Market Structure Shift (MSS) & Break of Structure (BOS) - GuideIntroduction
Understanding market structure is fundamental to becoming a consistently profitable trader. Two key concepts that Smart Money traders rely on are the Break of Structure (BOS) and the Market Structure Shift (MSS) . While they may seem similar at first glance, they serve different purposes and signal different market intentions.
In this guide, we will break down:
- The difference between BOS and MSS
- When and why they occur
- How to identify them on your charts
- How to trade based on these structures
- Real chart examples for visual clarity
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Break of Structure (BOS)
A Break of Structure is a continuation signal. It confirms that the current trend remains intact. BOS typically occurs when price breaks a recent swing high or low in the direction of the existing trend .
Key Characteristics:
- Happens with the trend
- Confirms continuation
- Can be used to trail stops or add to positions
Example:
In an uptrend:
- Higher High (HH) and Higher Low (HL) form
- Price breaks above the last HH → BOS to the upside
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Market Structure Shift (MSS)
Market Structure Shift signals a potential reversal . It occurs when price breaks a significant swing level against the prevailing trend and is often followed by a shift in the internal structure (e.g., lower highs after higher highs).
Key Characteristics:
- Happens against the trend]
- Signals possible trend reversal
- Often occurs after a liquidity grab or stop hunt
- Optional: is created by a displacement candle
Example:
In an uptrend:
- Price takes out a significant high (liquidity grab)
- Then aggressively breaks the most recent HL → MSS to the downside
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How to Identify BOS and MSS
For BOS:
1. Determine the current trend.
2. Identify swing highs/lows.
3. Look for price breaking past these levels in the same direction as the trend .
For MSS:
1. Look for signs of exhaustion or liquidity grabs near swing highs/lows.
2. Watch for price to break against the trend structure .
3. Confirm with a shift in internal structure (e.g., lower highs start forming in an uptrend).
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Using BOS and MSS in Your Trading Strategy
With BOS:
- Use it to confirm trend continuation
- Add to your position after a retracement into an OB or FVG
- Trail your stop-loss below the most recent HL or above LH
With MSS:
- Look for confluence (liquidity sweep + MSS = strong signal)
- Use it to spot early reversal entries
- Wait for a confirmation candle or structure shift on LTF (1m, 5m, 15m)
- If the displacement candle is too big you can wait for the retest
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing BOS with MSS
- Ignoring higher timeframe context
- Trading MSS too early without confirmation
- Chasing BOS without waiting for a proper retracement
Pro Tip: Use BOS/MSS with confluences like SMT Divergence, IFVGs, or key session times for higher probability setups.
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Final Thoughts
Mastering BOS and MSS will give you an edge in understanding price delivery and anticipating market moves. BOS confirms strength in the current trend, while MSS warns of a possible reversal and new trend forming. Combine these with smart money tools, and you’ll be equipped to enter the market like a pro.
Happy Trading!
Marketstructure
Foundation of Technical Trading: What Makes a Chart Tradable?The Foundation of Technical Trading
There is an abundance of information on price charts, technical methods, indicators, and various tools. However, the required first step is to understand basic market structure. Without this foundational knowledge, technical applications risk becoming inconsistent and disconnected from broader market behavior.
It is also important to question whether technical charts and tools are effective at all. What makes the market responsive to a trendline, a pattern, or an indicator? And why, at other times, do these tools seem entirely irrelevant? Is the market random? If certain events are predictable, under what conditions can such occurrences be expected?
Experiment: Random Charts
Here is an illustration of four charts; two showing real price data and two randomly generated. While some visual distortion gives away subtle differences, there are more refined methods to construct this experiment that makes telling the difference between real and random almost impossible.
All these charts show viable patterns and possible applications. When presented with these, even experienced people tend to construct narratives, whether or not structure is present. This raises a fundamental question; how can one distinguish real occurrences from coincidental formations on a chart? In case all movements are considered random, then this should indicate that applied methods perform no better than coincidence?
