of Business at www.fxcm.com
Stratos Global LLC (www.fxcm.com):
Losses can exceed deposits.
Please be advised that the information presented on TradingView is provided to FXCM (‘Company’, ‘we’) by a third-party provider (‘TFA Global Pte Ltd’). Please be reminded that you are solely responsible for the trading decisions on your account. There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading. Any information and/or content is intended entirely for research, educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment or consultation advice or investment strategy. The information is not tailored to the investment needs of any specific person and therefore does not involve a consideration of any of the investment objectives, financial situation or needs of any viewer that may receive it. Kindly also note that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking or past performance statements. We assume no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of any of the information and/or content provided herein and the Company cannot be held responsible for any omission, mistake nor for any loss or damage including without limitation to any loss of profit which may arise from reliance on any information supplied by TFA Global Pte Ltd.
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Careful Trusting "News" | Fake News TradingOn Monday, April 7th, 2025 amidst incredible market volatility, you'd expect your most trusted news outlet to report on-the-minute news. But most importantly, accurate news .
With the markets down nearly 20% in ~4 trading days, every piece of information matters. But with the age of fast (social) media, news outlets will do anything possible to be the first to report. Even .... posting fake news. The way this works is they get news that's "probably true", they post it, then it's verified to be true. This may work often for them and when it doesn't, nobody really cares. But when you're talking about times of volatility unseen since COVID, all this nonsense gets exposed.
So - at roughly 10:10 AM EST, CNBC reported that there will be a "90-day pause on tariffs". A ground-breaking report that likely caused John Doe to buy $10M in NASDAQ:NVDA calls dated end of July because that's a no-brainer right? It surely cannot be false since CNBC is his go-to trusted news-source and there is just NO WAY that they would ever post any news without being 100% true and verified. ESPECIALLY news about TARIFFS -- the talk of the town (psh, the world actually) at the moment. 90 day pause? That's not something you report lightly. You know the ripple effect that'll have on the markets.
Result of that news report? The markets (e.g. CME_MINI:NQ1! ) jumped 6.60% in under 10 minutes.
Jane Doe likely saw that jump, looked at that news, and rebought her shares that she sold at the bottom earlier this morning.
Surely that news cannot be fake. It's a 90-day tariff pause. That's huge. Surely the White House will see "Yeah baby! We take credit for that".
Nope, at roughly 10:18 AM EST, the same CNBC reported that, "the 90-day pause on tariffs was fake news according to the White House". Results? Market right back down -6.5% in 20 minutes.
Suppose you FOMO'd into AMEX:SPY NASDAQ:QQQ calls.. well, you lost almost everything depending on the strike and date. In this market, manage your RISK and always hedge. Don't forget to thank CNBC, your most trusted news-source for that capital gain loss.
Welcome to trading in 2025. The age of report-first, verify-later. Welcome home.
Be careful listening to the news and take everything they say with a grain of salt. And as always, don't chase the news. KD out.
Fundamental V Technical Analysis, who will win? SELL GOLD?All the information you need to find a high probability trade are in front of you on the charts so build your trading decisions on 'the facts' of the chart NOT what you think or what you want to happen or even what you heard will happen. If you have enough facts telling you to trade in a certain direction and therefore enough confluence to take a trade, then this is how you will gain consistency in you trading and build confidence. Check out my trade idea!!
www.tradingview.com
US Stocks Wipe Out $6.6 Trillion in Two Days—What Just Happened?Shoutout to the real MVPs of April: the traders who did absolutely nothing. You market wizards, zen masters of the sidelines — while others were busy buying the dip that kept on dipping, you outperformed the S&P 500 SP:SPX , avoiding the nastiest market faceplant since the Covid crash of March 2020.
Since April 2, Liquidation Day , Liberation Day , the S&P 500 SP:SPX has nosedived a brutal 10%. That’s officially a correction — the kind that makes you stare out your window like a philosopher, questioning your life choices, your portfolio, and whether you really needed that Nvidia NASDAQ:NVDA call.
This isn’t just a dip. It’s a market reality check served with extra salt. So raise a (half empty?) glass to the ones who stayed flat — you just made Warren Buffett proud . In a world of overtrading, doing nothing was the most alpha move of all.
