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E-mini S&P 500 Futures (Dec 2020)EE

E-mini S&P 500 Futures (Dec 2020)

3,726.25USDD
+5.00+0.13%
At close at Dec 18, 2020, 14:29 GMT
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ESZ2020 trade ideas

Understanding MACD In TradingThe Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is a trend-following momentum indicator that measures the relationship between two moving averages of an asset’s price. Developed by Gerald Appel in the late 1970s, MACD is designed to provide insights into both trend strength and momentum. Unlike simple moving averages, which merely smooth price data over a specific period, MACD goes a step further by identifying when short-term momentum is shifting in relation to the long-term trend. This makes it a valuable tool for traders looking to enter or exit positions at optimal points. 1. Why is MACD important in trading? Trend Confirmation: Identifies whether an asset is in an uptrend or downtrend. Momentum Strength: Measures how strong a price movement is. Reversal Signals: Detects potential changes in trend direction. Entry and Exit Points: Helps traders determine when to buy and sell. 2. MACD Components The MACD Line: Identifies whether an asset is in an uptrend or downtrend. This line is derived by subtracting the 26-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) from the 12-period EMA. When the MACD Line is positive, it indicates bullish momentum; when negative, it suggests bearish momentum. The Signal Line: Measures how strong a price movement is. A 9-period EMA of the MACD Line. It smooths out MACD fluctuations, making it easier to identify crossovers. The Histogram: Detects potential changes in trend direction. The difference between the MACD Line and the Signal Line. A positive histogram suggests increasing bullish momentum, while a negative histogram suggests growing bearish momentum. 3. MACD Formula The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is one of the most widely used technical indicators in trading. It helps traders identify trends, momentum shifts, and potential buy or sell opportunities by analyzing the relationship between two moving averages. By calculating the difference between a short-term and long-term exponential moving average (EMA), MACD provides insight into market direction and strength. //@version=6 indicator("MACD Indicator", overlay=false) // MACD parameters shortLength = 12 longLength = 26 signalLength = 9 // Calculate MACD macdLine = ta.ema(close, shortLength) - ta.ema(close, longLength) signalLine = ta.ema(macdLine, signalLength) histogram = macdLine - signalLine // Plot MACD components plot(macdLine, color=color.blue, title="MACD Line") plot(signalLine, color=color.red, title="Signal Line") plot(histogram, color=color.green, style=plot.style_columns, title="Histogram") Explanation: Short EMA (12-period) and Long EMA (26-period) are calculated. The MACD Line is the difference between these EMAs. A Signal Line (9-period EMA of MACD Line) is calculated. The Histogram represents the difference between the MACD Line and the Signal Line. 4. Interpreting MACD signals MACD Crossovers A crossover occurs when the MACD Line and Signal Line intersect: Bullish Crossover: When the MACD Line crosses above the Signal Line, it signals a potential uptrend and a buying opportunity. Bearish Crossover: When the MACD Line crosses below the Signal Line, it suggests a potential downtrend and a selling opportunity. MACD Divergences Divergences occur when MACD moves in the opposite direction of the price, signaling a potential reversal: Bullish Divergence: If price makes lower lows, but MACD makes higher lows, it suggests weakening downward momentum and a possible bullish reversal. Bearish Divergence: If price makes higher highs, but MACD makes lower highs, it signals weakening upward momentum and a potential bearish reversal. Histogram Interpretation The MACD histogram visually represents momentum shifts: When bars are increasing in height, momentum is strengthening. When bars shrink, it suggests momentum is weakening. Zero Line Crossings The MACD crossing the zero line indicates momentum shifts: MACD crossing above zero → Bullish trend initiation. MACD crossing below zero → Bearish trend initiation. 5. Trend & Momentum Analysis Traders use MACD to confirm trends and analyze market momentum: If MACD Line is above the Signal Line, an uptrend is in place. If MACD Line is below the Signal Line, a downtrend is dominant. A widening histogram confirms strong momentum in the trend’s direction. A narrowing histogram warns of potential trend weakening. MACD works best in trending markets and should be used cautiously in sideways markets. 