Bias and Distortion
It’s also important to comprehend the influence our perception. As humans we are wired to find patterns, even in random data, which can lead to various cognitive biases that distort our interpretation. For example, confirmation bias may lead us to focus only on evidence that supports our expectations, while apophenia causes us to see patterns where none exist. Similarly, hindsight bias can trick us into believing past patterns were obvious, which can develop overconfidence in future decisions. Awareness of these biases allows us to approach technical tools and charts with greater objectivity, with more focus on probabilistic methods and calculated risks.
Experiment: Random Levels
Perform the following experiment; open a chart and hide the price data. Then draw a few horizontal lines at random levels.
Then reveal the price again. You’ll notice that price can touch or reverse near these lines, as if they were relevant levels.
The same thing can happen with various indicators and tools. This experiment shows how easy it is to find confluence by chance. It also raises an important question, is your equipment and approach to the markets more reliable than random?
Market Disorder
Financial markets consist of various participants including banks, funds, traders and algorithmic systems. These participants operate with different objectives and across multiple timeframes resulting in a wide range of interpretations of market behavior. Trades are executed for various reasons such as speculation, hedging, rebalancing, liquidation or automation; directional intent could be unclear. For instance, the prior may serve to offset exposure, and portfolio rebalancing could require the execution of large orders without directional intent.
Technical and chart-based trading likely makes up a minor segment of the overall market; even within this subset, there is considerable variation in perception and interpretation. There could be differences in timeframe, reference points, pattern relevance and responses to similar information. The market is broader, more complex and less definitive than it appears. The point is that markets contain a high degree of structural disorder, which means most assumptions should be questioned and perceived as estimative.
The effect of buying and selling pressure on multiple timeframes sets the foundation for oscillation in price movements, rather than linear and monotonic movements. This pattern of rising and falling in a series of waves sets the points for where the current structure transitions between balance and imbalance. An overall equilibrium between buying and selling pressure results in consolidative price movement, whereas dominance leads to trending or progressive movement.
Volatility Distribution
To answer the main question: What differentiates real market behavior and charts from random data, and ultimately makes it tradable, is the distribution of volatility. This forms the basis for the phenomenon of volatility clustering, where periods of high volatility tend to follow high volatility, and low volatility follows low volatility. It is rare for the market to shift into a volatile state and then immediately revert to inactivity without some degree of persistence. Research supports the presence of this volatility persistence, though with the important caveat that it does not imply directional intent.
Volatility Cycles
These phases tend to occur in alternation, known as volatility cycles, which set the foundation for tradable price structures. This sequence consists of a contractive phase, marked by compression in price movements, followed by an expansive phase, characterized by increased volatility and directional movement. The alternation reflects shifts in underlying buying and selling pressure. This behavior offers a practical approach to interpret market behavior. A more detailed explanation of the concept could be explored in a future post.
Conclusion
While the idea of profitability through technical trading is often questioned, it remains a viable approach when based on sound principles. The edges available to the average trader are smaller and less frequent than commonly presumed. The concepts of volatility and the ability to locate areas of imbalance forms the basis for identifying conditions where market behavior becomes less random and more structured. This sets the foundation for developing technical edges.
The content in this post is adapted from the book The Art of Technical Trading for educational purposes.
2025 ICT Mentorship: Institutional Market Structure Part 22025 ICT Mentorship: Lecture 3_Institutional Market Structure Part 2
Greetings Traders!
In Lecture 3 of the 2025 ICT Mentorship, we dive deep into the core principles of market structure, focusing on how institutions truly move the market. Understanding this is essential for precision trading and eliminating emotional biases.
Key Insights from the Lecture
🔹 Distinguishing Minor vs. Strong Swing Points – Learn to differentiate between structural noise and true market shifts.
🔹 Marking Market Structure with Precision – Objectively analyze price action to refine your decision-making process.
🔹 Institutional Market Structure Techniques – Align with smart money to enhance accuracy and consistency.
Why This Matters
Mastering market structure allows traders to anticipate price movement, reducing impulsive trades and reinforcing a disciplined approach. By integrating institutional strategies, we position ourselves for more accurate and confident executions.