Everyone who checked the market at least once on Thursday or Friday (even today when futures markets were all red ) knows what that is all about.
It’s Trump’s tariff rollout coming like a wrecking ball. While the US President portrays his efforts as a fair and even lenient response to other countries’ trade policies with the US, investors don't seem to think so.
In just two days, Thursday and Friday, the US stock market washed out $6.6 trillion. The violent selloff threw the Nasdaq Composite NASDAQ:IXIC into a bear market (down 20% from its peak) and the S&P 500 into correction territory. The broad-based Wall Street darling waved goodbye to 6% on Friday, extending its 4.8% loss from the previous day.
On Thursday, Trump unveiled his new plan to boost the US economy through reciprocal tariffs. China got hammered with a total of 54% , while Europe wasn’t spared either, slapped with a flat 20%.
Some uninhabited islands also made the list — Heard and McDonald Islands (Australia's icy outpost) and Jan Mayen (Norway's frozen Arctic rock) got served a 10% tariff.
Now, the thing with tariffs is, they tend to backfire. Because they are paid by the party receiving them, i.e. US companies, they hike the prices of imported goods, squeeze consumers, and isolate the country imposing them. They strain international trade relationships, disrupt supply chains, and — as history shows — often spark retaliation.
And that’s exactly what happened. On Friday, China hit back hard, launching a 34% tariff barrage on US imports — a sharp counter-strike against Trump’s escalating trade war tactics.
What did Trump say on the matter? “CHINA PLAYED IT WRONG, THEY PANICKED - THE ONE THING THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO!” he said on his social media platform.
Just as the markets were a dumpster fire on Friday, Federal Reserve boss Jay Powell gave a speech at a business journalists' conference. In his remarks, he said that Trump’s tariffs would cause “higher inflation and slower growth.”
“It is now becoming clear that the tariff increases will be significantly larger than expected. The same is likely to be true of the economic effects,” Powell said.
Trump's response?
“This would be a PERFECT time for Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to cut Interest Rates. He is always ‘late,’ but he could now change his image, and quickly,” Trump wrote in a post. “Energy prices are down, Interest Rates are down, Inflation is down, even Eggs are down 69%, and Jobs are UP, all within two months - A BIG WIN for America. CUT INTEREST RATES, JEROME, AND STOP PLAYING POLITICS!”
So here we are — $6.6 trillion lighter, futures in free fall, inflation fears reignited, and a full-blown trade war back on the table. The Fed’s caught in a political crossfire, Trump’s turning up the heat, and markets are flashing every red light imaginable.
On top of it all, corporate earnings are just around the corner with the big banks on Wall Street kicking off the first-quarter reporting at the end of this week. Keep track of all big reports in the Earnings Calendar .
One thing’s for sure: this isn’t the time to trade on hope or headlines. It’s the time to trade with eyes wide open, risk tightly managed, and a clear understanding that your next move could shape the rest of your year. Most of all, don’t panic .
Off to you now: are you sitting this one out like Buffett — or are you moving in before the smoke clears?
Position Sizing StrategiesPosition sizing is one of the most important aspects in risk management for traders. Proper position sizing helps manage the risk effectively by maximizing profits and limiting the losses. In this publication, we will explore popular position sizing strategies and how to implement them in pinescript strategies
🎲 Importance of Position Sizing in Trading
Let's take an example to demonstrate the importance of position sizing. You have a very good strategy that gives you win on 70% of the times with risk reward of 1:1. If you start trading with this strategy with all your funds tied into a single trade, you have the risk of losing most of your fund in the first few trades and even with 70% win rate at later point of time, you may not be able to recoup the losses. In such scenarios, intelligent position sizing based on the events will help minimize the loss. In this tutorial, let us discuss some of those methods along with appropriate scenarios where that can be used.
🎲 Position Sizing Strategies Available in Tradingview Strategy Implementation
🎯 Fixed dollar amount position sizing In this method, trader allocate a fixed value of X per trade. Though this method is simple, there are few drawbacks
Does not account for varying equity based on the trade outcomes
Does not account for varying risk based on the volatility of the instrument
🎯 Fixed Percentage of Equity In this method, percent of equity is used as position size for every trade. This method is also simple and slightly better than the Fixed dollar amount position sizing. However, there is still a risk of not accounting for volatility of the instrument for position sizing.
