Tue AM Briefing: Get Ready to Trade: Key S&P Futures Prep for Our AM Room

Tue AM Briefing: Opening Bell Prep for Micros & Emini Futures Traders

In its latest Tuesday AM briefing, Microtrader.com reinforced its disciplined approach to trading ES and MES futures. The team emphasized emotional control, adherence to “strong levels,” and pre-planned trade execution, particularly amid market highs. With the current bullish bias, traders were cautioned against chasing gap-ups and reminded of the importance of structural pullbacks. Group accountability and structured journaling continue to serve as cornerstones of their strategy.
📚 RESOURCES
📄 TRANSCRIPT

Opening Remarks

Welcome to the Tuesday AM Briefing from Microtrader.com. Today, we’re covering key ES levels, market structure, and updates from the MES Training System. The foundation of everything we do here is built on one simple principle: Trade what is happening, not what you want to happen.

Core Trading Philosophy & Emotional Control

This guiding phrase is critical, especially when markets respond to unexpected global events. For example, after a bombing, I felt emotionally driven to expect the market to tank—but that’s not the point. I have to trade based on what is unfolding in front of me, not what I think should happen or what I emotionally wish would occur.

Discipline is everything. One area of focus this week is the difference between responding and reacting. When you take a bad trade, do you immediately over-leverage on the next one out of frustration? Or do you pause, analyze, and respond intentionally?

Essay Format Questions

  1. How did you respond to your worst trade today?
  2. What could you do differently next time to improve your discipline?

Trading in a group helps maintain that focus. We keep each other grounded in the present market reality instead of falling into narratives or personal biases. That collaborative accountability is a major benefit of this community.

Another important component: pre-planning trades. Especially in overnight sessions, I map out my trades in advance. If I miss a move, I miss it—there will always be more. I don’t need to chase every setup.

We often refer to ourselves as "bounce traders." That means we specialize in identifying price areas where we expect a reaction—a bounce—and position ourselves accordingly. This approach simplifies the chaos and gives us structure.

Market Outlook and Key ES Levels

We’re near all-time highs. On the unadjusted chart, 6166 is a critical level to keep in mind. Trading at all-time highs is not easy. There's limited structure, which makes defining risk tricky. But that's where our "strong levels" come into play.

Glossary of Key Terms

  • Strong levels: High-confidence price zones used as anchors for entry and exit decisions.
  • Bounce traders: Traders who look for price to react at predetermined support/resistance levels.
Bias for today is long-only. Wait for a pullback to enter; don’t chase strength near highs.

Big gap up this morning. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking the market "has" to fill the gap. It doesn’t. We’re above the previous day’s high and above VWAP. That confirms continued bullish sentiment for now.

Routine and Trading Logistics

Reminder: We’ll be live 15 minutes before the market opens and for 30 minutes after the open. That’s part of our structured daily rhythm. If you're joining via YouTube, welcome.

Several news items to watch today:

  • Powell is testifying—either in the House or Senate—today and again tomorrow.
  • Consumer Confidence and the Enrichment Manufacturing Index will be released 30 minutes after the open.
  • New home sales data comes out tomorrow.

We’re working mostly off the 10-minute chart this morning. The DOM (Depth of Market) will not be open for me, so I’m staying focused on structure and price action.

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." — 1 Peter 5:8

Performance & Community Examples

Big shoutout to James—52 points yesterday! Two well-executed edge trades, just slightly behind the bounce. That’s textbook bounce trading. Nicely done.

As for me, I made a mistake. I locked in four points when I should’ve let it run. That was a clear error on my part—but at least it was still a green day. Transparency like this helps us all grow.

I also passed on a long trade overnight because it was too close to another strong level. I like at least a 20-point buffer before entering, and that one didn’t meet the criteria.

TRADER FAQ

Q: What does "trade what is happening, not what you want to happen" mean in futures trading?
A: It means responding objectively to market behavior rather than acting on personal bias or emotional expectations.

Q: Why are "strong levels" critical for bounce traders?
A: Strong levels act as reliable zones where price is likely to react, allowing bounce traders to plan precise entries and exits.

Q: How should traders handle emotional reactions after a bad trade?
A: Traders should pause and journal the experience, focusing on how they responded, not reacted—avoiding revenge trades or overleveraging.

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