Stay focused, keep refining your skills, and let’s continue elevating our trading game.
Institutional Market Structure Part 1:
Enjoy the video and happy trading!
The Architect 🏛️📊
Institutional Market Structure: How to Mark It!2025 ICT Mentorship: Lecture 2
Video Description:
📈 Unlock the Secrets of Institutional Market Structure!
Hey traders! Welcome to today’s video, where we lay the foundation for mastering how the market truly moves. Understanding market structure is the key to improving your trading precision and analysis.
In this session, we’ll break down the difference between minor swing points and strong swing points—a crucial distinction for objective and accurate structure analysis. You’ll learn how to mark market structure properly, keeping emotions in check and aligning with solid trading psychology.
🎯 What You’ll Gain:
✅ Identify market structure like a pro
✅ Enhance your objectivity and reduce impulsive decisions
✅ Master institutional techniques for improved accuracy
If you’re ready to take your trading to the next level and build a strong foundation, hit play and let’s dive in!
💬 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more game-changing insights. Share your thoughts below—I’d love to hear how this helps your trading journey!
Enjoy the video and happy trading!
The Architect 🏛️📊
Textbook Reversal Setup: Liquidity Zone + Channel BreakReversal Setup Analysis: HTF Liquidity Zone + Ascending Channel Breakdown
This chart highlights a high-probability bearish reversal setup based on key technical confluences. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the analysis:
1. High-Timeframe (HTF) Liquidity Zone (LQZ):
- The red zone marks a major HTF supply area where price previously rejected with a strong impulsive move downward. This liquidity zone is critical as it represents an area where institutional players have shown activity, creating a high-probability region for a potential reversal.
- As price approached this zone again, it did so in a corrective manner (via an ascending channel), which indicates weakening bullish momentum.
2. Impulsive vs. Corrective Structures:
- Impulsive Move: The strong move away from the HTF LQZ (highlighted earlier in the chart) confirms bearish intent, serving as a key reference point for this trade idea.
Corrective Structure: The price forms an ascending channel on the way back to retest the HTF LQZ, signaling exhaustion of buyers.
- The third touch of the channel’s trendline coincides with the HTF LQZ, adding confluence for a potential bearish reversal.
3. Liquidity Zones in Play:
- HTF Liquidity Zone (Supply): Serves as the key resistance level and primary rejection zone.
- 15-Minute Liquidity Zone (Demand): Acts as a potential target for bearish momentum post-breakdown.
- This multi-timeframe liquidity alignment strengthens the trade idea by providing clear areas of interest for entry, stop-loss, and take-profit placement.
4. Breakdown Entry and Structure:
- Entry Trigger: The trade is triggered on the break of structure, where price falls through the lower boundary of the ascending channel. This breakdown confirms bearish momentum resuming after the corrective phase.
- Stop-Loss Placement: Ideally placed above the HTF liquidity zone and beyond the third touch of the channel to account for potential fake-outs.
- Take-Profit Levels: Targets can be set near the 15M liquidity zone or prior swing lows for a solid risk-to-reward ratio.
5. Key Takeaways:
- This setup offers an excellent example of combining HTF liquidity zones, structural patterns, and market context to develop a high-probability trade idea. The rejection from the HTF LQZ aligns with the broader bearish narrative, while the ascending channel acts as a corrective structure leading to a continuation of the downward move.
- By focusing on confluence factors like liquidity zones, impulsive vs. corrective moves, and structural breaks, this trade idea demonstrates a disciplined and strategic approach to trading reversals.
Educational Insights:
- Always zoom out to identify HTF zones of significance to ensure alignment with the larger market context.
- Differentiate between impulsive and corrective structures to gauge the strength and intent of price movements.
- Use pattern confluences (e.g., ascending channels) in combination with key zones to identify high-probability entries.
- Prioritize patience and discipline by waiting for clear structural breaks to confirm your setup.
41-Day Sentiment mastery missionGM WARRIORS
I'm on a mission to master the SuperTrend indicator by testing all 42 combinations of its key settings: Factor, ATR (Average True Range), and Time Periods.