In tradingview strategies, you can find the position sizing settings in the properties section.
In both cases, Pinescript code for the entry does not need to specify quantity explicitly, as they will be taken care by the framework.
if(longEntry)
strategy.entry('long', strategy.long)
if(shortEntry)
strategy.entry('short', strategy.short)
🎲 Advanced Position Sizing Strategies
There are not directly supported in Tradingview/Pinescript - however, they can be programmed.
🎯 Fixed Fractional Method
The Fixed Fractional Method is similar to the fixed percentage of equity method/fixed dollar amount positioning method, but it takes into account the amount of risk on each trade and calculate the position size on that basis. This method calculates position size based on the trader’s risk tolerance, factoring in stop-loss levels and account equity. Due to this, the trader can use any instrument and any timeframe with any volatility with fixed risk position. This means, the quantity of overall trade may vary, but the risk will remain constant.
Example.
Let's say you have 1000 USD with you and you want to trade BTCUSD with entry price of 100000 and stop price of 80000 and target of 120000. You want to risk only 5% of your capital for this trade.
Calculation will be done as follows.
Risk per trade = 5% of 1000 = 50 USD
Risk per quantity = (entry price - stop price) = 20000
So, the quantity to be used for this trade is calculated by
RiskQty = Risk Amount / Risk Per Quantity = 50 / 20000 = 0.0025 BTC
To implement the similar logic in Pinescript strategy by using the strategy order quantity as risk, we can use the following code
riskAmount = strategy.default_entry_qty(entryPrice)*entryPrice
riskPerQty = math.abs(entryPrice-stopPrice)
riskQty = riskAmount/riskPerQty
With this, entry and exit conditions can be updated to as follows
if(longEntry)
strategy.entry('long', strategy.long, riskQty, stop=entryPrice)
strategy.exit('ExitLong', 'long', stop=stopPrice, limit=targetPrice)
if(shortEntry)
strategy.entry('short', strategy.short, riskQty, stop=entryPrice)
strategy.exit('ExitShort', 'short', stop=stopPrice, limit=targetPrice)
🎯 Kelly Criterion Method
The Kelly Criterion is a mathematical formula used to determine the optimal position size that maximizes the long-term growth of capital, considering both the probability of winning and the payoff ratio (risk-reward). It’s a more sophisticated method that balances risk and reward in an optimal way.
Kelly Criterion method needs a consistent data on the expected win ratio. As and when the win ratio changes, the position sizing will adjust automatically.
Formula is as follows
f = W - L/R
f: Fraction of your capital to bet.
W : Win Ratio
L : Loss Ratio (1-W)
R : Risk Reward for the trade
Let's say, you have a strategy that provides 60% win ratio with risk reward of 1.5, then the calculation of position size in terms of percent will be as follows
f = 0.6 - 0.4/1.5 = 0.33
Pinescript equivalent of this calculation will be
riskReward = 2
factor = 0.1
winPercent = strategy.wintrades/(strategy.wintrades+strategy.losstrades)
kkPercent = winPercent - (1-winPercent)/riskReward
tradeAmount = strategy.equity * kkPercent * factor
tradeQty = tradeAmount/entryPrice
🎲 High Risk Position Sizing Strategies
These strategies are considered very high risk and high reward. These are also the strategies that need higher win ratio in order to work effectively.
🎯Martingale Strategy
The Martingale method is a progressive betting strategy where the position size is doubled after every loss. The goal is to recover all previous losses with a single win. The basic idea is that after a loss, you double the size of the next trade to make back the lost money (and make a profit equal to the original bet size).
How it Works:
If you lose a trade, you increase your position size on the next trade.
You keep doubling the position size until you win.
Once you win, you return to the original position size and start the process again.
To implement martingale in Pine strategy, we would need to calculate the last consecutive losses before placing the trade. It can be done via following code.
var consecutiveLosses = 0
if(ta.change(strategy.closedtrades) > 0)
lastProfit = strategy.closedtrades.profit(strategy.closedtrades-1)
consecutiveLosses := lastProfit > 0? 0 : consecutiveLosses + 1
Quantity can be calculated using the number of consecutive losses
qtyMultiplier = math.pow(2, consecutiveLosses)
baseQty = 1
tradeQty = baseQty * qtyMultiplier
🎯Paroli System (also known as the Reverse Martingale)
The Paroli System is similar to the Anti-Martingale strategy but with more defined limits on how much you increase your position after each win. It's a progressive betting system where you increase your position after a win, but once you've won a set number of times, you reset to the original bet size.
