PSYCHOLOGY

ICT TRADING PLAN

TOP DOWN ANALYSIS (BIAS AND DIRECTION)

DETAILED TOP DOWN ANALYSIS RULES

UNDERSTANDING COMMITMENT OF TRADERS (COT)

MARKET PROFILES

SUPPORT / RESISTANCE AREAS

AREAS OF CONFLUENCE

FIBONACCI

OTE PATTERNS

SESSION TRADING

PRICE ACTION

HIGH PROBABILITY PRICE PATTERNS

TRADING SWINGS

ICT TRADING CONCEPTS

ICT TRADING METHODS

INSIDERS TRADING METHODS

PROFESSIONALS USE OF INDICATORS

MISC VIDEO NOTES

TRADE RULES

RISK MANAGEMENT

TRADING INSIDE THE RANGE

ICT TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

PSYCHOLOGY
Below is basic psychology a trader needs to understand before beginning to trade. Ensure
the following concepts are understood and planned out before trading:
1. Understand the asset class you are trading (i.e. don’t follow 20 pairs at once)
 2. Think independently and use your own analysis (turn off the TV and rumor sites)
3. Develop and adhere to your personal trade profile and compressive trade plan
4. Utilize and exercise impeccable equity management (1-1.5% risk per trade for new,
2% for exp.)
5. Don’t assume to know where price will go (i.e. no predictions), setup your trades
per your analysis in anticipation IF the market moves in your direction
6. Think in terms of probability and not absolutes, there are no absolutes in trading

Trade like a Sniper

Traders who learn to pick and choose their trades like a Forex “sniper” are typically the
ones who succeed.  Traders who fail act like machine-guns by shooting at everything they
see (overtrading) and/or tend to run out of ammo (money) very quickly.
1.  Less is More
o Wait patiently for anticipated target to come into view as a result of your own
analysis.
o Act only when your set of criteria are met.
3. Higher Time Frames
o The higher the timeframe the more reliable the target, information is
presented. Looking at Monthly or Weekly time frames only does not give you
enough targets to trade.
o Base most of your analysis off of Daily and 4-Hour charts to identify high
value, probability targets.
o Work with the lower timeframes (1-Hour and 15-Min) to manage the
circumstances around the trade.
3. Patience
o Most beginning traders lose money in the markets, and most beginning
traders are also anything BUT patient.
o For beginner traders, fight the tendency to make yourself trade because you
have the idea that trading will earn you money. Only smart trading with a
plan can make you money.
o Wait for confirmation by multiple factors before jumping into a trade to avoid
false moves.
3. Fear and Greed
o Combat natural tendencies of fear and greed by documenting and diligently
following a trading plan.
o Make trading about following rules, plans, and risk management.  NOT about
emotions.

ICT TRADING PLAN

Every night at Midnight (New York) I calculate new day Pivot Points for the Cable
(GBP/USD) and post them on my charts. I then note key support and resistance levels
from Monthly charts down to five minute charts.
 
I determine my trade bias for the new session and while I do look for trades in this
direction, I'm not married to the notion the market must bend to my expected direction...
I am flexible. The market is always right and I can accept being wrong every day as long
as I can be willing to change my bias based on current price action.
 
If we are trading in the Pivot levels above the Central Pivot level... I demand a lot for
buys. Ideally I focus on trades that show a short term overbought condition and price in
the area at or above R1 or R2 for shorts. This is even more powerful if the previous day’s
high is slightly below the R1 or R2 level.
 
In other words, I look for false breakouts above previous day’s highs at R1 and or R2
levels. I use stops and limits to get me in at the levels and use a 30 pip stop or less
initially. As the trade makes the spread up and moves in my favor, I look to reduce the
risk and tighten the stop. My exits are predetermined and can be at market if things get
hairy.
 
I use candle formations and basic chart patterns to determine low risk trades and targets
are typically 25-30 pips before scaling out some of the position. I generally try to hold for
the average daily range in pips before exiting for the remaining portion.
 
The reverse can be said for buys. I like short term oversold conditions and price in the S1
and or S2 levels under the Central Pivot. I like buying previous day’s low or a false break
under this level given the conditions warrant a bounce.
 
I like trading at the figure, the markets like round numbers and options get tripped at
these points so they are an easy trade multiple times per month. You can trade for a
living just doing that as a method, new traders!
 
So here is what I will be doing this week:
I will short previous day’s highs and buy previous day's lows. If I get stopped out and the
market finds support above the previous day’s low, I will buy. If the market finds
resistance at the previous day’s high after being penetrated I will short it.
 
I take two trades per day max, if I win on the first; I close shop and bank the wins. If I
lose on the first I try to capture the trade as described above... if it loses too, I close
shop. No emotions, no muss no fuss.
 
If a Pivot level finds itself at the Figure, say Cable 1.51, I will look to buy it at that point if
price has traded down to it and conversely for price trading up to it. I just found the
MeetPips.com site and created an account. I will do my best to highlight trades with this
as it apparently gives real time or close to it tracking?

TOP DOWN ANALYSIS (BIAS AND DIRECTION)

1. The Basic Top Down Analysis:
1. Study US Dollar Index for general market direction
2. Refer to the COT report and note the Commercial Trader's net position
3. Consider the Commercial Traders as the "Smart Money" - thus try to position
like trades
4. Refer to and monitor daily the 2, 5, 10, and 30 year note line chart overlay
5. On the Treasury Note overlay, look for failure swings to provide clues to the
future direction of the US Dollar
6. If the yields are dropping and one of the three yields fail to make a lower
low, look for US Dollar to bounce
7. If yields are rising and one of the three yields fails to make a higher high,
look for US Dollar to slide lower
8. A bullish US Dollar translates to lower foreign currencies
9. A bearish US Dollar translates to higher foreign currencies
10. Look at the monthly, weekly, and daily charts of the currency pairs
traded, noting key support and resistance levels
 11. Determine the market flow on the daily, 4-hour, and 1-hour charts via
swing highs and lows
12. Try to trade in line with the long term (top down) directional bias and
when the 4-hour market flow is in sync. This will filter many false signals and
assist us in high probability trade setups
13. When there is no clear definable direction, remain flat and sidelined
until there is a clear bias
3. Market Bias
1. Bias is determined by swings, use fractals to help quickly and visually identify
swing areas on the daily, 4hr, 1hr
2. Want to have confluence of daily/4hr or 4hr/60m, or all 3 in terms of swings
3. When swing low fractal is formed, the PA must trade below that low fractal to
the downside for market flow to be considered short
4. If price does not trade below the low fractal formed, then price action is long
5. Only consider fractals to the immediate left of the price action, prior fractals
are no longer valid
4. Higher Time Frame Analysis
a. Higher Time Frame to Lower
 Monthly Chart > Identify key S&R levels and direction
 Weekly Chart > Identify key S&R levels and direction
 Daily Chart > Identify key S&R levels and direction
 1-Hour Chart > Spend most of your time here learning tendencies of hourly
 15-Min Chart > Timeframe where most trends, projections, objectives are
made. Trade management timeframe
 5-Min > Enter trades at 5-min
a. Stops - If there are trades that require more than a 30 pip stop loss,
probably let that trade go and look for another opportunity to enter
b. Respectable Swing - When looking for swings to draw Fib, etc., look for price
moves of 40 pips or greater
c. Seasonal Tendencies
i. USD
1. Typically tops out in the middle of February and declines into
mid-March.
2. Last half of March is usually strong and then sells off in April
(and last bit of March).
3. Beginning to middle of May is a strong time for the USD.
4. Middle of June usually marks a short-term high and the USD
declines into the end of August.
5. Rally from beginning of August to early to mid-September.
6. After this the lines become divergent meaning signals are less
clear and no strong seasonal patterns are blatantly present.
ii. EUR
1. The Euro typically forms a bottom in mid-February and then
moves higher into mid-march. A pull back then occurs then we
see another climb into the end of April.
2. Another low in June which climbs into late July/early August.
3. Usually a decline from early August to early September.
4. Early to late September begins a bullish trend for Euro through
year end with a pullback in October.
iii. GBP
1. The Pound typically forms a bottom in early March and then
moves higher into the end of April.
2. Early May to mid-May is usually a bearish time.
 3. A bottom typically forms again in mid-May we see a move
higher into early August.
4. Price usually peak early in August and decline into mid-
September.
5. Price peaks in early November and the price slides into mid-to-
late November.
6. Prices bottom in late November and rally into the end of the
year.

DETAILED TOP DOWN ANALYSIS RULES

1. Long Term Analysis Use USDX – General market direction
1. USDX is a measure of the value of the U.S. dollar relative to majority of its
most significant trading partners. Basket index of 6 currencies (the euro,
Japanese yen, Canadian dollar, British pound, Swedish krona and Swiss
franc.)
2. Risk Off Environment - If USD Index is poised to go higher (lack of risk
tolerance), foreign currencies may see selling pressure. Example: GBP/USD
would move lower
3. Risk On Environment - If USD Index is poised to go lower (risk tolerance),
foreign currencies may see buying pressure. Example: GBP/USD would move
higher
b. COT (Commitment of Traders)
1. Consider the Commercial Traders as the “Smart Money”. Examine actual
positions of traders and the net change from prior report (commercials)
2. Look for extreme net positions in the data, warn of major trend change
3. Commercial sentiment is contrary to commercial activity (i.e. hedging)
1. When sentiment is bearish while commercial hedges hold large net
longs, expect a rally to unfold or trend change long
2. When sentiment is bullish while commercial hedges hold large net
short, expect sizable decline to unfold in the market
3. When above is not in effect, trade the trend with Large traders;
commercials are hedgers on other side of positions, large traders will
have largest net on at extreme levels, look for extremes between large
and commercial positions for clue of market change
4. Bond Yield Analysis – T-Note Analysis
a. Debt Interest Rates
i. Increasing interest rates, increased foreign currency value, decreased
local currency.
ii. Decreasing interest rates, decreased foreign currency value, increased
local currency.
b. Bond Yield Divergence - Monitor yields of 2, 5, 10, and 30 year notes.
Identify divergence of one or more of the yields as a chart overlay.
 c. As yields move higher (or lower) at some point, 1 will form a failure sign as
one yield fails to post higher highs or lower lows on the line chart, this is
signal confirmation that USDX poised to change direction
5. Market Flow - Fractals
c. Swing Highs - Ideal setup is having two lower high candles on each side of
the Fractal High candle. Most recent Swing High is the Pivot Point and must
be breached to the upside before Market Flow turns up.
c. Swing Lows - Ideal setup is having two higher low candles on each side of
the Fractal Low candle. Most recent Swing Low is the Pivot Point and must be
breached to the downside before Market Flow turns down.

c. Only the most recent Swing High / Low are utilized for determining Market
Flow with old Swings disregarded
c. There is strong agreement of Market Flow if Daily, 4 Hour, and 1 Hour
timeframes are in line. Focus on 4 Hour Market Flow for consistency.
 c. Fractals by definition can be identified from the higher time frame on down to
each lower time frame. You should be able to find an OTE at each time frame
down to the lower ones. (July 12 - Pro Traders Club 32:00)
6. Futures Contracts
1. Look at future contract closing and whether the lead month closed higher
than 2nd month (i.e. this month’s contract closed higher than next month’s
contract)
2. Backwardation– when 2nd month closes lower than lead month, indicates
that premium is no lead month and therefore there is strong demand for the
contract
3. If a huge difference in close prices, can indicate a change in price
movement…the further the price difference in the futures contract the more
price will likely change towards the future price
b. Open Interest (OI)
1. This is the total number of longs and shorts moving into the future’s
instrument
2. If increase in OI, indicate commercials increasing net shorts, when OI
decreases, commercials reducing net shorts (i.e. price will go up)
3. OI useful in the following case: want to see market trade in direction, go into
consolidation, then see OI drop or rise around 15% suddenly during
consolidation
1. If market trades up, consolidates, and OI drop, probability market will
move up
2. If market trades down, consolidates, and OI increases, probability
market will move down (as commercials are adding to hedge)
ii. Cannot use OI move by itself
 
KEY POINTS:
 Trade in line with the long term (Top Down) directional bias and when the 4-hour
Market Flow is in sync.
 When there is no clear definable direction, we remain flat and sidelined until there
is a clear bias.

