Open An Account
Free Demo Account Subscribe Here

Tag: futures trading

Futures Trading Advice | Support and Resistance Levels

Posted on by Ilan

Jump to a section in this post:
1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels – S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Russell 2000
3. Support and Resistance Levels – Gold, Euro, Crude Oil, T-Bonds
4. Daily Mini S&P Chart
5. Economic Reports for Friday, November 18, 2011

divider black 190

1. Market Commentary

We tested the lower borders of this wide band I have talked about over the last few days.

1204.50 to the psychological 1200 level are the first line of defense.

Volatility is picking up another notch again and we saw a sharp sell off in matter of minutes intraday around 11 AM central.

Brings me to a point I have mentioned before many times….and while I hate sounding like a broken record, I hope that by repeating this I may help clients and traders:

ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNACCEPTED! When volatility skyrockets like now, moves become extreme, the speed of the market really picks up and this is when one must adjust their trading size lower to accommodate for the wilder and wider moves.
It is my opinion to have AUTOMATIC stops entered if you are a daytrader. All our trading platforms offer “auto brackets” that allow you to place limits and stops as soon as position entered. Please contact your broker if you need help with this feature. Continue reading “Futures Trading Advice | Support and Resistance Levels”

The Importance of Underlying Assets in Futures Trading | Support and Resistance Levels

Posted on by Ilan

In this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels
3. Daily S&P 500 Futures Chart
4. Economic Reports
5. Earnings Releases

divider black 190

1. Market Commentary

I have been talking about the gaps and looking at the pit session SP500 which is the big SP ( each point = $250 versus $50 each point on the mini SP)

Another importance of the big SP or the PIT session, is that it tracks the hours of the cash SP500 index which is the UNDERLYING ASSET the SP and mini SP futures trade on.

Yesterday I wrote the following:

If market has more volume on the buy side, the next target is 1185, on the other hand if volume dries out up in these levels, I will be watching price action around 1149 and 1129 before deciding which way offers better risk/ reward.

Looks like overnight moves overseas brought in more volume on the buy side and we closed one gap and even went higher…..but now we have a gap from today’s session at 1159…..

Hourly chart of SP 500 ( pit session ) for your review below: Continue reading “The Importance of Underlying Assets in Futures Trading | Support and Resistance Levels”

High Volatility This Week and 8 Steps to Successful Futures Trading | Support and Resistance Levels

Posted on by Ilan

In this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels
3. Daily Mini S&P 500 Futures Chart
4. Download “8 Steps to Successful Futures Trading”
5. Economic Reports
6. Earnings Releases

divider black 190

1. Market Commentary

Wow, what a day in the metals segment and what a week in general. Fits perfectly what I wrote the last few days:

ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! When volatility skyrockets like now, moves become extreme, the speed of the market really picks up and this is when one must adjust their trading size lower to accommodate for the wilder and wider moves.

My 15 min mini SP chart below for your review ,clients who attend my daily live charts program had access to this chart in real-time, along with the signals generated. Continue reading “High Volatility This Week and 8 Steps to Successful Futures Trading | Support and Resistance Levels”

New Version of TransactAT is Available | Support and Resistance Levels

Posted on by Ilan

In this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels
3. Daily Mini S&P 500 Futures Chart
4. Economic Reports
5. Earnings Releases

divider black 190

1. Market Commentary

 

Front month for Equities (eminis), currencies, bonds and financials and many other markets is now December. You should not be trading almost any September contract of any market.

Note to our clients who are trading with TransactAT:

The latest version is now TransactAT 5.2.2 (download). The newer version can be installed over the older version. Please contact you broker if you need any help.

 

We started the week right where we left the last one….overnight gaps due to news from Europe ( Greece this time), moves both ways with volatility actually dying out during the day session.

I have a “small sell signal” if we can break below 1186 on Dec. Mini Sp with targets coming at 1166 and 1148. Continue reading “New Version of TransactAT is Available | Support and Resistance Levels”

Front Month for Futures Contracts is now December | Support and Resistance Levels

Posted on by Ilan

In this post:

1. Market Commentary
2. Support and Resistance Levels
3. Daily Mini S&P 500 Futures Chart
4. Economic Reports
5. Today’s Highlighted Earnings Releases

divider black 190

1. Market Commentary

Front month for Equities (eminis), currencies, bonds and financials and many other markets is now December. You should not be trading almost any September contract of any market.