How it Works:
Start with an initial bet.
After each win, increase your bet by a predetermined amount (often doubling it).
After a set number of wins (e.g., 3 wins in a row), reset to the original position size.
To implement inverse martingale or Paroli system through pinescript, we need to first calculate consecutive wins.
var consecutiveWins = 0
var maxLimit = 3
if(ta.change(strategy.closedtrades) > 0)
lastProfit = strategy.closedtrades.profit(strategy.closedtrades-1)
consecutiveWins := lastProfit > 0? consecutiveWins + 1 : 0
if(consecutiveWins >= maxLimit)
consecutiveWins := 0
The quantity is then calculated using a similar formula as that of Martingale, but using consecutiveWins
qtyMultiplier = math.pow(2, consecutiveWins)
baseQty = 1
tradeQty = baseQty * qtyMultiplier
🎯D'Alembert Strategy
The D'Alembert strategy is a more conservative progression method than Martingale. You increase your bet by one unit after a loss and decrease it by one unit after a win. This is a slow, incremental approach compared to the rapid growth of the Martingale system.
How it Works:
Start with a base bet (e.g., $1).
After each loss, increase your bet by 1 unit.
After each win, decrease your bet by 1 unit (but never go below the base bet).
In order to find the position size on pinescript strategy, we can use following code
// Initial position
initialposition = 1.0
var position = initialposition
// Step to increase or decrease position
step = 2
if(ta.change(strategy.closedtrades) > 0)
lastProfit = strategy.closedtrades.profit(strategy.closedtrades-1)
position := lastProfit > 0 ? math.max(initialposition, position-step) : position+step
Conclusion
Position sizing is a crucial part of trading strategy that directly impacts your ability to manage risk and achieve long-term profitability. By selecting the appropriate position sizing method, traders can ensure they are taking on an acceptable level of risk while maximizing their potential rewards. The key to success lies in understanding each strategy, testing it, and applying it consistently to align with your risk tolerance and trading objectives.
RSI 101: Scalping Strategy with RSI DivergenceFX:XAUUSD
I'm an intraday trader, so I use the H1 timeframe to identify the main trend and the M5 timeframe for entry confirmation.
How to Determine the Trend
To determine the trend on a specific timeframe, I rely on one or more of the following factors:
1. Market Structure
We can determine the trend by analyzing price structure:
Uptrend: Identified when the market consistently forms higher highs and higher lows. This means price reaches new highs in successive cycles.
Downtrend: Identified when the market consistently forms lower highs and lower lows. Price gradually declines over time.
2. Moving Average
I typically use the EMA200 as the moving average to determine the trend. If price stays above the EMA200 and the EMA200 is sloping upwards, it's considered an uptrend. Conversely, if price is below the EMA200 and it’s sloping downwards, it signals a downtrend.
3. RSI
I'm almost use RSI in my trading system. RSI can also indicate the phase of the market:
If RSI in the 40–80 range, it's considered an uptrend.
If RSI in 20 -60 range, it's considered a downtrend.
In addition, the WMA45 of the RSI gives us additional trend confirmation:
Uptrend: WMA45 slopes upward or remains above the 50 level.
Downtrend: WMA45 slopes downward or stays below the 50 level.
Trading Strategy
With this RSI divergence trading strategy, we first identify the trend on the H1 timeframe:
Here, we can see that the H1 timeframe shows clear signs of a new uptrend:
Price is above the EMA200.
RSI is above 50.
WMA45 of RSI is sloping upward.
To confirm entries, move to the M5 timeframe and look for bullish RSI divergence, which aligns with the higher timeframe (H1) trend.
RSI Divergence, in case you're unfamiliar, happens when:
Price forms a higher high while RSI forms a lower high, or
Price forms a lower low while RSI forms a higher low.
RSI divergence is more reliable when the higher timeframe trend remains intact (as per the methods above), indicating that it’s only a pullback in the bigger trend, and we’re expecting the smaller timeframe to reverse back in line with the main trend.