6. MACD Based Trading Strategies Entry Strategies Buy when MACD Line crosses above the Signal Line in an uptrend. Sell when MACD Line crosses below the Signal Line in a downtrend. Exit Strategies Exit long trades when a bearish crossover occurs. Close short positions when a bullish crossover occurs. Position Management If the histogram is expanding, traders can hold positions. If the histogram is contracting, it may signal weakening momentum. 7. Limitations of MACD While MACD is a powerful tool, traders must consider: It lags behind price movements (since it is based on moving averages). It can generate false signals in choppy markets. Customization is required to suit different trading styles. 8. Optimization Optimizing MACD for Different Market Conditions Day Traders & Scalpers: Use faster settings like (5, 13, 6) for quick signals. Swing Traders: Stick with the default (12, 26, 9) setting for balanced signals. Long-Term Investors: Use slower settings like (24, 52, 18) for a broader market perspective. 9. Key Takeaways MACD is a momentum and trend-following indicator that helps traders identify market direction, strength, and potential reversals. Since MACD is a lagging indicator, it may generate false signals, especially in sideways markets. Combining MACD with RSI, moving averages, and volume indicators improves accuracy and reduces risk. MACD should be used alongside risk management strategies and other confirmation tools for best results. MACD remains one of the most effective technical indicators, widely used across different markets. It helps traders identify trends, confirm momentum, and optimize trade entries and exits. However, it should always be used with additional tools to minimize false signals. Stay sharp, stay ahead, and let’s make those moves. Until next time, happy trading!
CME_MINI:ES1!Education
by CandelaCharts
12
ES Update, 104% China Tariff Edition, lol.As you can see, MFI hit overbought before open. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to post before work. Stupid algos pumping before bad news again, they even pumped China, so I bought some MCHI (China ETF) puts in the morning. WHy would anyone pump CHina before a tariff announcement?!?! I don't see Xi or Trump backing down, if anyone falters, it'll be COngress. The issue is that it will take a 2/3 majority in both houses to override a veto, so they probably won't be able to muster up enough support until next week at the earliest Then Trump can sit on the bill for 10 days before he vetos. There's not a parts supplier in China that's gonna pay 104% tariff, which means stop ship on everything. And we're looking at bare minimum of 11 days before tariffs can be repealed, probably gonna be at least 3 weeks. Even at that pace, it's gonna create a shipping backlog, empty shelves, parts shortage, and temporary layoffs at manufacturing plants just like COVID did. What's this all mean? IF YOU NEED ANYTHING THAT'S MADE IN CHINA, GO SHOPPING RIGHT NOW! I'm not kidding. It may cause issues even with stuff like frozen dinners because China makes all of the containers. ANyways, the algos screwed up again. RSI probably goes deep into oversold again. We get a huge ass bounce when COngress gets their shit together in a week or two. Even then, some companies will have lingering effect because I can guarantee there will be a shipping backlog when the tariff is lifted.
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by hungry_hippo
23
ES UpdateTrump is obviously gaming the market, so there's really no point in even looking at charts or indicators, lol. It's hard to take him seriously now. The gap will fill, maybe as soon as tomorrow morning. Then we get another huge pump sometime within the next week when he repeals the China tariffs and sets then to 10% or something. Just hold your favorite stock and wait it out. I bet he exempts AAPL, auto parts, and whatever else from the China tariffs. GM and even PDD went up today in anticipation. I had a few GM puts, saw the jump, tried to climb on as fast as possible. I prioritized my retirement account ahead of my options play, but I made a little money, hopefully more the next few days, lol. Expecting a melt up, then a jump when he caves in to China, no shorting anything for the next week until everything stabilizes. NVDA and TSLA still have other issues aside from tariffs, so those will be targets. Gotta let the short squeeze complete first, I have a 3 day rule. Wait 3 days, lol.
