Lessons For Futures Traders: Week of Jul 14

Q: What is 'intentional trading', and why is it important?

Intentional trading involves planning trades ahead of time and avoiding impulsive, emotion-driven decisions. It contrasts with reactive trading and encourages discipline, using tools like battle plans and journaling to stay focused.

Q: What is the 'Battle Plan' and how is it used in trading?

The Battle Plan is a daily strategy published for members that outlines expected price action and key levels. It helps traders prepare intentionally instead of reacting in the moment.

Q: How do 'strong levels' and 'ranges' influence trading decisions?

Strong levels are key support or resistance points, and ranges define zones where traders should be cautious about entries. The strong levels indicator helps identify these zones on charts.

Q: What is the role of journaling in this trading approach?

Journaling promotes self-awareness and helps traders reflect on what was intentional versus reactive. The Trader Meditations software is used to document trades and learn from special trading days like CPI or OPEX.

Q: How are specific economic events like CPI and OPEX handled?

CPI and OPEX days are treated as high-risk, high-volatility events. Traders are advised to reduce risk, trade less, and review past journal entries to avoid being trapped by emotional decisions.

Q: What is the significance of the 'bullish' market trend and how does it affect trading?

With markets at all-time highs and bullish seasonality in July, traders are advised to favor long setups. Counter-trading this trend is discouraged due to its strong momentum.

Q: What is the 'tip of the day' about closing your trading platform?

To avoid entering unplanned trades, traders are advised to close their platform when not in a setup. This reduces impulsive behavior and ensures intentional engagement.

Q: What is the group's overall trading philosophy and community aspect?

The Microtrader.com group emphasizes intentional trading, community support, and spiritual grounding. Live Zooms, journaling, and daily battle plans are central to their disciplined approach.

Foundational Trading Philosophy: Intentionality and Discipline

A central tenet of Microtrader.com's approach is the emphasis on intentional trading over reactive trading. This philosophy is embedded in nearly every AM Briefing and reinforced with the reflective prompt: “What part of your trading felt reactive this week instead of intentional?” (Friday AM Briefing [Ep 473], Monday AM Briefing [Ep 469]).

Pre-planned Setups

Intentional trading is framed around having a mapped-out trade plan before engaging with the market. As emphasized in the Monday briefing, “One of the benefits of the battle plan that is published each evening is it makes trading intentional — if price gets to here, I want to engage in price.” In contrast, reactive trading is described as “just watching the chart and you're going, 'oops, I need to go long,' or 'oops, I need to go short.'”

Trying to fade a strong directional move is likened to “whizzing on the electric fence.”

Avoiding Reactive Behavior

The briefings strongly caution against impulsive trading, especially on high-volatility days such as CPI releases or Option Expiration (OPEX) Fridays. Traders are reminded of the risks associated with going against powerful market moves.

"One and Done" Mentality

On particularly difficult trading days, a “one and done” approach is recommended. Traders are encouraged to set smaller daily loss limits and only risk a portion of their weekly profits (Friday AM Briefing [Ep 473]).

“Today is a day to protect yourself from yourself — a great day not to trade, in all honesty.”

Patience and Waiting for Setups

One recurring message is that “the greatest danger is in between your setups” (Wednesday AM Briefing [Ep 471]). Traders are encouraged to close their trading platform when not in a trade to avoid FOMO-based entries. As noted on Thursday: “Sometimes you don’t get to participate... there is another high-probability trade around the corner” (Thursday AM Briefing [Ep 472]).

Risk Management

“No single trade should hurt you” is a foundational principle. The importance of trading within one’s leverage metrics is repeated throughout the week (Tuesday AM Briefing [Ep 470], Wednesday AM Briefing [Ep 471]).

Market Outlook and Key Levels

The briefings maintain a bullish market stance, especially for July, and offer granular insights into key price levels and structural dynamics.

Overall Bullish Trend

The dominant theme is clear: “Up, up, and away.” The team highlights that July tends to be seasonally bullish, which aligns with the current market tone (Friday AM Briefing [Ep 473], Monday AM Briefing [Ep 469]).