Each day, I’ll backtest 50 trades on a new combination to refine a 15-minute day trading system, focusing on trend precision and market sentiment. The combinations include:
21 Factors (2.0 to 4.0 in 0.1 increments).
2 Timeframes (15M and 30M).
Goal: Identify the optimal SuperTrend configuration, master early trend reversals, and sharpen market insights within a month.
Results will be shared daily via a public sheet and incorporated into my ongoing SuperTrend study. If you’d like updates, let me know, and I’ll tag you in this journey!
📊 Progress Sheet: docs.google.com
📘 SuperTrend Study: docs.google.com
What Is ICT Turtle Soup, and How Can You Use It in Trading?What Is ICT Turtle Soup, and How Can You Use It in Trading?
The ICT Turtle Soup pattern is a strategic trading approach designed to exploit false breakouts in financial markets. By understanding and leveraging liquidity grabs, traders can identify potential reversals and enter trades with relative precision. This article delves into the components of the ICT Turtle Soup pattern, how to identify and use it, and its potential advantages and limitations, providing traders with valuable insights to potentially enhance their trading strategies.
The ICT Turtle Soup Pattern Explained
ICT Turtle Soup is a trading pattern developed by the Inner Circle Trader (ICT) that focuses on exploiting false breakouts in the market. This ICT price action strategy aims to identify and take advantage of situations where the price briefly moves beyond a key support or resistance level, only to reverse direction shortly after. This movement is often seen in ranging markets where prices oscillate between established highs and lows.
The concept behind ICT Turtle Soup trading is rooted in the idea of liquidity hunts and market imbalances. When the price breaks out, it often triggers stop-loss orders set by other traders, creating a temporary imbalance. The ICT Turtle Soup strategy seeks to capitalise on this by entering trades in the opposite direction once the breakout fails and the price returns to its previous range.
The pattern is named humorously after the original Turtle Traders' strategy, which focuses on genuine breakouts. In contrast, ICT Turtle Soup takes advantage of these failed attempts, thus "making soup out of turtles" by transforming unproductive breakout attempts into potentially effective trades.
Typically, traders look for specific signs of a false breakout, such as a price briefly moving above a recent high or below a recent low but failing to sustain the move. This strategy is particularly effective when used in conjunction with other ICT concepts, such as higher timeframe analysis and understanding of market structure.
Components of the ICT Turtle Soup Pattern
To effectively utilise the ICT Turtle Soup setup, it’s essential to understand its core components: order flow and market structure, liquidity, and internal versus external liquidity.
Order Flow and Market Structure
Order flow and market structure are critical in analysing the ICT Turtle Soup pattern. This involves observing price movements and traders' behaviour in different timeframes. Traders can analyse higher and lower timeframe price movements in FXOpen’s free TickTrader platform.
Higher Timeframe Structure
This refers to the broader trend governing the lower timeframe trend. For traders using the 15m-1h charts to trade, this might mean structure visible on 4-hour, daily, or weekly charts.
Higher timeframe structures help traders identify the major support and resistance levels. These levels are essential as they mark the boundaries within which the market generally oscillates. Traders use these to determine the prevailing market direction and potential areas where false breakouts (stop hunts) are likely to occur.
Lower Timeframe Structure
Lower timeframe structures are examined on hourly or minute charts. These provide a more detailed view of price action within the higher timeframe’s range and account for the bullish and bearish legs that dictate a broader higher timeframe trend.
Liquidity and Stop Hunts
In general trading terms, liquidity represents how easy it is to enter or exit a market. However, in the context of the ICT Turtle Soup pattern, areas of liquidity can be identified beyond key swing points.
Stop Hunts
Stop hunts, also known as a liquidity sweep, occur when the price temporarily moves above a resistance level or below a support level to trigger stop-loss orders. This movement creates a liquidity spike as traders' stops are hit, providing a favourable condition for the price to reverse direction. ICT Turtle Soup traders seek to exploit these moments by entering trades opposite to the initial breakout direction once the liquidity is absorbed.