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by hungry_hippo
21
S&P - What will happen next for the S&P?The S&P 500 has been dropping quickly after Trump's tariff policies were announced. It fell from 5750 to 4900, and is now at 5053, all in just a few days. This is a sharp decline, and sellers are clearly in control right now. However, after such a big drop, it's common to see a short-term bounce before the market continues to fall. There is strong resistance between 5400 and 5500, which lines up with the golden pocket (a key level in technical analysis). This could make it harder for the S&P to rise past these levels. Looking further down, there is another strong support area between 4500 and 4600. This level also matches the golden pocket on the daily chart, making it an important point for potential support. If the market keeps falling, we could see this area tested before any significant recovery. Right now, it seems likely that the market will keep going lower. My main expectation is that we’ll get a small rally first, which could trick some traders into thinking the market is recovering, before continuing down. However, with all the uncertainty around the news and policies right now, it's also possible the market could keep dropping sharply without much of a rally. Keep a close eye on the markets and stick to good risk management practices. If you don’t, it could really hurt your portfolio. Stay alert and adjust your strategy as things change. Thanks for your support. - Make sure to follow me so you don't miss out on the next analysis! - Drop a like and leave a comment!
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by Youriverse
29
ES UpdateI won't be able to post before work, so here's an early update.... RSI is barely touching oversold, I expect it to go a bit further, but don't expect a tank. Probably a double bottom because the algos want their money back, lol. Daily and weekly RSI also oversold, and the algos appear to be looking strictly at indicators and not the news. They freakin pumped right before tariff announcements TWICE, lol. SO possible reversal tomorrow afternoon or Thu. Keep an eye out, they'll pump the market every time a country makes a deal. That's my prediction...
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by hungry_hippo
26
ES Monthly chart for some of you youngstersIf you think the market can't go any lower, you're mistaken. It's been a while since it's happened (housing bubble crash), but monthly indicators can go oversold. We're not there yet. If congress doesn't step in and rescind the tariffs, the stock market will get cut in half like it did back then. It's gonna be nearly impossible for corporations to match even preCOVID level profits with such huge tariffs. I do not recommend going long on anything until congress steps in. That may happen as early as this weekend, or they can wait until the market tanks 50%, lol..... who knows.
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by hungry_hippo
7
ES UpdateLike I said over the weekend, the algos are definitely on, explains the whipsaw Fri and today. Everything is oversold so they had to pump it and try to get their money back. Problem is, Trump is gonna announce 50% tariff on China tomorrow. CHina ain't backing down, not their style. QUote: "Therefore, if China does not withdraw its 34% increase above their already long term trading abuses by tomorrow, April 8th, 2025, the United States will impose ADDITIONAL Tariffs on China of 50%, effective April 9th." Source: www.cbsnews.com Might have to short something tomorrow morning, lol.
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by hungry_hippo
7
ES1 - Took Profit on Shorts, Now Time To Go LongS&P Fear & Greed index hit a deep low of 4 on Friday close. The herd are in extreme panic and the media have been blaring fear based news so everyone "knows" that its time to sell. S&P Futures and CFD have gapped down to open the week. The gap hits a 1:1.618 Golden Window extension. We haven't yet had any bounce more than a limp 0.382 retracement where a 3 wave continuation pattern topped out as Trump's tariffs came into effect. And so with no significant bounce, this extension is very deep and there is a decent chance that a significant bullish pivot will print in this area; perhaps tidily within this Golden Window band; between the 1.618 - 1.786 overshoot. ... The 2022 market top support intersects tidily within the Golden Window. There will be plenty of short sellers taking profit at this very significant support. This will be an area of very high liquidity and the market makers love to trade against high liquidity. ... The Week RSI has gone significantly oversold for the first time since the 2020 Pandemic Crash. And the day RSI just went sub 18. The day RSI is actually lower than any time since 2015! And notice that on the Futures chart above there is a very large gap to open the week. Considering the aforementioned, there is decent chance that it is an Exhaustion Gap that would precede a bounce. ... So all of this sets up a nice contrarian trade here. Even with all these technicals, it is a dangerous positional entry in high volatility chart. I think we will likely see another bearish wave following a bounce to complete a high time frame correction with a minimum of 3 correction waves. But a bounce is due really... I have taken profit on stock shorts positions on Friday, sold my crypto short positions as stock index Futures / CFD opened with this detail. Now I am positioned long S&P CFD. Even if it continues to slump, I think this will be due a bounce soon enough. But a tidy Golden Window catch would be ideal. Not advice
CLong
by dRends35
2