New All-Time Highs

ES, ENQ, and US indices are making new all-time highs, showcasing strong momentum. This pattern is highlighted as a significant directional clue (Friday AM Briefing [Ep 473], Tuesday AM Briefing [Ep 470]).

Range Trading and Breakouts

While markets are bullish, they also spend time consolidating. Traders are advised to recognize when they’re trading within a range: “Be careful longing in the red, careful shorting in the green” (Thursday AM Briefing [Ep 472]). The briefings stress that the eventual breakout from these ranges will be explosive (Tuesday AM Briefing [Ep 470]).

Strong Levels and Bull/Bear Line

Specific levels are identified and updated regularly. The "strong levels indicator" is a core part of the system (Monday AM Briefing [Ep 469]). The “bull bear line” is described as a crucial decision point, separating long setups from short traps.

The 6311.50 level is a “beautiful level to play” and represents strong polarity.

Single Prints and the 6311.50 Level

Unfilled single prints are called out as “very, very bullish” (Friday AM Briefing [Ep 473]). The 6311.50 level is frequently cited as a level where price tends to accelerate once touched or reclaimed (Wednesday AM Briefing [Ep 471]).

Daily Routines and Tools

Consistency and structured review are key themes in Microtrader.com’s education.

Essay Format Questions

What part of your trading this week was reactive instead of intentional?
How can you apply more discipline before the open next week?

Trader Meditations Journaling Software

This journaling tool is encouraged for use on high-emotion or high-volatility days like CPI or OPEX Fridays. It allows traders to record their lessons and patterns (Friday AM Briefing [Ep 473], Monday AM Briefing [Ep 469]).

Battle Plan

Each evening, the team releases a "battle plan" outlining target levels and ideal trade setups. This practice reinforces intentionality (Monday AM Briefing [Ep 469], Wednesday AM Briefing [Ep 471]).

AM Briefings and Live Zoom Sessions

Morning briefings offer real-time market analysis and insights. Live Zoom sessions provide opportunities for group trade mapping and management (Monday AM Briefing [Ep 469]).

End-of-Day Chart Work

End-of-day reviews and candle-by-candle replays are recommended as “hard work” that pays off over time (Monday AM Briefing [Ep 469]).

Seasonality Awareness and Daily Tips

Traders are regularly reminded of seasonal patterns, such as July’s bullish tendency. Each briefing ends with a “tip of the day,” reinforcing key habits and principles.

Key Events and Market Reactions

Market-moving events are tracked closely in the briefings.

CPI Days

CPI releases are labeled “level 10 trading days” due to their potential to trap traders and cause outsized moves (Monday AM Briefing [Ep 469], Tuesday AM Briefing [Ep 470]). However, not all reactions are dramatic — one was noted as “muted” (Tuesday AM Briefing [Ep 470]).

PPI and Beige Book

These events are less discussed but still noted as volatility triggers. The Beige Book, in particular, is considered “underrated” (Wednesday AM Briefing [Ep 471]).

OPEX Friday

OPEX is treated with extra caution, described as “Friday rules on steroids.” A “one and done” approach is recommended, as is protecting profits (Friday AM Briefing [Ep 473]).

Earnings Season

With financials and major banks reporting, earnings season is flagged as a key driver for the Dow and other indices (Tuesday AM Briefing [Ep 470], Friday AM Briefing [Ep 473]).

"Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish; His mercies never end. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness."

Community Support

Phrases like “trading together because together we trade better” and mentions of the Zoom room reflect a strong sense of trader community (Monday AM Briefing [Ep 469], Thursday AM Briefing [Ep 472]).

“Stay Green My Friends”

Each session concludes with this phrase, reflecting the team’s hope for consistency, profitability, and growth.

Trader FAQ: Philosophy, Tools, and Market Tactics

Q: What is "intentional trading", and why is it important?
A: Intentional trading involves meticulously planning out trades, anticipating price movements, and deciding in advance how to react to different market scenarios. This contrasts sharply with "reactive trading", where traders jump into positions based on impulsive reactions to sudden price changes (e.g., "Oh my gosh, it's vomiting short short short!"). Intentional trading is seen as significantly more successful because it promotes discipline and prevents emotionally driven, regretted decisions. Tools like a "battle plan" and journaling software (Trader Meditations) are used to foster intentionality by helping traders map out strategies and review their actions.