Internal and External Liquidity
Understanding internal and external liquidity is vital for applying the ICT Turtle Soup pattern effectively.
Internal Liquidity
This refers to the liquidity available within the range of the higher timeframe structure. It involves identifying smaller support and resistance levels within the larger range. For example, in a bullish leg, there will be a series of higher highs and higher lows; beneath these higher lows is where internal liquidity rests. This internal liquidity will be targeted to form a bearish leg as part of a higher timeframe bullish trend.
External Liquidity
This involves liquidity that exists outside the key highs and lows of the higher timeframe trend. To use the example of the bullish leg in a higher timeframe bullish trend, the low it originated from and the high it creates as the bearish retracement begins count as areas of external liquidity.
Order Blocks and Imbalances
While not directly involved in the ICT Turtle Soup setup, understanding order blocks and imbalances can provide insight into where the price might head and the general market context.
Order blocks are areas where significant buying or selling activity has previously occurred, often due to institutional orders. These blocks represent zones of support and resistance where the price is likely to react.
Bullish Order Blocks
These are typically found at the base of a significant upward move and indicate zones where buying interest is strong. When the price revisits these areas, it often finds support, making them potential entry points for long trades.
Bearish Order Blocks
Conversely, these are located at the top of significant downward moves and signal strong selling interest. These zones often act as resistance when revisited, making them strategic points for short trades.
Imbalances
Imbalances, or fair value gaps (FVGs), are price regions where the market has moved too quickly, creating a significant disparity between the number of long and short trades. These gaps often occur due to high volatility and indicate areas where the market might revisit to "fill" the gap, thereby achieving fair value.
In other words, when a price rapidly moves in one direction, it leaves behind an area with little to no trading activity. The market often returns to these imbalanced zones to facilitate proper price discovery and liquidity.
How to Use the ICT Turtle Soup Strategy
Here's a detailed breakdown of how traders use the ICT Turtle Soup pattern.
Establishing a Bias
Traders begin by analysing the higher timeframe trend, such as the daily or weekly charts, to establish a market bias. This analysis helps determine whether the market is predominantly bullish or bearish. Identifying this trend is crucial as it guides where to look for potential Turtle Soup setups.
For instance, the example above shows AUDUSD initially moving down after a bullish movement off-screen. It eventually breaks above the lower high, indicating that the higher timeframe trend may now be bullish. Similarly, the shorter-term downtrend beginning from mid-May also saw a new high, meaning a trader may want to look for long positions.
Identifying Internal Liquidity
Once the higher timeframe trend is established, traders look for a move counter to that higher timeframe trend. In the example shown, this would be a downtrend counter to the bullish structure break. They mark levels of internal liquidity; in a bullish leg, these would be below swing lows and vice versa. These areas are likely to attract stop-loss orders.
Looking for Liquidity Taps
The next step involves waiting for these internal liquidity areas to be tapped. This typically happens when the price briefly breaks through a support or resistance level, triggering stop-loss orders before quickly reversing direction.
Ideally, the price should tap into the same area or order block where the internal liquidity formed and then exhibit a quick reversal, often leaving just a small wick. This movement indicates a liquidity grab, where large players have taken out stops to facilitate their own orders.
Lower Timeframe Confirmation
After identifying a liquidity grab beyond this internal liquidity level, traders look for an entry. On a lower timeframe, they look for a similar pattern: internal liquidity being run and a subsequent break of structure in the direction of the higher timeframe trend. This involves price retracing back inside the range to fill an imbalance and meet an order block, which provides a precise entry point.
Executing the Trade
Once these conditions are met, traders typically enter the market. Specifically, they’ll often leave a limit order at an order block to trade in the direction of the higher timeframe trend. They place a stop loss just beyond the liquidity grab, either above the recent high for a short trade or below the recent low for a long trade. Profit targets are often set at key liquidity levels, such as previous highs or lows, where the market is likely to encounter significant activity.