The Trump PatternWhen Donald Trump took office in 2017, the U.S. stock market experienced dramatic fluctuations—marked by steep declines followed by eventual rebounds. This pattern, which we'll call the "Trump Pattern," repeated itself during his presidency and is now emerging again as a point of interest for investors. While the specific causes of these market shifts varied, key factors—particularly tariffs, inflation concerns, and Federal Reserve (FED) actions—played critical roles in the market's rise and fall during Trump’s presidency. The Trump Pattern: The Market Fall and Recovery 🏁 1. The Start of the Trump Presidency (2017) When Donald Trump was elected in 2016, the market responded with a combination of excitement and uncertainty. Initially, the market surged due to tax cut expectations, deregulation, and optimism about a business-friendly administration. But as Trump's presidency fully began in January 2017, concerns over trade wars and tariff policies began to dominate investor sentiment. The market initially dipped after Trump began pursuing a protectionist trade agenda, especially with China. As concerns about tariffs escalated, stock markets reacted negatively to potential trade wars. 💶 2. The Tariff Crisis of 2018 The first major example of the "Trump Pattern" emerged in 2018 when Trump began implementing tariffs, particularly on Chinese imports, and announced new tariffs on steel and aluminum. This caused major market disruptions. The S&P 500 fell dramatically during this period, dropping by as much as 8.6% from its February peak in 2019. Companies that relied heavily on international trade, like Apple, General Motors, and Ford, experienced significant stock price declines. In fact, Apple’s stock fell 9.5% on days when new tariffs were announced, as their costs for manufacturing overseas rose. The uncertainty surrounding the global economy, combined with rising tariffs, created fears of a trade war, leading to sharp market declines. 📈 3. Market Recovery: FED Rate Cuts and Tax Cuts Despite the tariff-induced volatility, the market didn’t stay down for long. After significant market falls, the Federal Reserve (FED) began implementing interest rate cuts to combat slowing economic growth. These actions helped stabilize the market and even fueled a rebound. FED rate cuts made borrowing cheaper for consumers and businesses, stimulating economic activity and boosting investor confidence. Additionally, tax cuts, a cornerstone of Trump’s economic policy, provided further support, particularly for corporations. As a result, after the initial market drop in 2018 and early 2019, the market rebounded, continuing to climb as investors reacted positively to these fiscal and monetary policies. 🎯 The 2024 and 2025 "Trump Pattern" Emerges Again Fast forward to 2024 and 2025, and we’re seeing echoes of the "Trump Pattern" once again. New tariffs, introduced in 2025, have reignited concerns about a trade war. These tariffs, particularly on Chinese imports, have once again caused market volatility. The stock market has fallen in recent months due to concerns about these tariffs and the impact they might have on global trade. For example, when new tariffs were introduced in early 2025, the market saw a sharp sell-off, with the S&P 500 falling by over 1.8% in a single day. Companies that rely on international trade, like Tesla and Ford, have seen their stock prices drop in response to concerns about increased production costs. The broader market decline, much like in 2018, was driven by fears that tariffs could slow down the global economy and hurt corporate profits. However, there is optimism that the same pattern will unfold, where the market eventually recovers after these initial drops. ⚠️ 4. FED Rate Cuts Again? As inflation concerns persist, the Federal Reserve is likely to step in once again. Like previous cycles, we expect the FED to cut interest rates to stimulate the economy. This would be aimed at reducing borrowing costs, encouraging investment, and helping businesses weather the impact of higher tariffs and global uncertainty. The FED’s actions are typically a key driver of market recovery in the "Trump Pattern." Investors have come to expect that a market downturn triggered by political or economic disruptions can be offset by the FED’s supportive monetary policies. ⚖️ Navigating the Trump Pattern: What Should Investors Do? The "Trump Pattern" highlights that during periods of heightened uncertainty, especially due to trade policies like tariffs, the market will often experience short-term declines followed by long-term recovery. Here are a few strategies investors might want to consider: Stay Diversified : During periods of volatility, having a diversified portfolio can help cushion against the risks posed by market swings. Invest in Domestic Companies : Companies that rely less on international supply chains might fare better during periods of trade policy changes and tariff uncertainty. Focus on Growth : Once the initial market decline subsides, look for sectors that stand to benefit from a recovering economy, such as tech or consumer discretionary stocks. Look for Inflation Hedges : Given the potential for inflation, consider investments that tend to perform well during these times, such as real estate or commodities like gold. 📝 Conclusion: The Trump Pattern in Action The "Trump Pattern" demonstrates how the market tends to react in cycles during the early months of each presidency. Typically, the market falls at the start due to the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s trade policies, particularly tariffs. However, after these initial drops, the market often rebounds thanks to FED rate cuts and other policies aimed at stimulating the economy. Looking ahead to 2025, we're already seeing signs of this pattern in action as tariffs are back on the table and market volatility has followed. However, history suggests that patience might pay off. Once the FED steps in and cuts rates, a market rebound is likely, following the same trend we saw in 2017-2019.