UNDERSTANDING COMMITMENT OF TRADERS (COT)

1. Why the COT Report?
It is difficult to quantify volume traded at each price level since the currency market
is decentralized and there is no single exchange that tracks all trading activities.  In
place of volume-based trading, many traders look to the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission's (CFTC) Commitments of Traders (COT) report for more
information on positioning and volume.  If used wisely, the COT data can be a
pretty strong gauge of price action. The caveat here is that examining the data can
be tricky, and the data release is delayed as the numbers are published every
Friday for the previous Tuesday's contracts, so the information comes out three
business days after the actual transactions take place.

2. Reading the COT Report

Here is a quick list of some of the items appearing in the report and what they
mean:
o Commercial - Describes an entity involved in the production, processing, or
merchandising of a commodity, using futures contracts primarily for hedging
o Long Report - Includes all of the information on the "short report", along
with the concentration of positions held by the largest traders
 o Open Interest - The total number of futures or options contracts not yet
offset by a transaction, by delivery or exercise
o Noncommercial (Speculators) - Traders, such as individual traders, hedge
funds and large institutions, who use futures market for speculative purposes
and meet the reportable requirements set forth by the CFTC
o Nonreportable Positions - Long and short open-interest positions that
don't meet reportable requirements set forth by the CFTC
o Number of Traders - The total number of traders who are required to
report positions to the CFTC
o Reportable Positions - The futures and option positions that are held above
specific reporting levels set by CFTC regulations
o Short Report - Shows open interest separately by reportable and non-
reportable positions
o Spreading - Measures the extent to which a non-commercial trader holds
equal long and short futures positions

Taking a look at the sample report, we see that open interest on Tuesday June 7,
2005, was 193,707 contracts, an increase of 3,213 contracts from the previous
week. Noncommercial traders or speculators were long 22,939 contracts and short
40,710 contracts - making them net short. Commercial traders, on the other hand,
were net long, with 19,936 more long contracts than short contracts (125,244 -
105,308). The change in open interest was primarily caused by an increase in
commercial positions as non-commercials or speculators reduced their net-short
positions.

3. Three Primary Premises

a. Flips in market positioning may be accurate trending indicators.
b. Extreme positioning in the currency futures market has historically been
accurate in identifying important market reversals.
c. Changes in open interest can be used to determine strength of trend.
4. COT – Commitment of Traders
1. Commercials – Most informed group and provide countertrade position for
the majority of open interest in the market. These are the “Smart Money”.
1. Standard Commercial Accumulation Phase:

     
ii. Commercials are the largest short sellers in the marketplace because
they are hedging their business needs.
ii. Commercials control the long term trend based on 12 month or 4 year
extremes.
1. Coming from 12- mon or 4-yr extreme net short, we're in sell
program.
2. Coming from 12-mon or 4-yr extreme net long, we're in buy
program.

b. Large Speculators – Large firm traders, funds, and high level private
speculators who for the most part trend trade. Generally on the right side of
the market
b. Small Speculators – Majority of traders. They are the “Dumb Money”.
Consistently wrong on the side of the market.
6. Open Interest in COT Data
 1. Open interest tends to increase when new money is poured into the market,
meaning that speculators are betting more aggressively on the current
market direction. Thus, an increase in total open interest is generally
supportive of the current trend, and tends to point to a continuation of the
trend, unless sentiment changes based on an influx of new information.
2. Conversely, overall open interest tends to decrease when speculators are
pulling money out of the market, showing a change in sentiment, especially if
open interest has been rising before.
3. In a steady uptrend or downtrend, open interest should (ideally) increase.
This implies that longs are in control during an uptrend, or shorts are
dominating in a downtrend. Decreasing open interest serves as a potential
warning sign that the current price trend may be lacking real power, as no
significant amount of money has entered the market.
4. Therefore, as a general rule of thumb, rising open interest should point to a
continuation of the current price move, whether in an uptrend or downtrend.
Declining or flat open interest signals that the trend is waning and is probably
near its end.
5. When open interest rises or drops quickly, likely price moves in the opposite
direction.
6. Conventional Price Relationship:
1. Open Interest Up, price up is bullish
2. Open Interest Up, price down is bearish
3. Open Interest Down, price up is bearish
4. Open Interest Down, price down is bearish

MARKET PROFILES
1. Consolidation Range Profile
1. Consolidation Range Profile - Understand where you are in the move that
may already exist.  If in bearish market environment, during a consolidation
range you can identify false breakouts to trade against or opportunities to
enter short with an OTE.
2. Establish Position During Consolidation - Periods of consolidation are typically
the opportunity to establish your position in anticipation of where the trend
will go. Look for times candles/bars are small to enter trades.
 c. Trade Entry on Opposing Candle - You want to enter trades when the
bar/candle goes against the market profile direction. If profile is long, enter
trades on a down candle.
c. ICT Preference - ICT prefers not to follow trades into new territory as it
usually tries to come back down to the range.  Base trading on known levels.
2. Breakout - Valid & False Profile
2. Trending Profile
2. Reversal Profile - The profile will form a sell day during a bullish Asian, London
and possibly NY session but fail to hold its rally and reverse lower. It will form a buy
day during a bearish Asian, London and possibly NY session but will fail to hold its
lower price slide and reverse higher. Typically NYO, LC and late NY session will post
the reversal.
1. Swing Down
1. Swing down to a key weekly and/or daily support and breakthrough
before turning up and reversing.
2. Reversal may break into new session highs before it settles into a
trading range for a new trading day.

b. Swing Up
1. Swing up to a key weekly and/or daily resistance and breakthrough
before retracing down.
2. Reversal may break into new session lows before it settles into a
trading range for a new trading day.
5. Search & Destroy – Trending Sideways Market: Banks will look to clear out stops
to gain additional liquidity.
a. A range forms after swing low and swing high. Support and Resistance areas
are formed in the range. Market will look to take out the longs by dipping
below the established support level of the range.

b. Next the market will look to take out the shorts by shooting back up above
the resistance levels.
c. Dealers will then target the stops around the swing points and shoot above
previous highs to trigger the stops of the shorts.

d. Traders thinking that the previous move finally signals a buy breakout will
then be fooled as the dealers will look to take out the stops around the
previous swing low point.
SUPPORT / RESISTANCE AREAS
1. Support (Demand): This is an area where buyers are likely going to overwhelm
sellers causing the market to go up.  When a market falls down to a prior low, it is
more significant than when a market falls down to a prior high. 
2. Resistance (Supply): This is an area where sellers are likely going to overwhelm
buyers, causing the market to go down. When a market trades up to a prior high, it
is more significant than when a market trades up a prior low.  
3. Support can become resistance and resistance can become support if prices break
through these areas.

4. Confluence of S&R areas is a key concept to the trade entry.  The listings below are
considered key S&R areas to consider for confluence. There is no right or wrong
confluence setup, the more confluence you have the higher the probability the
trade outcome.  The easiest way to find Key levels to anticipate reactions in the
future is to begin with the long term charts and work your way down to the lowest
timeframe you intend to trade from.
4. Natural S&R Levels
a. High / Lows based off: 12 months rolling; Quarterly; Monthly; Weekly; Daily;
4hr
i. Monthly Charts - Note the highs the market turned at and the lows
the market turned at. These levels are the obvious levels that any
quick glance would reveal. Do not strain your eyes and waste time
wondering if a specific level is a Key level... it is because it is obvious.
These market turning points are obvious... do not over think them.

ii. Weekly Charts - The long term Monthly Key S&R levels will appear on
these charts as well as new Key Levels the Monthly timeframe was not
so apparent to see.
 iii. Daily Charts - This is where the banks work from. All the longer term
Monthly and Weekly S&R levels are to be plotted on this Daily time
frame. The Daily chart will present its own Key S&R levels and these
need noting as well.

iv. Intraday Time Periods (4-hour, 1-hour, and 15min) - These will
show excellent reaction levels to anticipate trades to set up on far in
the future and this is the key to proper trade selection and developing
patience. Note the Key S&R levels on your individual intraday charts
you like to use.
b. Session Highs and Lows (Asia most important)
iv. Asian Session sets the parameters for the following London session
1. Begins: 7pm EST or 12am GMT
2. Ends: 4am EST or 9am GMT
3. Allow up to 1 hour before and after these times
iv. London Session sets the parameters for the following New York
session
1. Begins: 3am EST or 8am GMT
 2. Ends: 12pm EST or 5pm GMT
3. Allow up to 1 hour before and after these times
iv. New York Session sets the parameters for the following new trading
session’s trading
1. Begins: 8am EST or 1pm GMT
2. Ends: 5pm EST or 10pm GMT
3. Allow up to 1 hour before and after these times
ii. Intraday Fractal (money flow and ITL or ITH) - Use the 15 minute as a go
to chart for monitoring short term swings for lower risk entries and fine
tuning stop placement on open positions.
ii. Trend Line Analysis (channels, obvious trends)
6. Implied S&R Levels
1. Fib Levels
1. Retracement
2. Extensions
ii. Pivot Points
1. Monthly Pivots
2. Weekly Pivots
3. Daily Pivots
b. Other S&R Levels
i. Previous Day Close/Open
ii. Institutional Price Levels (IPL) - Institutional Traders may determine timing
of trades around 100 pip price levels (0.20, 0.50, 0.80, etc.)
iii. Trading to a prior low or high
iv. Daily ADR high/low

KEY POINTS:
 The more times a support and resistance area is “hit”, the more significant it is.
 Only the most recent Swing High / Low are utilized for determining Market Flow
with old Swings disregarded.

AREAS OF CONFLUENCE
1. Market Structure - As markets decline and make lower lows, each new swing
lower in price is anchored or directly reacting to another swing higher or lower.
Every swing in price has an equal counter swing it is unfolding from and attempting
to fulfill.
1. Any Short Term Long (STL) that has a higher STL on both sides of it is
considered an Intermediate Term Low (ITL).  Any ITL that has a higher ITL
on both sides of it is considered a Long Term Low (LTL).
2. Any Short Term High (STH) that has a lower STH on both sides of it is
considered an Intermediate Term High (ITH).  Any ITH that has a lower ITH
on both sides of it is considered a Long Term High (LTH).
3. Trade primarily on the side of the trend. Long on bullish and short on
bearish.
2. Swing Points - Market declines and makes lower lows; on each new swing lower in
price, the price is “anchored” or directly reacting to another swing lower
1. Each swing in price has equal counter swing
2. PA needs to move at least 40 pips to be considered a swing (on GU at least)
3. Market trades from short term lows (STL) to short term highs (STH) back to
new STL. At STL and STH, PA will develop market structures
1. Intermediate term low (ITL): STL that has higher STL on either side
2. Intermediate term high (ITH): STH that has lower STH on both sides
3. Long term low (ITL): ITL that has higher ITL on either side
4. Long term high (ITH): ITH that has lower ITH on both sides
d. Swings: look at swings and understand every move is anchored to previous
low or high and PA becomes clear it is pivoting on a 50% basis of the
previous lows and highs
1. If swing moves 50 pips, after consolidation if it continues higher and
breaches the swing high, anticipate another 50 pips move added to the
low during consolidation
2. If PA fails to trade above the previous swing high, anticipate a decline
of 50 pips from the high made on most recent rally/consolidation
3. Session High/Low- the high/low of the 3 different sessions. Asia is most
important and the high/low usually sets the day’s S&R for London and UK.
1. Session Time- Asia 7pm EST -9pm EST (12-4 GMT); London 3 am – 12 pm
EST (9-17 GMT); NY 8am – 5pm EST (12-20 GMT)
2. When drawing the high/low of Asia, use the hard bodies and not the wicks.
Only use wicks if a candle is a strong hammer.
5. Range Expansion / Contraction - Daily ranges typically swing from large range
days to small range days and vice versa.
5. Institutional Price Level (IPL) - Price levels where commercials usually enter the
market. They are 00, .20, .50, .80 located between every 100 pip marking (e.g.
1.0100, 1.0120, 1.0150, 1.0180)
 1. The Figure - Term used by traders to refer to a 100 point/pip level or even a
mid point to the Figure. Example, 1.5550, 1.5450, and 1.5350.
2. Basic Big Figure Model
1. Price can trade to and bounce/retrace from a big figure level.
2. Look for confluence of supporting levels, OTE, etc.  Always take the
Figure in light of where we stand in the overall market flow, structure,
and trend.
ii. Anticipate Sweeps - Anticipate price sweeping higher and lower than the
Figure to take out stops above and below the level.
6. Trading to Prior Low or High:
d. On Long, when market falls down to prior low, this move is more significant
than when market falls down to prior high
d. On Short, when market trades up to prior high, this move is more significant
than when market trades up to prior low
d. Fibs- Draw fibs using the swings, sweet spot is the 62-79% level with 72%
being most optimal
d. Range Cycle Calculations
1. Market cycles in large and small ranges, as daily starts to close near
prior close it is a small range
2. For swing high ranges, count day/bars between previous swing highs
and multiply by 1.28, then count forward that #. Should indicate
where a new high will unfold
3. For swing lows, count days between prior lows and multiply by 1.28
7. Pivot Points - Typically, when price is trading above central pivot, it's time to sell.
When trading below, it's time to buy. If price has not gone below central pivot for
the day, it may act as support. It may act as resistance if price has not gone above
central pivot for the day.
Daily Pivots
 Use pivots as a tool to find anticipated levels to trade on in the future.  Drawn by
hand or indicator from 12am EST. Central pivot acts as an anchor for PA. PA acts
like a rubber band; it moves away from central pivot and then pulls back towards it.
However, like a rubber band, once trend takes off it will snap and fly. Used best in
range trading periods.
1. Buy Zone- Area below central pivot
2. Sell Zone- Area above central pivot
3. You can buy in a sell zone if you are trading between pivots opposed to trend
trading
8. OTE – Optimal Trade Entry - Deep Fib Retracement - The ~62 and ~79
retracement levels because they are almost at the full 100% retracement. OTE
would be roughly the 50% level between the 62 and 79 levels.