Have a great weekend and if you like to have access to chart templates like the one below, along with my DIAMOND ALGO ( e-mini SP from today’s session), keep reading: Continue reading “Front Month for Futures Contracts is now December | Support and Resistance Levels”

Key Resistance Level in Futures Trading Price Action | Support and Resistance Levels

Posted on by Ilan

Market rallied close to 3% on the SP and Dow Jones. Again it did so on much lighter volume than when it sold off last few weeks but nonetheless one CANNOT argue with price action. We are approaching the 50% retracement level from the highs made on July 8th to lows made Aug 9th. That level on the mini SP is 1212.50. I believe that the 1212 to 1219 zone is an important resistance level to watch. If we break above it with meaningful volume, it may be a sign of further room to the upside, on the other hand if we fail against it and volume picks up with price action going lower, it may be a sign of resumed selling. As always in our business… time will tell. Plenty of economic reports this week, both in the US and in Europe. Last but not least it is the end of the month…. Wishing you great trading this week and Daily chart of the mini SP 500 for your review below.

Daily Futures chart for Mini S&P 500 from August 29th, 2011

Daily Futures chart for Mini S&P 500 from August 29th, 2011

Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time. Continue reading “Key Resistance Level in Futures Trading Price Action | Support and Resistance Levels”

Futures Trading Levels, Stock Indeces Bounce Back

Posted on by Ilan

Strong bounce on stock indices today across the board. As one can see, market is volatile and one day it seems the market just can’t stop selling, the next it flips around and runs higher….part of volatility, part of uncertainty, fear and greed.

the only advice I can share at this point is be ready for the unexpected. Know yourself, what your goals are out of each trade, how much risk tolerance you have the stomach for and then and only then decide on a trading strategy.

Levels to be aware of as volatility will resume in the mini S&P 500 below:

Daily Futures chart of the S&P 500 from August 23rd, 2011

Daily Futures chart of the S&P 500 from August 23rd, 2011

Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time. Continue reading “Futures Trading Levels, Stock Indeces Bounce Back”

Futures Trading Levels, Trading Plans

Posted on by Ilan

On Friday I wrote the following regarding today’s session:

I have no idea of what to expect of this market for next week. Probably more volatility?

I guess I will wait and see price action Sunday night and Monday morning before forming an opinion.

Well after today’s price action I favor the downside as I see the close today to be bearish to neutral.

As I wrote before, you can have the right market direction and feel for the market and still lose… Maybe more important is the trading plan, i.e entry level, potential targets and stops etc. or to make it short….PLAN YOUR TRADE, TRADE YOUR PLAN.

Daily chart of the DOW JONES CASH index for your review below:

Daily Futures chart of the Dow Jones Cash Index from August 22nd, 2011

Daily Futures chart of the Dow Jones Cash Index from August 22nd, 2011

Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time. Continue reading “Futures Trading Levels, Trading Plans”

Futures Trading Levels, Uncertain Near Future Expectations

Posted on by Ilan

Another interesting option expiration day. Many changes in market direction, volatility in both sides of the market.

I have no idea of what to expect of this market for next week. Probably more volatility?

I guess I will wait and see price action Sunday night and Monday morning before forming an opinion.

Wishing you a great weekend and recharge for next week trading.

Mini Russell 2000 daily chart for your review below:

Daily Futures chart of the Mini Russell 2000 from August 19th, 2011

Daily Futures chart of the Mini Russell 2000 from August 19th, 2011

Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time. Continue reading “Futures Trading Levels, Uncertain Near Future Expectations”

Futures Trading Levels, It Is a Bear Market

Posted on by Ilan

Per my comments yesterday, we did see the market take the next leg after consolidating for a few days and it was a down leg….and again volume was significantly higher than we had during the bounce.

The trend is obviously down, but bear markets can also have powerful rallies, intraday and on daily chart basis. Separate the daily chart from your minute to minute trading action. Know what time frame you are trading and know your trading goals. If you are a swing trader then look at the daily chart AND hourly chart but don’t let the shorter time frame picture distort your longer term view. On the flip side, if you are a day trader who is using primarily 1 min chart or tick charts etc., understand what the daily and hourly picture looks like but make your trading decisions based on the time frame you are working with.

Daily chart for your review with some FIB extensions on the way down. 1206.75 is now the first MAJOR resistance, 1103 is the first defense before we visit the 1077 lows made August 9th

Daily Futures chart of the Mini S&P 500 from August 18th, 2011

Daily Futures chart of the Mini S&P 500 from August 18th, 2011

Trading Futures, Options on Futures, and retail off-exchange foreign currency transactions involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. You may lose all or more of your initial investment. Opinions, market data, and recommendations are subject to change at any time. Continue reading “Futures Trading Levels, It Is a Bear Market”

RISK DISCLOSURE: Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. The risk of loss in futures trading can be substantial, carefully consider the inherent risks of such an investment in light of your financial condition.