CEducation
by CandelaCharts
2
ES 3hr UpdateRSI hit overbought so we got a dip. We may get another dip when MFI gets overbought today, or just a bigger dip if it hits overbought premarket. Will we get a melt up instead? I dunno. Keep in mind that China still has tariffs, but also keep in mind he's going to do exemptions. So that rules out shorting AAPL or any sector like auto. We will get another huge pop when he pauses China tariffs eventually. Also, at this point the futures gap fill is inevitable. Also, companies like NVDA and TSLA had issues even without the tariffs, so there's that as well. They probably overshot the target because of teh short squeeze. I've got a PCRA trade that I posted yesterday. Other than that, I think I will just go back to playing the 3hr indicator, and buy when RSI or MFI hit oversold. Not gonna short anything until next week. Looks like GM is gonna lose half the gain from yesterday because they use Chinese parts, but Trump also said he'll do exemptions so not gonna play it. Also, EVERYTHING GOES UP in a major short squeeze, even garbage like FCEL. When he makes a China deal, you'll be hosed if you're short. PDD went up yesterday and premarket even though Trump hit China with 125%. I can't predict what Trump will do with China, so just pay attention to the news.
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by hungry_hippo
11
ES1! Open Gap AlertAll futures gaps will fill... but who knows when? We already had an open gap above. This time around, virtually everything has an open gap. Gold futures have a small open gap, BTC futures have a big ass one, Nikkei, FDAX, the rest of Europe and Asia, oil, silver, and other commodities as well. XLF will complete the H&S pattern tomorrow, so maybe we get a bounce Tuesday, who knows? Everything's oversold with open gaps, but there's farther to drop if the tariffs aren't reversed somehow. The GOPs in the House aren't ready to cross Trump, so it's up to negotiations or the court system. That's gonna take weeks or months. Pay attention to the news. Unfortunately, I can't update during the day, and barely have time to read the news myself anyways. Good luck, sorry that I'm not more help.
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by hungry_hippo
3
S&P 500 - Elliott Wave Bearish BreakdownThis S&P 500 E-mini Futures (ES) daily chart highlights a potential bearish Elliott Wave structure following rejection from a key resistance zone. - The market encountered strong resistance near the 5,600 level, leading to a sharp decline. - A five-wave impulsive bearish structure appears to be forming, with Waves (1) and (2) already completed. - If this pattern continues, Waves (3), (4), and (5) could drive prices lower, targeting key support levels in the coming weeks. Traders should watch for confirmation of Wave (3) acceleration, as it is typically the strongest wave in an impulse. A break below recent lows could confirm further downside, while a strong bounce from lower levels may indicate a correction or trend reversal. Risk management remains crucial, as volatility can increase during corrective and impulsive waves. Keep an eye on macroeconomic factors and technical confluences for additional confirmation.
CShort
by wdstrades
3
ES 3hr Update1) I told everyone not to go long until congress decides to rescind all of the tariffs 2) I said the futures gap might not fill for an extended period of time, but all gaps will fill. This one will not happen until the tariffs are rescinded by congress or the next president, lol. 3) I said like COVID, this drop will probably break a lot of rules. So far it's broken the gap rule, 3hr indicator, double index gap (SPX daily index doesn't usually throw gaps 2 days in a row, and if it does it fills them them within days). 4) I assume it will break daily and weekly indicators as well, so I'm not even gonna post plots. 5) The algos are on, but broken. You can see that the market zig zagged multiple times today as the algos tried to pump the market, but there were way too many retail investors that sold. EOD (end of day) selling indicates people going cash in their 401k. Extremely rare for the market to drop EOD on Fridays like that. Usually there's at least some bounce. Anyways, you can see 3hr indicators flatlined at the bottom, the same can happen with daily and weekly indicators. We were close to circuit breaker level today. We may hit it next week if congress doesn't do something. That's the unknown factor that kept me from shorting the market over the weekend. If not, we may see yet another futures gap Sunday night and the circuit breaker. Remember we hit it multiple times during COVID bottom.