FIBONACCI
Traders use the Fibonacci Retracement levels as potential support and resistance
areas. Since so many traders watch these same levels and place buy and sell orders on
them to enter trades or place stops, the support and resistance levels tend to become a
self-fulfilling prophecy.

Traders use the Fibonacci Extension levels as profit taking levels. Again, since so
many traders are watching these levels to place buy and sell orders to take profits, this
tool tends to work more often than not due to self-fulfilling expectations.

The Fibonacci tool works best when the market is trending.  The idea is to go long (or
buy) on a retracement at a Fibonacci support level when the market is trending up, and to
go short (or sell) on a retracement at a Fibonacci resistance level when the market is
trending down. In order to find these retracement levels, you have to find the recent
significant Swing Highs and Swings Lows. Then, for downtrends, click on the Swing High
and drag the cursor to the most recent Swing Low.      For uptrends, do the opposite. Click
on the Swing Low and drag the cursor to the most recent Swing High.

1. Previous Three Days - Reference the previous three days when trying to determine
points to draw Fibs at the Highs/Lows.
2. Session Highs Lows - You can use a Session High/Low when drawing Fibs. Not just
only daily highs/lows.
UPTREND
DOWNTREND

1. Targeting - Using Fib Retracement

1. Upside Objective: Pull Fib from recent swing high to the swing low. First take
profit would be around the 100 level and then the 200 level.
2. Downside Objective: Pull Fib from recent swing low to the swing high. First
take profit would be around the 100 level and then the 200 level.
3. Always look to the left of price to identify other key price levels which may
coincide with the targeted price objective.
 2. Targeting - Using Fib Expansion
a. Upside Objective: Pull from the buy point on the swing low towards the
previous swing high. This will show the expansion levels.
b. Downside Objective: Pull from the sell point on the swing high towards the
previous swing low. This will show the expansion levels.

3. Prolonged Targeting - Use Fib Retracement and instead of pulling from high to low
and the high sits on the 100 level, raise the Fib tool so that the high sits on the 50
level. You'll see the extension levels move higher for a longer range price objective
in a trending higher market.

OTE PATTERNS
1. Standard OTE
1. OTE Pattern – Long: Don’t react to price movements, anticipate. Anticipate
and trade into key support levels. Buy as price goes down and approaches
the swing low. If bar "wicks", you can move stops or take trades off to break
even.
 v. Anticipate price to go down to support level and bounce up. The touch
of the support is #1.
v. Bounce up to a short term high at point #2. Anticipate trade to go
back down and retest support.
v. Look to enter long in the ""Sweet Spot"" (Between 62 and 79 levels
~70.5)
v. First take profit point would be when trade reaches point #2 price or
20 pips.
v. Protective stop loss is 10 pips minimum below point #1.
b. OTE Pattern – Short: Don’t chase price action. If price goes up, don’t
assume it will always move up. Anticipate and trade short into key resistance
levels. Sell as price goes up and approaches the swing high. If bar "wicks",
you can move stops or take trades off to break even.

x. Identify, anticipate price to go down to resistance level and retraces

down. The touch of the resistance is #1.
x. Retrace down to a short term low at point #2. Anticipate trade to go
back up and retest resistance.
x. Look to enter short in the "Sweet Spot" (Between 62 and 79 levels
~70.5)
x. First take profit point would be when trade reaches point #2 price or
20 pips.
x. Protective stop loss is 10 pips minimum above point #1.

2. ICT Reflection Pattern - The Anti-OTE

a. Buy Example: You'll have a significant low and you anticipate the move is to
chase stops below the level.  In order to approximate the price level to enter,
draw a Fib from low to high and look to go long at the 100 level. When
looking to the left, it will appear to be an OTE Reflection.
 You can pull the Fib from the high to line up the previous low at the OTE level
and you'll see how the recent low at the 100 level was spot on.
b. Sell Example: You'll have a significant high and you anticipate the move is
to chase stops above the level.  In order to approximate the price level to
enter, draw a Fib from recent high to low and look to go short at the 100
level.

You can pull the Fib from the low to line up the previous high at the OTE level
and you'll see how the recent high at the 100 level was spot on. When
looking to the left, it will appear to be an OTE Reflection.

3. Hidden OTE
You can draw Fibs from other important areas of confluence like recent highs/lows
or session highs lows to find an OTE.
SESSION TRADING 
1. Asian Session - The Asian Range determines the directional bias or likely direction
for the majority of the London & NY sessions. Where the money is positioned in
Asian dictates the profit release on the trading day. Typically trades counter the NY
session direction in a corrective bounce.

1. Asian Kill Zone

1. 6:00pm - 10:00pm EST is typical Asian Kill Zone for trades.  Kill Zone
is the time of day where you'd ideally look for a trade.
2. Asian Session is better for position trading in long term positions.
ii. Whiplash Short & Catapult Buy
1. Sunday Open Gap Higher from Friday's Close
2. Wait for initial attempts to continue higher and watch SMT for Negative
or Bearish Divergence.
3. Short near Sunday Opening and look for exit at the Friday Closing
Range.
4. For bullish environments you can buy the SMT Positive or Bullish
Divergence inside and or at the Friday closing range upon gap filling.
5. Take profits at 20 pips and set remaining portion to breakeven and
look for London continuation into NY session.
c. Whiplash Buy & Catapult Short
1. Sunday Open Gap Lower from Friday's Close
2. Wait for initial attempts to continue lower and watch SMT for Positive
or Bullish Divergence.
3. Buy near Sunday Opening and look for exit at the Friday Closing
Range.
4. For bearish environments you can short the SMT Negative or Bearish
Divergence inside and or at the Friday closing range upon gap filling.
5. Take profits at 20 pips and set remaining portion to breakeven and
look for London continuation into NY session.

d. Lazy Asian Session - Session doesn’t typically attempt to break into new
highs / lows.
d. Asian Session Buy - Typically trades counter the NY session direction in a
corrective bounce.
1. Asian Session rarely sees follow through on new lows.
2. On higher timeframes like Weekly, Daily, 4 Hour, and or 60 minute
charts, note Key Support Levels.
3. Anticipate OTE Buys to form in Asian Session when price trades down
into Support.
4. Take profits at OTE levels for NY Swing and leave portion for
continuation into London.
 f. Asian Session Sell - Typically trades counter the NY session direction in a
corrective bounce.
1. Asian Session rarely sees follow through on new highs.
2. On higher timeframes like Weekly, Daily, 4 Hour, and or 60 minute
charts, note Key Resistance Levels.
3. Anticipate OTE Sells to form in Asian Session when price trades up into
Resistance.
4. Take profits at OTE levels for NY Swing and leave portion for
continuation into London.

2. London Open
a. London Open Kill Zone Sweet Spot – 7:30am - 8:30am GMT
b. Long Opportunity - Raid Stops then Shoot for Support
i. Goal is to dial in on the Low of the day to go long from.
1. First objective after London Open is to raid Asian High stops.
2. After stops are taken out, price moves lower testing key support
levels & OTE.
3. From London Open to Close or 18:00 GMT, the Daily Range is
put in and you should not use tight trailing stops.   
ii. In Bullish conditions you may leave a portion of the trade on beyond
18:00 GMT for short term overnight trades that can pay well with only
10-20% of original position.
c. Short Opportunity - Raid Stops then Shoot for Resistance
1. Goal is to dial in on the High of the day to short from.
1. First objective after London Open is to raid Asian Low stops.
2. After stops are taken out, candles move higher to test key
resistance levels & OTE.
3. From London Open to Close or 18:00 GMT, the Daily Range is
put in and you should not use tight trailing stops.
2. In Bearish conditions you may leave a portion of the trade on beyond
18:00 GMT for short term overnight trades that can pay well with only
10-20% of original position.
 d. London Open
1. During a higher TF consolidation, we wait for the daily range to
contract. Monitor the hourly charts for consolidation near key S/R
levels. The ideal setup would lead to range expansion which means
that the previous day is usually a short range day. Use the high/low of
previous day to measure OTE.
2. The setup usually occurs after a daily fractal forms at a key level. Look
for confluence of Support & Resistance, weekly pivots and projection
targets. Number the bars of the Head & Shoulders pattern from 1 to 5,
3 being the head. In a perfect world days 3 & 4 are short range days
and I would use Bar #4 as the green light to anticipate range
expansion on days 5 & 6.
3. The setup occurs more frequently during a higher TF range expansion.
In this environment sentiment is a major catalyst for frequent LO
setups. I use a 30 Period Williams %R on the 4Hr chart to gauge short
term sentiment.
4. Price is relentlessly reaching for a key level. Look for confluence of
Support & Resistance, weekly pivots and projection targets. If price
retraces during LO, to retest a S&R level, the run is usually short lived
and a swift move towards our target can be expected at NYO.
5. During a smaller TF range expansion, I use the 50 period %R on the
30Min chart as a sentiment meter. Also used to gauge counter-trend
exhaustion and key off of S/R role reversals.
3. London Close
d. London Close Kill Zone
1. London Close at 11am EST Approx.
2. Kill Zone is between 10am - 1pm EST.
3. Generally the market will look to encounter profit taking around 11am
EST as London traders close their trading day and NY traders are
taking lunch.
iv. Two Dominant Trade Types
 1. Counter Trend Trade: Quick 15-20 pip scalp using 5-min chart for
short-term market exposure.
2. London Close Trend Trade: Trend trade entry to get in sync with the
daily trend or long term price swing.
iv. Average Daily Range
1. Identify 5, 10, and 20 day ADR to get an idea of the pips trading in the
current environment.
2. Use 5 day ADR around NY Open which is when the market has ""priced
in"" the high or low of the day.  Add the 5 day ADR to the highest high
and lowest low to ADR highs and lows.
iv. Optimal Trade Entry
1. P. Stop is placed 10 pips beyond the High or Low on Fib.
2. First objective is 15-20 pips profit.
3. Last profit is taken at the High or Low of the swing.
4. The Entry Point is the 62-79% levels or between them (~70.5)
iv. London Close Counter-Trend Buy
1. Reference the US Dollar Index and determine if it has met its 5 day
Average Daily Range
2. Determine if the pair traded has met its 5 day ADR.
3. Prior to the London Close Kill Zone window determine higher
timeframe Weekly, Daily, 4-hour, 1-hour S&R levels.
4. Note the previous 3 days highs and lows, Session Highs/Lows, and
Pivot Points
5. As price drops down into the ADR level and Kill Zone, look at the 5-min
lows for a bounce off of one of the levels.