Potential Advantages and Limitations
The ICT Turtle Soup pattern is a trading strategy with several potential benefits and drawbacks.
Advantages
- Precision: Allows for precise entry points by identifying false breakouts and liquidity grabs.
- Adaptability: Effective across different timeframes and market conditions, including ranging and trending markets.
- Risk Management: Built-in risk management by placing stop losses just beyond the liquidity grab points.
Limitations
- Complexity: Requires a deep understanding of market structure, liquidity, and order flow, making it challenging for less experienced traders.
- Market Conditions: Less effective in highly volatile or illiquid markets where false signals are more common.
- Time-Consuming: Demands continuous monitoring of multiple timeframes to identify valid setups, which can be time-intensive.
The Bottom Line
The ICT Turtle Soup pattern offers traders a powerful tool to identify and exploit false breakouts in the market. By understanding its components and applying the strategy effectively, traders can potentially enhance their trading performance. To put this strategy into practice, consider opening an FXOpen account, a reliable broker that provides the necessary tools and resources for trading.
FAQs
What Is ICT Turtle Soup in Trading?
ICT Turtle Soup is a trading pattern that exploits false breakouts. It identifies potential reversals when the price briefly moves beyond a key support or resistance level, triggering stop-loss orders before reversing direction. This strategy aims to take advantage of these liquidity grabs by entering trades opposite to the initial breakout direction.
How to Identify ICT Turtle Soup Conditions?
To identify the ICT Turtle Soup pattern, traders analyse higher timeframe trends to establish market bias. They then look for counter-trend moves and mark internal liquidity areas. The pattern is identified when the price taps these liquidity zones and reverses quickly, often leaving a small wick. This signals a liquidity grab and potential trade setup in the direction of the higher timeframe trend.
How to Use the ICT Turtle Soup Pattern?
Using the ICT Turtle Soup pattern involves several steps. First, traders establish a market bias based on higher timeframe analysis. Then, they look for liquidity grabs at marked internal liquidity areas, indicating false breakouts. The next step is to confirm the setup on a lower timeframe by observing a similar liquidity grab and structure break. Lastly, they enter trades in the direction of the higher timeframe trend, placing stop losses just beyond the liquidity grab and targeting key liquidity levels for profit-taking.
This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
These Market Structures Are Crucial for EveryoneIn this article, we will simplify complex market structures by breaking them down into easy-to-understand patterns. Recognizing market structure can enhance your trading strategy, increase your pattern recognition skills in various market conditions. Let’s dive into some essential chart patterns that every trader should know.
Double Bottom / Double Top
A double bottom is a bullish reversal pattern that occurs when the price tests a support level twice without breaking lower, indicating strong buying interest. This pattern often suggests that the downtrend is losing momentum and a potential uptrend may follow. Conversely, a double top signals a bearish reversal, formed when the price tests a resistance level twice without breaking through. This pattern indicates selling pressure and suggests that the uptrend may be coming to an end.
Bull Flag / Bear Flag
A bull flag is a continuation pattern that appears after a strong upward movement. It typically involves a slight consolidation period before the trend resumes, providing a potential entry point for traders looking to capitalize on the ongoing bullish momentum. On the other hand, a bear flag forms during a downtrend, signaling a brief consolidation before the price continues its downward movement. Recognizing these flags can help traders identify potential breakout opportunities.
Bull Pennant / Bear Pennant
A bull pennant is a continuation pattern that forms after a sharp price increase, followed by a period of consolidation where the price moves within converging trendlines. This pattern often indicates that the upward trend is likely to continue after the breakout. Conversely, a bear pennant forms after a sharp decline, with the price consolidating within converging lines. This pattern suggests that the downtrend may resume after the breakout.
Ascending Wedge / Descending Wedge
An ascending wedge is a bearish reversal pattern that often forms during a weakening uptrend. It indicates that buying pressure is slowing down, and a reversal may be imminent. Traders should be cautious as this pattern suggests a potential downtrend ahead. In contrast, a descending wedge appears during a downtrend and indicates that selling pressure is weakening. This pattern may signal a bullish reversal, suggesting a possible upward breakout in the near future.