Q: What is the "Battle Plan" and how is it used in trading?
A: The "Battle Plan" is a daily trading strategy published each evening for members. It outlines anticipated price movements and identifies specific "strong levels" or "zones" where traders should consider engaging with the market (e.g., "if price gets to here I want to engage in price"). This proactive approach ensures trades are intentional rather than reactive. The Battle Plan also includes key support and resistance levels, such as the "bull bear line", which are crucial for decision-making. Members can access the Battle Plan via Discord, while non-members can subscribe to receive it through the website, with a 7-day free trial available.

Q: How do "strong levels" and "ranges" influence trading decisions?
A: "Strong levels" are key price points identified as significant support or resistance, often derived from previous highs, lows, or established ranges. These levels are crucial for determining where price is most likely to bounce or react. Trading within a "range" means being aware of its top and bottom boundaries. The advice is "careful longing in the red [top of the range], careful shorting in the green [bottom of the range]", as these areas are typically better for taking opposing positions. The strong levels indicator helps traders visualise these critical points on their charts, ensuring they "know where they are at" within the market structure.

Q: What is the role of journaling in this trading approach?
A: Journaling, particularly with the "Trader Meditations" software, is a cornerstone of this trading philosophy. It encourages self-reflection on trading performance, helping traders identify reactive versus intentional behaviours. Key questions, such as "What part of your trading felt reactive this week instead of intentional?", prompt traders to analyse their decision-making process. The journal also serves as a record of special trading days (e.g., OPEX Friday, CPI days), allowing traders to review past performance in similar conditions and learn from their experiences. This continuous learning process is vital for becoming an "exceptional trader".

Q: How are specific economic events like CPI and OPEX handled?
A: Economic events such as CPI (Consumer Price Index) and OPEX (Option Expiration Friday) are recognised as "special days" that can significantly impact market volatility. CPI days are often associated with the "Trap the Trader" phenomenon, where emotional decisions lead to overleveraging and account blowing. For OPEX Friday, the advice is to trade cautiously, with a "Friday rules on steroids" mentality: one trade and done, smaller daily loss limits, and only risking a portion of weekly profit to "protect yourself from yourself". Traders are encouraged to use their journal to review past performance on these special days to inform future strategies.

Q: What is the significance of the "bullish" market trend and how does it affect trading?
A: The market is currently characterised by a strong "bullish" trend, with indices like ENQ and ES making new all-time highs. This upward momentum is reinforced by seasonality, as July is typically a "pretty darn bullish month". The prevailing sentiment is "bulls bulls bulls", and this trend is expected to continue unless price closes "under a daily low". Counter-trading this powerful upward movement is strongly cautioned against, described as "whizzing on the electric fence" or "a hard way to make a living". While shorts are sometimes included in the battle plan, the primary focus remains on identifying long opportunities in line with the dominant bullish trend.

Q: What is the "tip of the day" about closing your trading platform?
A: A recurring "tip of the day" emphasizes that "the greatest danger is in between your setups". To mitigate the risk of reactive trading and impulsive decisions, traders are advised to keep their trading platform closed when not actively engaged in a planned trade. This creates a physical barrier to prevent unnecessary trading. When a planned setup approaches, the platform can be launched quickly (e.g., "It takes my trading platform 10 seconds to launch username password and I'm ready to trade"), ensuring that trades are only executed when they align with the intentional battle plan.

Q: What is the group's overall trading philosophy and community aspect?
A: The trading group, "microtrader.com", fosters a community where "together we trade better". The philosophy centres on intentional, disciplined trading, guided by the "Battle Plan" and "strong levels". There's a strong emphasis on patience ("sometimes you just don't get to participate... there is another high probability trade around the corner") and risk management ("no single trade should hurt you", "trade within your leverage metrics"). Live Zoom sessions are held daily for mapping out trades, managing runners, and debriefing. The group also incorporates a spiritual element, starting each briefing with scripture from Lamentations, reinforcing themes of faithful love and renewed mercies.