vi. After the bounce, pull a Fib over the short term upswing and consider
buying the pair at OTE on the 5-min chart.
vi. Risk 10 pips under the low used for the Fib and take profits on 15-20
pips and hold for the high of the Fib based swing.
vi. Ideally, better trades form on swings measuring at least 15%-20% of
the daily range of the trading day.
f. London Close Counter-Trend Sell
1. Reference the US Dollar Index and determine if it has met its 5 day
Average Daily Range
2. Determine if the pair traded has met its 5 day ADR.
3. Prior to the London Close Kill Zone window determine higher
timeframe Weekly, Daily, 4-hour, 1-hour S&R levels.
4. Note the previous 3 days highs and lows, Session Highs/Lows, and
Pivot Points
5. As price rises up into the ADR level and Kill Zone, look at the 5-min
lows for a bounce off of one of the levels.
 vi. After the bounce, pull a Fib over the short term downswing and
consider selling the pair at OTE on the 5-min chart.
vi. Risk 10 pips above the high used for the Fib and take profits on 15-20
pips and hold for the low of the Fib based swing.
vi. Ideally, better trades form on swings measuring at least 15%-20% of
the daily range of the trading day.
g. London Close Setup
1. During a higher TF consolidation, we wait for the daily range to
expand. Monitor the hourly charts for range expansion towards key
S&R levels. The ideal setup would lead to range contraction which
means that we are coming off a LO profit release.
2. The setup usually occurs during trend exhaustion at a key level. Look
for confluence of S&R, weekly pivots and projection targets. LC setups
are counter trend trades. Use the 30 period Williams %R on the 4hr
chart and try to stick the weekly high/low on Bar #3.
3. During a higher TF range expansion this setup is not recommended.
4. Trading the New York Session
g. NY Open Kill Zone Sweet Spot – 11:00am – 13:00 GMT
g. Range Expansion - Small range or series of small range days/bars will
suggest an upcoming large trading range day/bar.
g. Close Probability
1. 80% odds of the close being at or near the high or low for the day/bar.
2. If in a bearish scenario, ~75% odds that the open is near the high and
the close is near the low.
vii. NY Open - Easiest session to trade. London high/low already in place.
vii. Ideal Entry
1. For Shorts, Sell on a move up.
2. For Longs, buy on a move down.
vii. Setting a Stop when ideal level is too many pips - When the ideal stop is too
many pips away from the 20-30 pip stop level, go to smaller timeframes and
identify a stop level on what price is telling you on the smaller level.
vii. NY Session Trades Notes:
1. Get in sync with what the higher level timeframes are telling you.
Majority of the time the trades will follow that trend.
2. If looking at daily timeframe and market opened near the day’s highs
and has trended lower, we'd look for more shorts to push to a day's
low.  London Session created the day's high.
 3. London Close coinciding with NY Session lunch time allowed for a
counter trade opportunity. Take profit at the 38% retracement level of
the full days range.

PRICE ACTION
What is Price Action?
Very basically, Price Action is everything that traders are doing and how they are
behaving placed onto a chart for others to analyze.  Price Action is everything that price is
doing and has done on a Forex pair or trading instrument for a trader to see on a chart.
All price represents on a chart is what traders have done and how they have behaved
given a certain situation. For example price gets to a support area and price bounces
higher. This is traders buying up at a level in the market where they think support is.

Another example of price action at work on a chart is a Pin Bar. Price gets to a certain
level in the market before rejecting that level and snapping back the other way. On a
chart we see a Pin Bar but that Pin Bar was made up of traders all around the world
buying or selling at the same area and rejecting higher or lower prices.  This is a method
that has been around for a long time and will be around for a long time to come. Unlike
other rubbish indicators or black box systems Price Action trading does not stop working
when the market dynamics change.

How can we use Price Action to profit?

Traders and humans are very habitual and will do the same given the same
circumstances. As traders we can begin to recognize patterns that form on the chart.
These patterns will tend to repeat themselves and have the same outcomes. No two
trades will ever be the same and no outcomes will ever match a previous trade’s, but by
perfecting these high probability price action patterns we can begin to place trades that
over time will give us an edge in the market!

Traders can learn and perfect these trading patterns and begin to implement strategies
that will over time give them an edge on the market. An edge is simply something that
gives a trader a better chance than 50/50 of placing a winning trade.

HIGH PROBABILITY PRICE PATTERNS

1. The Doji - Form when open and close are virtually equal. Doji alone is neutral. 
Bullish or bearish bias is based on preceding price action and future confirmation.
Best used as confirmation of anticipated action, changes in direction.

2. The Hammer aka Pinbar - Form when price moves significantly lower after the
open, but rallies to close well above the intraday low. Works in the opposite
 direction (bullish and bearish). Ideally like seeing these patterns at OTE or at key
Support & Resistance Levels.

3. The Tweezer Low - Looks like consecutive Bullish Pinbars.  Indicates that price
held twice at the exact same level.  Sellers not able to push price lower.  The longer
the wicks the better.  Preference is to see the pattern at 4-Hour and 1-Hour charts
at higher time frame S&R levels.  If accompanies SMT Divergence, look to trade
maximum risk exposure!

4. The Tweezer High - Looks like consecutive Bearish Pinbars.  Indicates that price
held twice at the exact same level.  Buyers not able to push price higher.  The
longer the wicks the better. Preference is to see the pattern at 4-Hour and 1-Hour
charts at higher time frame S&R levels.  If accompanies SMT Divergence, look to
trade maximum risk exposure!

5. Railroad Tracks - Two candlesticks with smaller wicks for highs/lows where the
preceding candle's body matches that of the current candle's body in the opposite
direction.  Look for these at key levels to signify an engineered reversal. Very
strong pattern.
6. Head & Shoulders Top Formation - Selling Pattern
1. Typically occurs at intermediate or long-term high.
2. Price objective from highest high of head to the lows at the neckline.
Measure from high to the neckline and price objective would be that distance
extending below the neckline.
3. Selling Pattern.

7. Three Indians Climax Reversal Pattern

1. Three progressively higher price slope highs reaching a top near an area of
resistance.  This would be a sell pattern as we'd reasonably expect price to
fall. Look for OTE at a lower time frame.
2. Selling Pattern.

8. Triangles & How ICT Trades Them

1. Note a key resistance level where you find consolidation and
support/resistance. Plot a general trend-line from low point to its intersection
with the key resistance level.  Measure from low up to the resistance level.
2. Use the widest portion of the triangle and add that pip range to the low point
dips along the trend line. Not each level as it progresses and these levels
 would be where you'd expect take profit points in the future during a buy
program.
9. Inverted Head & Shoulders Bottom Formation
1. Typically occurs at intermediate or long-term low.
2. Price objective from lowest low of inverted head to the highs at the inverted
neckline. Measure from low to the inverted neckline and price objective
would be that distance extending above from the inverted neckline.
3. Buying Pattern
10. Bull Flag Continuation Pattern - Look for the flag pole which would be a
sharp price run up followed by descending range of price between channel. Price
objective would be done by getting the pip range from low to high and adding that
distance to the lowest low of the flag and to the breakout of the flag.  There would
be a reasonable expectation that price will appreciate to meet those levels.

11. Bear Flag Continuation Pattern - Look for the flag pole which would be a
sharp price run down followed by ascending price range/channel. Price objective
would be done by getting the pip range from high to low and adding that distance
to the highest high of the flag and to the breakout lower of the flag.  There would
be a reasonable expectation that price will depreciate to meet those levels.
12. Coil Expansion Pattern
1. Draw trend-line of lower highs and trend-line of higher low to a point where
they look to intersect.  As price approaches the intersection, we'd expect
price to range higher or lower from that point.
2. Use higher time frame analysis to get in sync and anticipate which direction
price will due to directional bias.  If pattern occurs at key support level,
anticipate price to range higher.
3. Measure range from the low to the touch point of the upper trend line of
lower highs above it.  Add the range to the upper or lower trend line to
identify a price objective once price begins to range out of the coil.

13. Turtle Soup Reversal Pattern - Turtle Soup is when price takes out stops
beyond an old high or low and immediately reverses direction
1. Identify the lowest low and highest high in the last 20 periods/candlesticks.
 2. Go long at the time price goes below the lowest low in the previous 20
periods.  This is done on the notion that the price move below is a false
break.
3. Go short at the time price goes above the highest high in the previous 20
periods. This is done on the notion that the price move above is a false
break.
14. Riptide Reversal - Any significant high or low broken/rejected over any
period, number of candles should move in the opposite direction after broken.
14. Outside Day with Down Close
1. Pattern where second candle has a higher high and lower low than the period
before with a down close.  Bullish scenario when it occurs at an oversold
period using Williams %R.
2. Get long at the following bar using 30 and 70 levels for the indicator to
determine overbought/oversold and 10 period.

16. Inside Day - Pattern when the second candle has a higher low and a lower
high than the previous day.  Upon the close of the candle, it signifies a trending day
or large range expansion day to follow.

TRADING SWINGS
1. The Judas Swing
1. Judas Swing - An engineered price swing meant to lead reactionary traders
into the wrong direction. Typically a false rally that appears initially to
emotional traders as the next big run in price. In the market, traders that
follow this swing find themselves trapped on the wrong side and pay the
price.
 b. When Judas Swing Forms - Essentially is a stop raid that many times trades
into:
1. Key S&R Level
2. Previous High or Low
3. Counter-Swing to Form OTE
4. Raid the Previous Week High
5. Raid the Previous Week Low
6. Raid the Previous Session Stops
7. Raiding Session Stops
1. If trading London Open, look for Asian stops to be raided.
2. If trading NY Session, look for London Open stops to be raided.
2. Market Swing Points
b. 10:00 GMT @ 5-min Chart
1. Standard Judas Swing
1. Use opening price on midnight candle, draw open line into the
day.
2. If Bearish, look for shorts at points above the line.
ii. Judas Swing Once Every 24-Hour
1. The Swing should happen at least once in a 24-hour session.
2. Swing should be in the opposite direction of what the trend for the day
has been.
ii. Confluence of S&R - Use 15 pip buffer when looking for confluence of S&R
ii. Trade After Swing High / Low
1. If market is trading lower, then look for a sell after a recent swing
high.
2. If market is trading higher, then look for a buy after a recent swing
low.
ii. Two Trends in a Day
1. Morning Trend that is the market open to around 11am and
consolidates to around the NY lunch period.
2. Around 1pm - 2pm, things heat up to fulfill the PM trend for the
remaining portion of the daily range.

ICT TRADING CONCEPTS

1. The Trader's Trinity - Inner Circle Trader's Exclusive Overbought - Oversold
& S&R Concept - Day 11
1. Trader’s Trinity
1. Upper Portion - Overbought zone. Look for shorts.
 2. Middle of the Range - Fair value / Equilibrium
3. Lower Portion - Oversold Zone. Look for buys.
ii. Monthly Trinity
1. Look for periods where price has broken out of the Trinity Range to the
low and high using the daily chart as sectioned off by Monthly Trinity.
2. Reference the 3 previous periods in the time frame to look back for
relevant levels/information.
ii. Trinity Levels
1. Upper boundary price levels would signify an overbought area and we
should look for opportunities to sell.
2. Lower boundary price levels would signify an oversold area and we
should look for opportunities to buy.
3. Always see if this is in agreement or against higher time frame
analysis.
4. Price will typically come back to the fair value zones in the center area
of the Traders Trinity. Try not to trade in the Fair Value Zone.

d. Broken Trinity
1. Whenever seeing a broken Trinity, prepare the likelihood of a major
high or low forming in the marketplace.
2. When price breaks out above the Trinity, use Fib by taking high of
Trinity and bring down to the low.  When breaking to the low, use Fib
by taking low and bring down to the low.  The two levels to focus on
are the 162 and 200 extension. These two levels will usually have a
reaction or correction to be used to get targets.
3. Look for correction at the breakout high/low point.
4. 162 and 200 Extension - These levels should hold true as targets until
they are reached. If price does not reach these levels and pulls away,
you may think that the levels are not valid any longer but they tend to
still hold true in the longer time frame.
5. Previous Week Traders Trinity - Same premise as Monthly Trinity.
Identify areas where price breaks out of the Trinity to the Low or High.
Use Fib to project 162 and 200 extension levels to estimate where
price may go.
2. Trading Smart Money Correlation Concepts - Day 12: Smart money actions
get revealed through cracks in the market. They leave fingerprints as they switch
the tide of the current price swing. When the correlation materializes at
predetermined support & resistance levels we can be confident a reaction will
unfold.
d. USDX SMT Divergence: Given inverse correlation of pairs, when price on
one has lower lows, it is expected that the other should reach higher highs.
When this does not occur, we have SMT Divergence.  This is suggestive of
major accumulation/consolidation in advance of a major move in the opposite
direction.

b. Correlated Pair SMT Bullish Divergence: Should occur at and confirm

predetermined Support Levels. If one pair fails to make a lower low while the
other succeeds, then expect both pairs to shoot higher at a key support
level.  
1. When looking at Support plays or "buys" - consider the pair that fails
to make the lower low respectively.  Premise behind this: The pair that
fails to drop lower, it is being bought and hence, not willing to go
lower... this is essentially "Demand in Operation"... anticipate Higher
prices.
2. EUR/USD is making higher lows while GBP/USD is making lower lows
> Buy EUR/USD

c. Correlated Pair SMT Bearish Divergence: Should occur at and confirm

predetermined Resistance Levels. If one pair fails to make a higher high
while the other succeeds, then expect both pairs to shoot lower at a key
support level. 
1. When looking at Resistance plays or "sells" - consider the pair that
fails to make the higher highs respectively.  Premise behind this: The
pair that fails to rally higher, it is being sold and hence, not willing to
go higher... this is essentially "Supply in Operation"... anticipate Lower
prices.
2. EUR/USD is making higher highs while GBP/USD is making lower highs
> Sell GBP/USD
 d. Real Example of Correlated Pair SMT Divergence (GBP/USD vs. EUR/USD):
GBP made a higher high while EUR failed to make higher highs. This signaled
a reversal for both pairs.