Triple Top / Triple Bottom
A triple top is a bearish reversal pattern that forms after the price tests a resistance level three times without breaking through, indicating strong selling pressure. This pattern can help traders anticipate a potential downtrend. Conversely, a triple bottom is a bullish reversal pattern where the price tests support three times before breaking higher. This pattern highlights strong buying interest and can signal a significant upward move.
Cup and Handle / Inverted Cup and Handle
The cup and handle pattern is a bullish continuation pattern resembling a rounded bottom, followed by a small consolidation phase (the handle) before a breakout. This pattern often indicates strong bullish sentiment and can provide a solid entry point. The inverted cup and handle is the bearish counterpart, signaling potential downward movement after a rounded top formation, suggesting that a reversal may occur.
Head and Shoulders / Inverted Head and Shoulders
The head and shoulders pattern is a classic bearish reversal signal characterized by a peak (head) flanked by two smaller peaks (shoulders). This formation indicates a potential downtrend ahead, helping traders to identify possible selling opportunities. The inverted head and shoulders pattern serves as a bullish reversal indicator, suggesting that an uptrend may follow after the price forms a trough (head) between two smaller troughs (shoulders).
Expanding Wedge
An expanding wedge is formed when price volatility increases, characterized by higher highs and lower lows. This pattern often indicates market uncertainty and can precede a breakout in either direction . Traders should monitor this pattern closely, as it can signal potential trading opportunities once a breakout occurs.
Falling Channel / Rising Channel / Flat Channel
A falling channel is defined by a consistent downtrend, with price movement contained within two parallel lines. This pattern often suggests continued bearish sentiment. Conversely, a rising channel indicates an uptrend, with price moving between two upward-sloping parallel lines, signaling bullish momentum. A flat channel represents sideways movement, indicating consolidation with no clear trend direction, often leading to a breakout once the price escapes the channel.
P.S. It's essential to remember that market makers, whales, smart investors, and Wall Street are well aware of these structures. Sometimes, these patterns may not work as expected because these entities can manipulate the market to pull money from unsuspecting traders. Therefore, always exercise caution, and continuously practice and hone your trading skills.
What are your thoughts on these patterns? Have you encountered any of them in your trading? I’d love to hear your experiences and insights in the comments below!
If you found this breakdown helpful, please give it a like and follow for more technical insights. Stay tuned for more content, and feel free to suggest any specific patterns you’d like me to analyze next!
MARKET STRUCT USING ICT CONCEPTThe Inner Circle Trader (ICT) concept in trading, developed by Michael J. Huddleston, offers a comprehensive approach to understanding and navigating market structure. ICT emphasizes the importance of market structure, which refers to the organization and arrangement of various market components, such as support and resistance levels, trends, and price patterns. This approach involves identifying key levels where institutional investors might be placing orders, understanding liquidity pools, and recognizing the behavior of smart money. By focusing on these elements, traders can better predict market movements, identify high-probability trade setups, and manage risks effectively. The ICT methodology combines technical analysis with a deep understanding of market dynamics to provide traders with a robust framework for making informed trading decisions.
Median Lines and Finding the Right Path When it comes to learning about markets and trading, finding the right path and committing to it is the hardest part. The right path has little to do with any technical analysis method. It has to do with structuring our mental framework so that we fundamentally change how we experience markets, trading, and loss.
In the video, I show some Median Line and Action/Reaction work but this work is useless by itself. No tool is good or bad, they are just tools we use to comprehend markets. The problem arises when the tools start using us and we think there is some kind of magic to them.
The essence of our strategy should be to structure our methods and mindset towards functionality. The journey we should commit to is one marked by fostering accountability and responsibility in all our actions. The swing trade Idea I show, takes method and structures it into function.
Shane
Dynamics of Bull Market CyclesBull markets are the epitome of investor optimism and economic growth, characterized by rising asset prices and increasing investor confidence. However, within every bull market, there lies a cyclical pattern composed of distinct phases: Discovery, Momentum, and Blow-off. Understanding these phases is crucial for investors to navigate the market efficiently and capitalize on opportunities while mitigating risks.