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by hungry_hippo
2
S&P - Will we follow 2020/2021?The S&P has been trading in a rising pattern for over 700 days, similar to the rising pattern observed in 2020 and 2021. In that instance, the price of the S&P broke below the support trendline and lost all SMA support, while also making a lower low. This has not occurred since the start of the current pattern. Could a deeper correction follow? Blue line = 50-day MA Red line = 100-day MA Yellow line = 200-day MA Analysis of the 2020/2021 Price Action We can conclude the following five points: 1. The rising wedge lasted for nearly 700 days. 2. The price consistently made higher highs and higher lows. 3. The S&P found support on the SMAs and never broke below the 200-day MA. 4. After approximately 700 days, the S&P broke below the rising wedge, lost all key SMA support, and made a lower low. 5. During the retest of the rising wedge and key SMAs (which had turned into resistance), a bearish cross (50-day SMA below the 100-day SMA) occurred, leading to a downtrend. How Does the 2020/2021 Price Action Correlate to 2023/2024? We can conclude the following five points: 1. The rising wedge lasted for approximately 750 days. 2. The price continued making higher highs and higher lows. 3. The S&P found support on the SMAs and never broke below the 200-day SMA. 4. After around 750 days, the S&P broke below the rising wedge, lost all key SMA support, and made a lower low. 5. A bearish cross between the 50-day SMA and the 100-day SMA is currently forming. When we overlay the bar pattern of the 2021 bearish price action onto the current chart, it suggests that a revisit to 4,750 is possible. This level is both a technical support and the point where the S&P started its downtrend in 2021. Conclusion Will the S&P follow the 2021 price action, resulting in a sustained downtrend, or will it reclaim all lost SMA levels and continue its uptrend? The price action suggests that there is a real possibility of weakness in the coming months.
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by Youriverse
8
Weekly Market Forecast: Short Term Buys, Then Sells! In this video, we will analyze the S&P 500, NASDAQ, AND DOW JONES Futures for the week of April 7 - 11th. The Stock Market Indices may find support at current levels for a Bear Market Rally. Wait for the market structure shift to the upside before taking any buys. Let the market confirm it's intended direction first, then look for valid buy setups for a short term countertrend play. Enjoy! May profits be upon you. Leave any questions or comments in the comment section. I appreciate any feedback from my viewers! Like and/or subscribe if you want more accurate analysis. Thank you so much! Disclaimer: I do not provide personal investment advice and I am not a qualified licensed investment advisor. All information found here, including any ideas, opinions, views, predictions, forecasts, commentaries, suggestions, expressed or implied herein, are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only and should not be construed as personal investment advice. While the information provided is believed to be accurate, it may include errors or inaccuracies. I will not and cannot be held liable for any actions you take as a result of anything you read here. Conduct your own due diligence, or consult a licensed financial advisor or broker before making any and all investment decisions. Any investments, trades, speculations, or decisions made on the basis of any information found on this channel, expressed or implied herein, are committed at your own risk, financial or otherwise.