3. Trading Accumulation / Distribution

a. Opportunities to trade Accumulation / Distribution indicator occur when price
diverges with the direction of the indicator and is supported by the
overbought/oversold Williams %R (10 period) indicator.
b. Bullish / Long Setup
i. Price makes a lower low.
ii. Accum / Distr for same period makes a higher low
iii. Williams %R is in oversold zone
iv. Given time and price action, find opportunity to go long
 c. Bearish / Short Setup
1. Price makes a higher high
2. Accum / Dist for same period makes a lower high
3. Williams %R is in overbought zone
4. Given time and price action, find opportunity to go short

4. MACD Divergence
 a. Type 1 Bullish Divergence - Price meets a lower low while the MACD
reaches a higher low.  Draw Fib from the swing low where the divergence
was established to the recent swing high and look for OTE to enter long.

b. Type 1 Bearish Divergence - Price meets a higher high while the MACD
reaches a lower high.  Draw Fib from the swing high where the divergence
was established to the recent swing low and look for OTE to go short.

5. ICT Grail (Market Review 7/15 ~32min)

 The ICT Grail forms at the OTE when there is a Type 2 Trend Following Divergence
of price vs. the Stochastic Oscillator.  Oscillator setting is %K @ 10, %D @ 3,
Slowing @ 3.
1. Buy Setup - Price finds a higher low at the OTE level.  For the same period,
the indicator finds a lower or equal low at the same time.

      

b. Sell Setup - Price finds a lower high at the OTE level.  For the same period,
the indicator finds a higher or equal high at the same time.

  

6. ICT Stinger (Day 15 Notes ~20:30)

Type 1 and  2 Combined (STINGER) Over a period, price moves with the high time
frame trend but diverges with the indicator. This combined with a smaller period
where price moves against trend and diverges with indicator. Very powerful
indication of price taking off.
 1. Type 1 - Lower low in price but a higher low in the stochastic (yellow lines in
chart)
2. Type 2 - Trend following divergence a higher low in price but lower reading
in the stochastic (green lines in chart)
3. Most powerful when this occurs at key support and resistance levels and
OTE.

7. Interest Rate Yield Triad (Market Review 7/29)    26:15    

a. US 10 year yield vs two correlated country’s 10 year bond yields.
b. Rising yields means rallying price (rising) as the higher yields draw attraction
to the currency.
c. Look for divergence among the correlated currencies and the US bond yield
d. The yield that was unwilling to go lower vs. the other two yields, identifies
the currency which will be attempting to go higher.
e. When one currency goes higher, it should affect the other correlated currency
in the same manner.
ICT TRADING METHODS
1. 20 Pip Per Day Scalping Method – Day 19
1. Keys to Profitable Scalps
1. Understand Price Action Theory
2. Firm Grasp of Key S&R Levels
3. Trade Higher Timeframe Bias
4. Take Profits Routinely & Often
5. Trade One or Two Pairs at Max
ii. Basic Scalping Buy Method
1. Identify a key support level
2. Anticipate a Judas Swing Lower
3. Look for OTE around key support level to go long
4. Risk 20 pips
5. Look for SMT Divergence to anticipate low of day
6. Take first profit @ 20 pips
7. Enter on Double Tap
8. Let second portion run and hold for Daily Range
9. Look for Time of Day Objective around NYO, LOC, and 18:00 GMT.
 c. Enter on Double Tap
1. Assuming total risk on trade is 2% of Equity, Take 50% of position off
@ ~20-30 pips for 1% gain (Scalp). Remaining 1% portion will be held
for the daily range. Look for time of day objective and keep protective
stop outside the daily range.
2. Protective stop at Breakeven after taking profit on first half of trade.
iii. Basic Scalping Sell Method
1. Identify a key resistance level
2. Anticipate a Judas Swing Higher
3. Look for OTE around key resistance level to go short
4. Risk 20 pips
5. Look for SMT Divergence to anticipate high of day
6. Take first profit @ 20 pips
7. Enter on Double Tap
8. Let second portion run and hold for Daily Range
9. Look for Time of Day Objective around NYO, LOC, and 18:00 GMT

2. Short Term Intraday Method – Day 20

a. Method
i. Plot EMA(40) and EMA(18)
 ii. Buy Signals - Look for periods where the 18 period EMA is above the
40 periods EMA. Buy program when you see the widening of the areas
between EMA
iii. Sell Signals - Look for periods where the 18 period EMA is below the
40 periods EMA. Sell program when you see the widening of the areas
between EMA
iv.  Once price makes a fractal, swing low during Buy Program, look for
open after the fractal is formed and go long once price attempts to
move down (Judas Swing)
v. Take 70% off when you can and let the remaining run.
b. Higher Time Frame Stops - As price moves higher, bring stop to ~10 pips
below the next fractal low once two near fractals form.

3. Swing Trading Method – Day 21

a. ICT Swing Trade Setup
i. Quarterly Shift in Flows
ii. Old Highs & Lows
iii. SMT Divergence on Daily
iv. Market Structure
v. Swing Point Analysis
vi. Optimal Trade Entry Strategies
vii. Swing Projection for Profit Objectives

b. Higher Timeframe Resistance - Price will swing higher into a key resistance
and the short will be traded on the 4-hour and/or 1-hour chart for setup. The
entry will be taken on the 5-min chart Turtle Soup Sell and/or OTE Sell
Pattern.  When daily Fractal swing high forms, look for Judas rallies to short
into for new entry points.
4. How To Capture Explosive FOREX Profits - Day 25
 b. Weekly Highs/Lows - The Weekly High or Low forms 80% of the time
between Sunday's Open & Tuesday's London Open. When it fails, it will likely
form between Tuesday's London Open and Wednesday's London Open.

b. Week's Opening Price

1. Identify the Opening Price for the Week and keep it noted on the chart
through the trading week.  If we're bullish on market conditions, we
look for an opportunity to go long when the low for the week is formed
(likely to form before Tuesday's London Open). The same is true for
shorts.
2. If it has not formed by Tuesday's London Open, then very likely to
occur between Tuesday's London Open and Wednesday's London
Open.

INSIDERS TRADING METHODS

1. The Four Market Groups
1. Domestic & Foreign Bond and or Interest Rates
1. 30 Year Treasuries
2. 10 Year Treasuries
3. 5 Year Treasuries
4. 2 Year Treasuries
ii. Stocks and Equities
1. Dow Stocks
2. S&P 500 Stocks
3. NASDAQ Stocks, etc...
ii. Commodities and Futures
1. CRB Index
2. Agricultures
3. Financials
ii. Currencies
1. The US Dollar
2. Foreign Currencies
b. Inflationary Environment Inter-market Relationships
i. A POSITIVE relationship between bonds and stocks
ii. An INVERSE relationship between interest rates and stocks
iii. Bonds usually change direction BEFORE stocks
iv. An INVERSE relationship between commodities and bonds
 v. A POSITIVE relationship between commodities and interest rates
vi. A POSITIVE relationship between stocks and commodities
vii. Commodities usually change direction AFTER stocks.
viii. An INVERSE relationship between the US Dollar and commodities
b. Deflationary Environment Inter-market Relationships
i. An INVERSE relationship between bonds and stocks
ii. A POSITIVE relationship between interest rates and stocks
iii. An INVERSE relationship between commodities and bonds
iv. A POSITIVE relationship between commodities and interest rates
v. A POSITIVE relationship between stocks and commodities
vi. An INVERSE relationship between the US Dollar and commodities

4. Big Events in the market (i.e. EU crisis) can throw certain relationships out of
whack.

PROFESSIONALS USE OF INDICATORS

1. Revisiting the Market Profiles
1. Consolidation Range Profile
2. Breakout - Valid & False Profile
3. Trending Profile
4. Reversal Profile
b. Overbought & Oversold
1. Focus on Oversold in Market Profiles that suggest prices are bullish is Optimal
2. Overbought in Market Profiles that suggest Prices are Bearish is Optimal.
3. Stoch(14,3,3) that says we're oversold. We'd expect to see a price rise.
Other examples of overbought and we'd expect to see a price fall.
3. False Signals - Overbought signals were no longer suggestive of price movements
because price traded off of a higher time frame support level.

4. Price Divergence - Classic use with indicators is to look for Divergence between
price and the indicator. Price reaches new low but indicator does not reach a new
low. This is a divergence between price and indicator.

1. Type 1 Divergence (Reversal in Nature) - Price moves opposite the

higher time frame trend and diverges with indicator.  Price moves opposite
 the higher time frame trend and diverges with indicator because it is a sign
of a reversal by nature.
1. Bullish Type 1 Divergence: Price finds a lower low while the
indicator finds a higher high for the same period

ii. Bearish Type 1 Divergence: Price finds a high high while the
indicator finds a lower low for the same period.

b. Type 2 Trend Following Divergence - Divergence from indicator when

price follows the trend but diverges with indicator.
1. Bullish Type 2 Divergence: Price finds a higher low while the
indicator finds a lower low for the same period
2. Bearish Type 2 Divergence: Price finds a lower high while the
indicator finds a higher high for the same period.

MISC VIDEO NOTES

1. 3.1 Interest Rate Overlay Tutorial
1. Stockcharts.com EOD Yields
 2. Free Charts > PerfChart > $UST2Y,$UST5Y,$UST10Y,$UST30Y
b. 3.2 Interest Rate Overlay Tutorial
1. SMT - Smart Money Tool
2. EUR / USD vs. GBP / USD correlation. Divergence may indicate favor in one
vs. the other.
b. 4.3 Swing Projection Application & Fib Configuration - 1.28 Projection
1. Daily High / Lows - 90% chance that the daily high/low is established in the
first 4 hours of trading after NY midnight.
2. Range Expansion / Contraction Cycle - You can typically expect big ranges on
timeframes after small ranges and vice versus.
3. Open @ Hi vs. Close at Low?
1. When high/close is closer in proximity after wide ranges as price goes
up, it's more likely/suggestive you're at a top.
2. When low/close is closer in proximity after wide ranges as price goes
down, it's more likely/suggestive you're at a bottom
ii. 1.28 Projection - Measure swing low to swing low, count the days. Multiple
that number by 1.28 (round down) and add that number of bars to the swing
high in the middle of the two swing lows. This should bring you to the next
swing high.
b. Day 14 - The Power of Three - Accumulation - Profit Release - Distribution
i. 3 Major Market Cycles
1. Accumulation Phase - Smart Money accumulating longs or shorts
2. Profit Release Phase - Range expansion where profit is permitted
3. Distribution Phase - Smart Money distributes long or shorts
ii. The Open - Smart money distributes above the open and accumulates below
the open.
iii. 3 Bar Pattern
1. Sell @ Swing High - A high with two lower highs on each side. Look to
go short on the first bar after the close of the 3rd lower high bar.  Look
for this action at key resistance levels.
2. Buy @ Swing Low - A low with two higher lows on each side. Look to
go long on the first bar after the close of the 3rd higher low bar. Look
for this action at key support levels.
ii. Price Targets
1. NY Open - 12:00 GMT (7AM EST)
2. London Close - 15:00 GMT (12AM EST)
3. And - 18:00 GMT
ii. Williams %R (10 period) - If it goes oversold, look at the next day's trading. 
If we open/start ranging at the Asian range and it trades down, there is an
80% likelihood that it will be a tradable day to go long. Look for an exit
around NY Open or London Close.
iii. Anticipating False Rally - If you don't get the high made in Asian Session, it'll
form in London. If it does not form in London, you'll see trading range and
Judas swing in NY Session.
iv. Trading Judas Swing After Fractal High/Low (55:00 – 1:00:04)