Stop-loss:
Set your stop-loss 20–30 pips beyond the M5 swing high/low.
Or if H1 ends its uptrend and reverses.
Take-profit:
At a minimum 1R (risk:reward).
Or when M5 ends its trend.
You can take partial profits to optimize your gains:
Take partial profit at 1R.
Another part when M5 ends its trend.
The final part when H1 ends its trend.
My trading system is entirely based on RSI, feel free to follow me for technical analysis and discussions using RSI.
Spy.. Where we standSoo... I will go in detail for you so you can see where my POV comes from..
A summary of this post is a bounce. Back to 525-530 and then a possible new low to 470..
Let's start on the monthly time frame..
I will show you the chart regular then I will show you log scale (Logarithmic).
AMEX:SPY regular
Price is nearing a 5yr trend support
That support is at 495-500. There's a gap at 495 to close from April 19th 2024.. I would say if we were to gap down Monday below 500.00 that's where they will take this before buying it back up to 510.
Now do I think the correction Is over here at this trendline support? I'm leaning at it's a 70% chance we will break this support before End of May.
Why? Because of the sectors.. XLC and XLF is promising more pain to come.. imagine Spy as a car, the sectors are the important parts to keep things in motion . I'll get to the sectors later but let's stick with spy..
Now here's a monthly chart again but this time Log scale
As you can see with exception of the Covid crash spy has pretty much channel traded this the last 14yr bull run
Let's zoom in
As you can see, the bottom of this channel is around 2021 high 477. So I think Spy is headed there before End of May , it could happen sooner but you have to factor in A rally and i don't know how long that can last.
Also NASDAQ:QQQ monthly chart log scale is showing similar outlook
Zoomed in NASDAQ:QQQ
Lastly TVC:NYA
Monthly log scale
Same as Qqq and spy, headed back to 2021 high
NYA no log scale
So I've showed you the indexes now I will show you AMEX:XLF (Financials) and AMEX:XLC (Meta, NFLX)
Here's XLF price is headed back to trendline support 38-39.00 by end of May; that's another 10% drop which supports my theory that spy will tag 470
Zoomed in
XLF
Monthly 50sma aligns with trendline support so that's your target. I think any bounce on banks going into earnings should be faded!
XLC
I can't hammer on the table hard enough about how much pain is coming for this sector and it's tech stocks.. compared to the other sectors this hasn't even got started with the selling when looking at its monthly RSI and MFI. Friday price stopped right at its previous ATH
we are headed back to 82.00 which is another 8% drop on this sector, if 82 doesn't hold them , 60 comes next.. If you OWN meta on NFLX I hope you have a 5yr outlook because there will be pain
..
Now let's get into the bounce, I think a nice bounce comes next week as long as spy opens Monday above 495.00
When it comes to being oversold one of the most reliable tools I like to use is the PRICE RANGE tool with 20sma.
When you look at spy, you'll notice that in a normal market it usually moves between 2½-3½% from it's 20sma.
As of Friday's close we are 10% away from it's 20sma
This type of extension is extreme
Below I will post the last time spy was over 8% extended from it's 20sma and you can see what happened the next few sessions
June 17th 2022
Jan 24th 2022
June 8th 2020
March 2020 Covid crash
Dec 2024 2018
So in the last 7yrs spy has on dropped more that 8% from it's 20sma 5 times and with the exception of the Covid crash 10% extension was the area where you saw price Rallied back within days to retest the 20sma.
So that places us bouncing this week. Now the 20sma is fluid so even though the 20 is at 559 right now depending on how long spy takes to get there the 20ma could gravitate lower
I think 536 gap close minimum comes before we break below 495.
I will update this more tomorrow.. this right up took awhile
SPX500 & Nasdaq: Confluence! Confluence! Confluence!With consumer confidence off at circuit breaking levels, the market, technically, has reached extreme levels of support. Let's look at it:
Technicals:
(1) Horizontal Levels of support
(2) 50%/61.8% fib confluence
(3) exDiv1
(4) extreme indicators
(5) Chikou span testing cloud support
(6) 28% drop is SPX
All of these levels are lining up around the same location. And just like in real estate "Location! Location! Location!" is the adage; in markets, "Confluence! Confluence! Confluence!" is the adage!