🟣 Discovery Phase:
👉 Accumulation: During the accumulation phase, institutional investors and smart money recognize undervalued assets and begin quietly accumulating positions. This often occurs when the broader market sentiment is still pessimistic or uncertain, presenting attractive buying opportunities.
👉 Trend Emergence: As accumulation continues, subtle shifts in market dynamics become apparent. Prices begin to exhibit higher highs and higher lows, indicating the emergence of an uptrend. Technical indicators such as moving averages may start to show bullish crossovers, further confirming the trend.
🟣 Momentum Phase:
👉 Shake-out: The shake-out phase is characterized by short-term price declines or corrections that test investor resolve. Weak-handed investors, who bought near the end of the accumulation phase or are driven by fear, panic sell their positions. This phase often creates volatility and uncertainty but also offers opportunities for long-term investors to accumulate quality assets at discounted prices.
👉 Momentum Building: Following the shake-out, momentum begins to build as the broader market recognizes the strength of the uptrend. More investors start participating in the rally, driving prices higher. Positive news catalysts and strong earnings reports further fuel the momentum, attracting even more investors.
👉 First Sentiment: As the bull market gains momentum, investor sentiment shifts from cautious optimism to moderate confidence. Market participants start to believe in the sustainability of the uptrend, leading to increased buying activity. However, skepticism may still linger, especially among contrarian investors who remain wary of potential overvaluation.
🟣 Blow-off Phase:
👉 Renewed Optimism: In the blow-off phase, optimism reignites as investors regain confidence in the market's upward trajectory. Corrections or pullbacks are viewed as buying opportunities rather than signals of impending reversal. Institutional investors and retail traders alike re-enter the market, driving prices to new highs.
👉 FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Fear of Missing Out becomes prevalent as investors fear being left behind in the rally. Social media, financial news outlets, and word-of-mouth recommendations amplify the sense of urgency to buy, further fueling price appreciation. This FOMO-driven buying frenzy can lead to exaggerated price moves and irrational exuberance.
👉 Euphoria: Euphoria marks the peak of the bull market cycle. Investors become irrationally exuberant, believing that the current uptrend will continue indefinitely. Risk management takes a backseat as greed overrides caution. Valuation metrics may reach extreme levels, signaling frothiness in the market.
Understanding the cyclical nature of bull market cycles is essential for investors to navigate the market successfully. By recognizing the distinct phases of Discovery, Momentum, and Blow-off, investors can make informed decisions, capitalize on opportunities, and protect their portfolios from potential downturns. While bull markets are synonymous with optimism and prosperity, prudent risk management and a keen awareness of market dynamics are critical for long-term investment success.
Understanding Market Structure In 5 MinutesThis video goes into depth on the types of market structures and how they happen. Ranging -> Breakout (Spike) -> Channel (trend or a ranging trend) -> Climax. The market moves in these repeatable patterns over and over and over again. If you can diagnose where we are in these cycles then you can harness this skill to improve your trading.
The Wash and Rinse To See True Support/ResistanceTrue support and resistance is found in the meat of the move, not at the extreme highs and lows. To find it, Simply draw a zone or box and look for the place that price touches the most, and then pay attention to what happens afterward.
In this lesson, I set up a trade plan and show how a Wash and Rinse structure at the pivot of a swing uses the most touches to find true support in a market. I then show how to identify it.
The Wash and Rinse has a process that we can follow in real-time.
1. Multi-Pivot Line (MPL)
2. Zoom through the MPL
3. Come back and retest the MPL
4. Zoom back through the MPL the other way
What happens in this process, is that buyers are holding some level. Price then busts that level triggering stops and at the same time encouraging shorts to enter. Then price rips back up essentially cleaning the book of orders and showing where the true support is (at least for the time being).
Once you can recognize this structure, you can begin making your own observations and use these levels to read a market or begin to build a setup around it. The most important part is to learn to design a plan with objective rules around what you observe.
Shane