CLong
by RT_Money
This is Wyckoff Volume Spread Analysis Gotcha Bar with No DemandIn this short video, Author and Trader, Gavin Holmes explains a Wyckoff Volume Spread Analysis Gotcha Bar followed by No Demand on the four hour chart of the E-Mini S&P Futures contract. This set up appeared last week and again today and is a clear indication of market weakness. As I type this the headline on BBC News is "Global Markets Plummet as US Tariffs Take Effect. Panic selling is often an opportunity for the chart readers who can identify a Shakeout, not here yet but watch, I will keep You all posted. Best wishes, Gavin Holmes
CShort
by gavinh10277
Using Put Options to Protect Your Stock PortfolioCME: Options on E-Mini S&P 500 Futures ( CME_MINI:ES1! ) Last week’s bloodshed of global financial market made history. Nearly all major asset classes fell into a market turmoil driven by tariffs and retaliations. Let’s focus on the US stock market: • Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 7.76% in the week of March 31st to April 4th, making it the 4th worst weekly performance on record • S&P 500 slipped 8.77%, the 4th worst week in history • Nasdaq Composite fell 9.18%, the 2nd worst week • Russell gave up 9.34%, the 3rd worst week All four stock index futures were in negative territory year-to-date. On Sunday evening, E-Mini S&P 500 opened 178 points lower to 4,932, losing 17.1% YTD. All parties ultimately come to an end. After two years of double-digit gains, the unstoppable US stock market finally cracked. As more tariffs and retaliations are expected to escalate, I am afraid that we are only seeing the beginning, rather than the end. For stock investors, this is a good reminder of market risk, something we always talk about but seldomly pay attention to. The “return of investment” should be focusing on the repayment of your money, a safety issue. Only after that should we talk about the gain from the investment. It is a necessity to protect your portfolio to achieve long-term growth. Trading with Options on E-Mini S&P 500 Futures For investors with a diversified portfolio, Put Options on the E-Mini S&P 500 futures are effective and cost-efficient tools. Investors who long the stocks will lose money, should stock prices fall. Put options would gain in value, providing a hedge to the portfolio. The following illustration shows a hypothetical example, given: • An investor has a $250,000 portfolio holding a diversified pool of U.S. stocks • CME E-Mini S&P 500 futures ( NYSE:ES ) have a contract size of $50 times the index value • The June contract (ESM5) was quoting at 4,935 Sunday evening Friday, making the notional value of 1 contract $246,750, approximately equal to our portfolio value • Assuming the portfolio moves closely in line with the S&P 500 • The investor wants to limit the loss of his portfolio to 12%. If the S&P 500 index is currently around 4950, a put option with a strike price of 4350 would roughly correspond to a 12% decline Hedging trade illustration: • The investor buys 1 put option on the June futures with the strike price of 4,600 • CME quote on that Put option is 223. As the contract is $50 times the index, the premium upfront for one put option contract is $11,150 (223*$50), ignoring any commissions • The put premium is calculated as 4.46% of the $250K portfolio If S&P drops to 4,200 (-15.15%) by the end of April: • Without the put, the portfolio lost $37,879, assuming the same loss with the S&P • The 4600-strike put is now 400 points in-the-money • The investor sells the put and receives $20,000 (= 400 x 50) • The loss of portfolio will be 37879+11150-20000 = $29,029 • With an E-mini S&P put protection to mitigate loss from the stock portfolio, the investor lost 11.6% (= 29029 / 250000), which is 3.5% lower than the S&P loss and with the preset loss limit If S&P drops to 4,000 (-19.2%) by the end of May: • Without the put, the portfolio lost $47,980, assuming the same loss with the S&P • The 4850-strike put is now 600 points in-the-money • The investor sells the put and receives $30,000 (= 600 x 50) • The loss of portfolio will be 47980+11150-30000 = $29,130 • With an E-mini S&P put protection to mitigate loss from the stock portfolio, the investor lost 11.6% (= 29,130 / 250000) As we can see here, when the S&P falls sharply, the investor will be able to cap his loss to 11.6%. In a “protective put” strategy, we would consider the option premium an insurance contract for owning stocks. If the index rises, the portfolio return would be lowered a little because of the premium upfront, that is, the cost of insurance. However, the protection is a lifesaver if the index falls. Before jumping into action, the investor needs to run a correlation analysis using the daily value of the portfolio against the S&P 500 closing prices. Here is how: • Some trading software has correlation feature built in already • If not, pull 1-year daily portfolio balance and 1-year S&P closing prices, export them to Excel. Run correlation test with these two data series using Excel data analysis tool. • Alternatively, we could drop the data into ChatGPT and ask AI to do the work for us. If the correlation is greater than 50%, it means that S&P 500 is a good fit to hedge the portfolio. If it is not, we could try the correlation analysis using the other stock index closing prices, such as the Dow, the Nasdaq 100 and the Russell 2000. Then replace E-Mini S&P 500 futures with the stock index futures contract best fit the portfolio. Happy Trading. Disclaimers *Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services. CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs www.tradingview.com
CShort
by JimHuangChicago