TRADE RULES
1. Risk
1. Risk per trade will be limited to 1.5% or less per trade or an overall open risk
of 1.5% or less
2. Value per pip- determined by risk: risk per trade / SL amount = $/pip
 1. e.g. 5k account, 2% risk = $100 risk, SL is 25 pips :: 100/25= $4/pip
or 4 mini lots
2. Trade Entry
c. Time: Look for entries near the open/close of a session; optimal entries are
London open, NY open, London close
c. Want bias confluence on daily/4hr or 4hr/1hr or all 3…regardless trade with
bias direction of 4hr
c. Optimal Trade Entry (OTE)
1. Draw fib from swing of the day or yesterday high/low to today’s
high/low (can use the 4hr fractals as quick showing of the swing)
2. Look for trade direction in bias of 4hr
3. Want to see confluence of key S&R areas (listed in 5) between the 62-
79% fib zone
4. Double check pivot trade zone
iii. Dealer’s Spread – Include the dealer spread when determining the price to
enter a trade to ensure it is covered?
iii. Trade Into Opposing Direction – Enter trades on PA that is opposite the
anticipated price direction. Enter long on down candles. Enter short on up
candles.
3. Take Profit Goals
h. Using the fib to draw OTE, 127 and 168% are good TP zones
h. Using the fib to draw OTE, move the fib so that the 50% is at the top of the
swing (if long) and use 100% as TP
h. Any confluence of major S&R areas that might exist, not necessarily a TP
area but something to monitor
4. Exit- Monitor trade risk until trade is closed
k. 30-50% of trade taken off at 30 pips into move, remainder at ultimate TP
k. Exit trade if trade bias changes during trade or analysis suggest trade is no
longer valid
5. Stop Loss
m. SL- place 10-20 pips below/above swing used for Fib
m. Move SL to BE when PA trades above/below the previous swing high/low
used to draw the Fib
m. Do not use trail stops, only manual stops

RISK MANAGEMENT
1. Handling Losses & Inevitable Drawdowns - Day 13
1. 2% Risk - Never risk more than 2% per trade.
2. Cutting Risk - At first loss, cut 2% risk per trade to 1% risk per trade. If
consecutive losses continue, cut risk again to 0.5% per trade.
3. Walking Back
1. Stay at the decreased risk tier until you made back 50% of the
previous risk level drawdown.
2. If you lost at 2%, stay at 1% level till you've made back half of the
2% tier loss.
3. If you lost at 1%, stay at 0.5% level till you've made back half of the
1% tier loss.

TRADING INSIDE THE RANGE

1. Monthly Range Overview
1. Determine Monthly Range Market Structure
2. Identify Monthly Range Swings/Turning Points
 3. Highlight Key S&R Levels
4. Trade in Direction of the Primary
b. Weekly Range Overview
1. Determine Weekly Range Market Structure
2. Identify Weekly Range Swings/Turning Points
3. Highlight Key S&R Levels
4. Trade in Direction of the Primary
5. Look for New OTE Reversals - Anticipate
b. Daily Range Overview
1. Determine Current Range Market Structure
2. Identify Daily Range Swings/Turning Points
3. Highlight Key S&R Levels Monthly - Weekly
4. Trade in Direction of the Swing Point
5. Look for New OTE Reversals - Anticipate
b. Asian Range
1. Note the Initial Range High & Low
2. Narrow Focus to Higher Market Trend
3. Note Key S&R Levels Old Highs & Lows
4. Trade the Direction of Daily Swing Point
5. Anticipate London Stop Rade - Fade It!
b. ADR (Average Daily Range)
1. Align Trade Expectation to 5-Day ADR
2. Once Trade Entry - Stalk ADR Objectives
3. Blend Time of Day & Price Theory
4. Anticipate Profit Objectives Near ADR
5. Expect 15:00 - 16:00 GMT and ADR Convergences & Other Technicals to
Confirm Profit Taking Objectives
b. Entry Concept
1. Focus on Optimal Setups
2. Apply Power of Three & Range Expansion
3. If Bullish, anticipate Banks to SELL first
4. If Bearish, anticipate Banks to Rally up first
5. Explain the Raids of Old Swings & Expect Patterns to Form to Confirm Entries
(High Probability Trading Patterns Video)
b. Profit Objective
1. If ADR is 100 pips, take profit at 80 pips
2. Always look to Scale Out of Trades
3. ADR does NOT have to be fulfilled
4. Develop Professional Mindset in Targeting (Preservation of Capital is goal
#`1)
5. Leave Greed out of the Process
b. Professional Order Placement
1. Try Keeping Entry & Exit to Limit Orders
2. Market Orders are Last Ditch Protection
3. Do Not try to get the best Entry Price
4. Do Not try to exit at the very High or Low
5. Always Factor the Spread Plus 2-3 pips

ICT TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Certain words and phrases, below, are italicized to indicate that they are defined
separately, elsewhere in the Glossary.  In the following definitions, two abbreviations are
used frequently: i.e., meaning "that is"; and e.g., meaning "for example".
A
accumulation --- smart money buying either (1) to enter long positions, or (2) to cover
short positions, at or near a swing low (i.e., smart money "buying low")
AD (or A/D) --- accumulation and/or distribution
ADR --- (see average daily range)
A-KZ --- (see Asian Kill Zone)
anticipatory trade analysis phase --- top-down analysis, phase 2: seasonal tendencies,
SMT divergences (yields, USDX, etc.), COT report, and key S/R levels
Asian Kill Zone --- nominally 8am-12pm Tokyo time (this time period may be expanded at
the discretion of the trader); this is one of 4 kill zones
Asian range --- this term may refer to (1) the 9am-2pm Tokyo time period, (2) the H-L
price range within that period, or (3) price action within that H-L range
Asian session --- 9am-7pm Tokyo time (a low-volume trading session, typically
characterized by price consolidation within a restricted range)
ATR --- (see average true range)
AU --- AUD/USD pair
Aussie --- nickname of the AUD/USD pair
average daily range (ADR) --- the average of the most recent daily H-L ranges; typically,
the last 5 daily H-L ranges are averaged to yield the ADR for day 6
average true range (ATR) --- daily ATR is similar to average daily range (ADR), except
that ATR accounts for price gaps (e.g., Sunday gaps), but ADR does not

B
banks (or "big banks") --- top-tier investment banks, participants in the interbank
network, engaged in high-volume currency trading --- see list on page 4
bazooka (or ICT bazooka) --- Michael sometimes refers to a standard type 2 oscillator
divergence as a "bazooka", to contrast it with the more powerful stinger
BE --- (see break-even)
bear flag --- a fairly tight, fairly short-duration consolidation pattern formed at the bottom
of a sharp down-move, marking a pause in the down-move
bias --- (see directional bias)
big figure --- (see figure)
break-even --- the price at which closing a position (either manually, or by being stopped-
out) results in zero profit and zero loss
BST --- British Summer Time (BST=GMT+1), the time zone in the U.K. and Ireland
between March and October --- see London time
bull flag --- a fairly tight, fairly short-duration consolidation pattern formed at the top of a
sharp up-move, marking a pause in the up-move
buy program --- a trending market profile in which the directional bias is up (bullish), and
trades in the direction of the trend are long (buys)
buy zone --- given either (1) a HTF bullish bias, or (2) a ranging market, a buy zone is the
price range below the pivot (P), or below the TT fair-value zone

C
cable --- one of the nicknames of the GBP/USD pair
central bank --- the entity responsible for overseeing the monetary system of a nation, or
group of nations --- see list on page 4
CFTC --- (see Commodity Futures Trading Commission)
Chris Lori --- athlete, fund manager, Forex trader, and teacher/mentor --- often
mentioned positively by Michael
City of London (or The City, or The Square Mile) --- the financial district in London
classic Asian session buy signal --- a signal to go long after (1) a late NY session price
decline, and (2) an Asian session price bounce off a key support level
classic Asian session sell signal --- a signal to go short after (1) a late NY session price
rise, and (2) an Asian session price bounce off a key resistance level
coil expansion pattern --- a consolidation pattern (the coil) which is followed by a break-
out (the expansion) whose extent depends on the dimensions of the coil
commercials --- large (futures/options) hedgers whose position sizes require reporting to
the CFTC; their net (aggregate) position appears in the COT report
Commitment of Traders (report) --- weekly CFTC report on positions held by 3 classes of
traders in individual futures and options contracts (incl. currencies)
Commodity Futures Trading Commission --- U.S. regulator of commodity futures and spot
Forex; the CFTC compiles and publishes the COT report
confluence --- occurrence of two or more significant technical levels (e.g., a pivot level
and an OTE) at the same (or nearly the same) price on a chart
consolidation --- a time period (consolidation period) in which price moves in a narrow
range (consolidation range), typically bounded by short-term S/R levels
correlated pairs --- two currency pairs whose prices move roughly in tandem (example:
EUR/USD and GBP/USD; another example: AUD/USD and NZD/USD)
COT (or COT report) --- (see Commitment of Traders report)
CRB Index --- Commodity Research Bureau Index of 19 commodities (agriculturals,
metals, oil & gas); the Index is used as one element of inter-market analysis

D
day trade (or intraday trade) --- a trade in which the entry and exit are expected to occur
within the same trading day, and the profit target is 30-100 pips
DD --- (see drawdown)
demo --- a practice platform, practice account, or practice trade, etc.
directional bias --- current direction of price movement (as determined on HTF's), deemed
to be the trade-able trend (see buy program, and sell program)
distribution --- smart money selling either (1) to enter short positions, or (2) to liquidate
long positions, at or near a swing high (i.e., smart money "selling high")
doji --- a candlestick having a very small real body (or no real body), with upper and/or
lower wicks of any length; it often indicates a swing high or swing low
double-tap --- given an OTE retracement from a SH (or SL), a double-tap involves taking
1st profit at the SH (or SL), and 2nd profit at a higher profit-target
drawdown --- a measure of account depletion due to accumulated losses
dumb money --- (see street money)

E
EDT --- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT=GMT-4), the time zone in the eastern U.S. and
Canada between March and November --- see New York time
EJ --- EUR/JPY pair
EMA --- (see exponential moving average)
equity management --- (see risk management)
EST --- Eastern Standard Time (EST=GMT-5), the time zone in the eastern U.S. and
Canada between November and March --- see New York time
ET --- Eastern Time in the U.S. and Canada (New York time) --- ET is either EST or EDT,
depending on time of year
EU --- EUR/USD pair
euro --- proper name of the European Union single currency; also, one of the nicknames
of the EUR/USD pair
exponential moving average --- a moving average of data from n-number of periods,
weighted exponentially to give greater weight to more recent data

F
fair value --- the median price in a previous H-L price range (e.g., a previous Daily price
range, or a Trader's Trinity price range); see no-man's land
fib --- shorthand for Fibonacci tool, or Fibonacci level; (note: in common usage, Fibonacci
is sometimes capitalized)
Fibonacci extension --- continuation of a Fibonacci retracement scale, beyond the 100%
retracement level, typically to 127.2%, 161.8%, 200%, etc.
Fibonacci retracement --- a scale for measuring retracements as percentages of a price
range, typically 0%, 23.6%, 38.2%, 50%, 61.8%, 76.4% and 100%
Fibonacci tool --- a price-measuring tool which divides a price range into percentages (see
Fibonacci retracement, and Fibonacci extension)
fiber --- one of the nicknames of the EUR/USD pair
fig --- shorthand for figure
figure --- price of the form x.xx00 (also called fig, big figure, full figure, and 00's)
fractal --- (def.1) one of the many price patterns which repeat themselves in all markets,
on all time frames from 1-minute (or lower) to 1-Month (or higher)
fractal --- (def.2) a pattern of 5 consecutive candles, in which the center candle has the
highest high of the 5 candles, or the lowest low of the 5 candles
fractal high --- in a 5-candle fractal pattern, if the center candle has the highest high of
the 5 candles, then that high is a fractal high
fractal low --- in a 5-candle fractal pattern, if the center candle has the lowest low of the 5
candles, then that low is a fractal low
fundamental analysis --- analysis of macro-economic factors (interest rates, inflation,
GDP, unemployment, etc.) which influence long-term currency trends

G
general market analysis phase --- top-down analysis, phase 1: analysis of interest rates,
USDX, Treasuries, stock indices, CRB Index, and gold and oil
GJ --- GBP/JPY pair
GLGT --- Good Luck and Good Trading (signature used by Michael, and others)
GMT --- Greenwich Mean Time, the world's commercial reference time zone, to which all
other time zones are related by "offsets" (e.g., GMT-1, GMT+1, etc.)
GMT pivots --- see London pivots
GU --- GBP/USD pair

H
H&S (or HS, or H-S, or H/S) --- (see head-and-shoulders top)
H1, H4, D1, etc. --- chart time-frames (1-hour chart, 4-hour chart, Daily chart, etc.);
expanded list: m1, m5, m15, m30, H1, H2, H3, H4, H6, H8, D1, W1, M1
hammer --- a candlestick (of either color) having a short real body, a very short upper
wick, and a long lower wick; it typically occurs following a down-move
hanging man --- a candlestick identical to a hammer, except that it typically occurs
following an up-move
head-and-shoulders top --- an ITH (the "head") preceded by, and followed by, a lower
ITH; or a LTH (the "head") preceded by, and followed by, a lower LTH
HH --- higher high
hidden divergence --- trend-following divergence (see type 2 divergence)
hidden OTE --- in a strong downtrend, a price move from one STL to the next STL may
result in a "hidden" OTE retracement; (or, in a strong uptrend, use STH's)
high probability price patterns --- selected candlestick patterns and chart patterns which
reliably signal price direction --- see list on page 4 
higher time frame --- for most day traders and short-term traders, HTF means a time
frame higher than 1-hour (e.g., 4-hour, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly)
HL --- higher low
H-L --- high-low (or high minus low) referring to a price range (e.g., Daily H-L range,
Weekly H-L range, etc.)
Holy Grail (or ICT grail, or ICT holy grail) --- an OTE (either buy or sell) confirmed by a
type 2 (hidden, trend-following) oscillator divergence
HTF --- (see higher time frame)
 
I
ICT --- InnerCircleTrader (may refer to Michael Huddleston, his methodology, his tools, his
forum threads, or his videos)
Indi --- (see indicator)
indicator --- a derivative of recent price data, computed by algorithm, which purports to
reveal certain trends or tendencies regarding future prices
inside day --- a daily candle with a lower high, and a higher low, than the previous daily
candle; usually it signals a trend continuation
institutional level (or institutional price level) --- price of the form x.xx20 (the 20 level), or
x.xx80 (the 80 level)
interbank network --- a group of top-tier banks, electronically linked through EBS or
Reuters for currency trading among themselves and with major clients
inter-market analysis --- analysis of correlations between interest rates, equities,
commodities and currencies during conditions of inflation or deflation
intermediate-term high --- a fractal high preceded by, and followed by, a lower fractal
high
intermediate-term low --- a fractal low preceded by, and followed by, a higher fractal low
inverted head and shoulders bottom --- an ITL (the "head") preceded by, and followed by,
a higher ITL; or a LTL preceded by, and followed by, a higher LTL
ITH --- (see intermediate-term high)
ITL --- (see intermediate-term low)

J
JST --- Japanese Standard Time (JST=GMT+9), the time zone, year-round, throughout
Japan --- see Tokyo time
Judas swing --- a false price move (by smart money) to run stops and lure street money
to the wrong side of the market, ahead of the real (opposite) move

K
Ken Roberts --- trading and lifestyle guru, author, and lecturer; Michael credits Ken
Roberts with the 62%-79% retracement concept (which Michael calls OTE)
key S/R (or KSR) --- (see key support and resistance levels)
key support and resistance levels --- S/R levels identified on HTF charts (H4, D1, W1),
and then transferred to the LTF charts being analyzed or traded
kill zone --- one of 4 high-probability time periods (typically 2 hours each) in which to find
trade set-ups using ICT tools; see A-KZ, LO-KZ, NYO-KZ, and LC-KZ
Kiwi --- nickname of the NZD/USD pair
KZ --- (see kill zone)

L
large range day --- a day whose H-L price range (the day's high minus the day's low)
substantially exceeds the day's ADR
large specs --- large (futures/options) speculators whose position sizes require reporting
to the CFTC; their net (aggregate) position appears in the COT report
Larry Williams --- well-known millionaire commodity trader, author, and lecturer; Michael
refers to Larry Williams as one of his mentors
LC --- (see London Close)
LC-KZ --- (see London Close Kill Zone)
LH --- lower high
LL --- lower low
L/NY overlap --- London/New York overlap (both markets open) 1pm-5pm London time,
8am-noon, New York time; see London session and New York session
LO --- (see London Open)
LO-KZ --- (see London Open Kill Zone)
London Close --- 5pm London time, the end of the normal business day in London
London Close Kill Zone --- nominally 4pm-6pm London time (this time period may be
expanded at the discretion of the trader); this is one of 4 kill zones
London Open --- 8am London time, the beginning of the normal business day in London
London Open Kill Zone --- nominally 7am-9am London time (this time period may be
expanded at the discretion of the trader); this is one of 4 kill zones
London pivots --- daily pivot levels based on midnight London time as the start of each
Forex trading day
London session --- 8am-5pm London time; the final 4 hours of this session (the L/NY
overlap) are typically the highest-volume period of the trading day
London time --- GMT (October-March), or BST=GMT+1 (March-October) --- Note: Michael
always refers to London time as GMT, regardless of time of year
long-term high --- an intermediate-term high preceded by, and followed by, a lower
intermediate-term high
long-term low --- an intermediate-term low preceded by, and followed by, a higher
intermediate-term low
loonie --- nickname of the USD/CAD pair
lower time frame --- for most day traders and short-term traders, LTF means a time
frame lower than 1-hour (e.g., 30-minute, 15-minute, or 5-minute)
LTF --- (see lower time frame)
LTH --- (see long-term high)
LTL --- (see long-term low)

M
MA (or SMA) --- (see moving average)
MACD --- a momentum indicator which tracks the difference between two EMA's,
compares that difference to a third EMA, and shows the result as a histogram
major market analysis (MMA) --- (see inter-market analysis)
market flow --- market direction (trend) indicated by the most recent break of a fractal
high or low on a HTF chart (H1, H4, D1); compare to market structure
market-maker --- a top-tier bank, a member of the interbank network (where the
currency market is literally "made"); see banks, and smart money
market-maker profile ---
market profile --- one of 4 current market environments: consolidation range profile,
breakout (real or false) profile, trending profile, and reversal profile
market structure ---an analysis method based on patterns of STH's, STL's, ITH's, ITL's,
LTH's and LTL's on higher time frame (HTF) charts (H4, D1, and W1)
MF --- (see market flow)
Michael --- Michael Huddleston (screen-name InnerCircleTrader), veteran American
stock/commodity/currency trader, contributor/teacher on the Babypips site
mid fig --- (see mid figure)
mid figure --- price of the form x.xx50 (the 50 level)
Millionaire Traders' Guild --- Michael's thread on the "Show Me the Money - Daytrading"
forum, emphasizing a plan-based approach to using the ICT tools
MM --- def.1 (see market-maker)
MM --- def.2 (see money management)
MMA --- major market analysis (see inter-market analysis)
MMP --- (see market-maker profile)
momentum indicator --- a technical indicator (e.g., MACD) which measures the strength
of a prevailing trend; it can be used instead of a price oscillator
money management --- the proper use (in planning a trade) of position size, stop-loss,
and R/R (reward/risk) ratio in order to limit losses and preserve capital
moving average (or simple moving average) --- the average of the data from the most
recent n-number of periods, not weighted (compare to EMA)
MR1, MR2, etc. --- intermediate resistance levels (computed from pivot-point formulas)
--- see ICT Pivot-Point Formulas on page 4
MS --- (see market structure)
MS1, MS2, etc. --- intermediate support levels (computed from pivot-point formulas) ---
see ICT Pivot-Point Formulas on page 4
MT4 --- a retail trading platform, licensed worldwide to brokers, popular for its MQL4
scripting language allowing creation of EA's, custom indicators, and scripts
MTG --- (see Millionaire Traders' Guild)

N
negatively correlated pairs --- two currency pairs whose prices move (roughly) in opposite
directions (example: EUR/USD and USD/CHF)
nested OTE --- an OTE within an OTE --- a smaller (LTF) price swing with an OTE
retracement, nested within a larger (HTF) price swing with its (larger) OTE
New York Open --- 8am New York time, the beginning of the normal business day in New
York
New York Open Kill Zone --- nominally 7am-9am New York time (this time period may be
expanded at the discretion of the trader); this is one of 4 kill zones
New York pivots --- daily pivot levels based on midnight New York time as the start of
each Forex trading day
New York session --- 8am-5pm New York time; the first 4 hours of this session (the L/NY
overlap) are typically the highest-volume period of the trading day
New York time --- EST=GMT-5 (Nov-March), or EDT=GMT-4 (March-Nov) --- Note:
Michael always refers to New York time as EST, regardless of time of year
news --- shorthand for scheduled economic data releases, whose release dates/times are
known in advance, and whose metrics are forecast in advance
NFP --- (see Non-Farm Payroll report)
Nick Van Nice --- originator of the concept of hidden divergence (which Michael refers to
as type 2 divergence)
no man's land --- on a Trader's Trinity chart, no-man's land is the middle 25% of the
(previous) H-L price range; the center of this zone is the fair-value price
Non-Farm Payroll (report) --- U.S. employment report (often a market mover), released
on the first Friday of each month by the U.S. Department of Labor
NYO --- (see New York Open)
NYO-KZ --- (see New York Open Kill Zone)

O
OB/OS --- overbought or oversold (this term usually refers to readings generated by a
price oscillator)
OHLC (or O-H-L-C) --- Open, High, Low and Close (the 4 prices which are displayed
graphically on each candle, or each price bar)
OI --- (see open interest)
One-shot-one-kill --- ICT sniper tactic: Lie in wait (for a set-up), take aim (at the set-up),
pull the trigger (enter the trade), nail the target (collect pips)
open interest --- the number of open contracts (those not yet offset or delivered) in a
specific commodity/delivery month; one of the metrics in a COT report
open trade reaction phase --- top-down analysis, phase 4: market failure to move, price
rejection at S/R, news releases, global events, and/or trader issues
optimal trade entry --- entry zone between the 62% and 79% retracement levels --- note
that 62% and 79% are not standard fib retracement levels
OTE --- (see optimal trade entry)
oscillator --- a technical indicator (e.g., RSI, stochastics, or W%-R) which plots price as a
percentage (from 0% to 100%) of some variable
outside day with a down close --- an engulfing Daily candle with a lower close; if
confirmed by an oversold indicator, it signals a reversal to the upside
overbought --- a price which appears to have moved too far counter to a bearish bias (as
indicated by pivots, Trader's Trinity, or any of various oscillators)
oversold --- a price which appears to have moved too far counter to a bullish bias (as
indicated by pivots, Trader's Trinity, or any of various oscillators)

P
P (or PP, or CP) --- pivot, or pivot-point, or central pivot (computed from pivot-point
formulas) --- see ICT Pivot-Point Formulas on page 4
PA --- (see price action)
Pac-man --- slang term referring to smart money "gobbling up" stops (like Pac-Man
gobbling up pac-dots in the 1980's arcade game)
PB&J --- peanut butter and jelly
Perf Chart --- Performance Chart (StockCharts.com), tracks %-change in price over a
selected time period, starting from a 0% base-line --- see list on page 4
pin --- shorthand for pin-bar
pin-bar --- a candlestick, of either color, having a long upper or lower wick (or both),
signaling market "hesitation" in the direction of the long wick
position trade --- a trade in which the entry and exit are expected to occur weeks, months
(or even years) apart, and the profit target is 1,000 pips or more
pound --- informal name of the U.K. currency (proper name: pound sterling); also, one of
the nicknames of the GBP/USD pair
Power of Three --- entry immediately after the close of a three-bar high (or low) at a key
resistance (or support) level on a Daily chart (advanced technique)
price action --- a method of analyzing and/or trading any market, based only on price
patterns and simple price measuring tools, but excluding indicators
profit release phase --- in a typical accumulation/distribution scenario, this is the price
range between the accumulation phase and the distribution phase
Pro Traders' Club --- one of Michael's threads on the "Newbie Island" forum, devoted to
daily reviews and ICT tool application
PTC --- (see Pro Traders' Club)
pull a fib --- use a Fibonacci tool to delineate a price swing (from initial price to final price)
showing Fibonacci retracement levels and Fibonacci extension levels
 
R
R1, R2, R3, etc. --- resistance levels (computed from pivot-point formulas) --- see ICT
Pivot-Point Formulas on page 4
range contraction --- the tendency for a series of large range days to be followed by one
or more small range days
range expansion --- the tendency for a series of small range days to be followed by one or
more large range days
reflection pattern --- a pattern in which price retraces beyond the OTE zone, the 100% fib
retracement, and the 127% fib extension, creating a "reverse" OTE
regular divergence --- trend-reversal divergence (see type 1 divergence)
reversal profile --- an early-day price swing (up or down), taking out a key Daily or
Weekly S/R level, followed by a reversal and a larger late-day price swing
rip-tide reversal --- similar to a turtle soup reversal, but based on a false breakout of a
SH or SL which formed more than 20 periods prior
risk management (or equity management) --- the combination of money management
plus trade management
risk off --- widespread trader attitude (or sentiment) in which high-risk positions are
abandoned in favor of lower-risk-lower-return safe-haven positions
risk on --- widespread trader attitude (or sentiment) in which low-risk safe-haven
positions are abandoned in favor of higher-risk-higher-return positions
RR (or R/R, or R:R) --- risk/reward ratio (e.g., SL/TP), or reward/risk ratio (e.g., TP/SL),
depending on the order in which the numbers are stated
RR tracks --- railroad tracks (refers to two, long, side-by-side candle bodies, with opposite
colors, denoting an engineered price reversal)
RSI --- (relative strength index) one of 3 price oscillators (RSI, stochastics, and W%-R)
included in the ICT tool-set; use one of these (or MACD)
 
S
S1, S2, S3, etc. --- support levels (computed from pivot-point formulas) --- see ICT Pivot-
Point Formulas on page 4
scalp (or scalping trade) --- a trade in which the entry and exit are expected to occur
seconds or minutes apart, and the profit target is 30 pips or less
search and destroy --- a smart money tactic (which savvy retail traders can imitate) of
systematically gunning stops above and below a consolidation range
seasonal tendencies --- tendencies of many markets (currencies, equities, commodities,
bonds) to make LTH's or LTL's at specific times of year
sell program --- a trending market profile in which the directional bias is down (bearish),
and trades in the direction of the trend are short (sells)
sell zone --- given either (1) a HTF bearish bias, or (2) a ranging market, a sell zone is the
price range above the pivot (P), or above the TT fair-value zone
session --- daily period of high-volume Forex trading in a particular market, generally
8am-5pm local time (see Asian session for an exception to this rule)
SH --- (see swing high)
shorter time frame --- a time frame shorter than the time frame being discussed; "shorter
time frame" is not necessarily synonymous with lower time frame (LTF)
short-term high --- a fractal high which has not evolved into an ITH or an LTH
short-term low --- a fractal low which has not evolved into an ITL or an LTL
short-term trade --- a trade in which the entry and exit are expected to occur within 2 to
5 trading days, and the profit target is 100-300 pips
SL --- def.1 (see stop-loss)
SL --- def.2 (see swing low)
SM --- (see smart money)
SMA --- simple moving average (see moving average)
small range day --- a day whose H-L price range (the day's high minus the day's low) falls
substantially short of the day's ADR
smart money --- large banks and certain other institutions which have information on
resting (stop and limit) orders -- information not available to street money
Smart Money Tool --- an overlay of line charts of 2 (or 3) correlated instruments, on
which short-term price divergences are readily seen --- see list on page 4
SMT --- (see Smart Money Tool)
SMT div --- (see SMT divergence)
SMT divergence --- deviation from the normal positive or negative correlation between 2
instruments on an SMT chart, signaling a potential price move
sniper --- a trader "lying in wait" for a trade set-up to come into range
S/R (or S-R, or S&R) --- (see support and resistance)
sterling --- informal name of the U.K. currency (proper name: pound sterling); also, one
of the nicknames of the GBP/USD pair
STF --- (see shorter time frame)
STH --- (see short-term high)
STL --- (see short-term low)
stinger --- in an up move, a bullish type 1 divergence nested inside a bullish type 2
divergence; in a down move, nested bearish type 1 and type 2 divergences
stoch --- (see stochastic)
stochastic --- one of 3 price oscillators (stochastics, RSI, and W%-R) included in the ICT
tool-set; use one of these (or MACD)
stop hunt --- a price move engineered by smart money in order to trigger stop and limit
orders resting above or below the current market price
stop-loss --- the price level at which a resting order has been placed to close a position at
a loss; or, the anticipated loss, in pips, when that price is hit
stops --- loose term referring to buy-stop or buy-limit orders resting above the current
market, or sell-stop or sell-limit orders resting below the current market
street money --- market participants other than the smart money; street money is not
privy to the inside information on which smart money trades
Sunday gap --- price difference between Friday's close and Sunday's open, representing
price movement over the weekend, while the retail market was closed
support and resistance --- significant levels below and above the current market where
price has reacted in the past, and might do so again in the future
sweet spot --- the center of the target area for an OTE, at the 70.5% retracement level
(which is midway between the 62% and 79% retracement levels)
swing high --- any of the following: a three-bar high, a standard 5-bar fractal high, an
intermediate-term high (ITH), or a long-term high (LTH)
swing low --- any of the following: a three-bar low, a standard 5-bar fractal low, an
intermediate-term low (ITL), or a long-term low (LTL)
swing point --- when price breaks a swing high (or swing low) for the first time, that
swing high (or swing low) becomes a swing point
swing trade --- a trade in which the entry and exit are expected to occur a week or more
(up to several weeks) apart, and the profit target is 300-1,000 pips
Swissy --- nickname of the USD/CHF pair

T
TA (or T/A) --- (see technical analysis)
take-profit --- the price level at which a resting order has been placed to close a position
with a profit; or, the anticipated profit, in pips, when that price is hit
technical analysis --- market analysis based on price action, with or without technical
indicators, but not utilizing fundamental analysis
TF --- (see time frame)
three-bar high --- a truncated fractal high, containing 3 bars (instead of 5), with the
center bar having the highest high of the 3 bars
three-bar low --- a truncated fractal low, containing 3 bars (instead of 5), with the center
bar having the lowest low of the 3 bars
three Indians climax reversal --- a series of 3 closely-spaced impulse price moves (higher
or lower), followed by a price reversal
time and price theory --- the use of (1) higher time frames (H4, D1, W1, and M1) to find
key S/R, MS, and MF, and (2) confluences (on LTF's) to time trades
time frame --- usually refers to a chart time frame, such as a 5-minute chart, a 4-hour
chart, etc.
time zone --- a designated geographical area whose time-of-day is determined in relation
to GMT-time (or UTC-time); example: Moscow time = MSK = GMT+4
Tokyo session --- 8am-5pm Tokyo time --- compare to Asian Session, which includes the
Tokyo session plus the (GMT+8) Singapore and Hong Kong sessions
Tokyo time --- JST=GMT+9 (year-round) --- Japan does not observe daylight saving time
top-down analysis --- (1) general market analysis phase, (2) anticipatory trade analysis
phase, (3) trade execution phase, and (4) open trade reaction phase
top-down approach --- (see top-down analysis)
TP --- (see take-profit)
TPDS --- (see Trading Plan Development Series)
trade execution phase --- top-down analysis, phase 3: market tone, risk on or off, buy or
sell program, HTF S/R levels, MS, MF, time and price, and trade entry
trade management --- management of open trades to (1) reduce trade-risk to zero and
protect profits on profitable trades; or (2) cut losses on losing trades
Trader's Trinity --- chart dividing a Daily, Weekly or Monthly H-L range into zones: lower
25% (oversold), middle 25% (fair value), and upper 25% (overbought)
trading plan --- written rules specifying the pairs, sessions, times of day, etc., to be
traded; and the analysis methods, money management, etc., to be used
Trading Plan Development Series --- a video series detailing the use of risk management,
plus fundamental, inter-market, technical, and top-down analysis
trend line --- an upward-sloping line below a series of progressively higher lows; or a
downward-sloping line above a series of progressively lower highs
triangle --- a consolidation pattern bounded by upper and lower lines which converge at a
point somewhere to the right of the current candle
TT --- (see Trader's Trinity)
turtle soup --- a smart money trade placed counter (opposite) to a typical "turtle trade",
anticipating a failure of the turtle trade (i.e., the turtles get "eaten")
tweezers --- refers to two, long, side-by-side, upper (or lower) candle wicks, with opposite
colors, typically at a swing high (or swing low)
type 1 divergence --- price and oscillator diverge, signaling a probable trend reversal ---
bullish: price-LL, oscillator-HL --- bearish: price-HH, oscillator-LH
type 2 divergence --- price and oscillator diverge, signaling a probable trend continuation
--- bullish: price-HL, oscillator-LL --- bearish: price-LH, oscillator-HH
TZ --- (see time zone)

U
UJ --- USD/JPY pair
U.S. Dollar Index --- the USD measured against a weighted basket of 6 currencies: EUR
57.6%, JPY 13.6%, GBP 11.9%, CAD 9.1%, SEK 4.2%, and CHF 3.6%
USDX --- (see U.S. Dollar Index)
USDX triad divergence ---
UTC --- Coordinated Universal Time; the world's scientific reference time zone; (for our
purposes, the following are equivalent: UTC = UT1 = Zulu time = GMT)

W
W%-R (or Williams%-R, or Williams%-Range) --- one of 3 price oscillators (W%-R,
stochastics, and RSI;) included in the ICT tool-set; use one of these (or MACD)
Wall Street --- the financial district in Lower Manhattan (New York)
What Every New & Or Aspiring Forex Trader...Still Wants To Know --- Michael's "sticky"
thread on the "Newbie Island" forum; starting point for ICT instruction
whiplash long and catapult short --- trading long, then short, when Sunday's open gaps
lower; the whiplash fills the gap; the catapult extends the down-move
whiplash short and catapult long --- trading short, then long, when Sunday's open gaps
higher; the whiplash fills the gap; the catapult extends the up-move

Y
yen --- proper name of the Japanese currency; also, nickname of the USD/JPY pair

Z
Z-configuration --- a fractal (def.1) price consolidation pattern, seen on all time frames, of
which the Z-day is the most often observed
Z-day --- a day of price consolidation within a defined range, clearly bounded by S/R
levels; Z-days are often followed by search and destroy stop hunts
 
Numerical Items
00's --- x.xx00 price level (see figure)
1.28 projection --- this rule says that, if the 2 most recent SL's were n days apart, then
the next SH will form (approx.) 1.28 x n days after the most recent SH
18 EMA --- 18-period EMA; together, the 18 EMA and the 40 EMA comprise a moving-
average-crossover indicator, useful for day-trading and short-term trading
20 level --- x.xx20 price level (see institutional level)
40 EMA --- 40-period EMA; (see 18 EMA, above, for an explanation of its use)
50 level --- x.xx50 price level (see mid figure)
62 level --- shorthand for the 62% retracement level (not a standard fib retracement
level)
70 level --- shorthand for the 70.5% retracement level, which is the OTE sweet spot (not
a standard fib retracement level)
79 level --- shorthand for the 79% retracement level (not a standard fib retracement
level)
80 level --- x.xx80 price level (see institutional level)

Perf Chart abbreviations (a partial list)

$USD --- U.S. dollar index (see USDX in the alphabetical listing)
$XEU --- the euro priced in U.S. dollars (PHLX pricing, not spot Forex pricing)
$XBP --- the British pound priced in U.S. dollars (PHLX pricing, not spot Forex pricing)
$XJY --- 100 yen priced in U.S. dollars (PHLX pricing, not spot Forex pricing) --- note: this
chart is the inverse of a standard USD/JPY Forex chart

$UST1M --- U.S. Treasury 1-month treasury bill

$UST1Y --- U.S. Treasury 1-year treasury bill
$UST2Y --- U.S. Treasury 2-year treasury note
$UST5Y --- U.S. Treasury 5-year treasury note
$UST10Y --- U.S. Treasury 10-year treasury note
$UST30Y --- U.S. Treasury 30-year treasury bond