Wednesday Jul 16: ES & MES Levels and Setups and Plans for Today’s Trading Session
Wednesday July 16, 2025
In Wednesday’s market briefing, the speaker emphasized the importance of intentionality in trading, urging participants to avoid reactive behavior by closing their trading platforms outside of predefined setups. The session outlined the "battle plan" concept, encouraging traders to wait for specific high-probability price zones before engaging. Key levels such as 91, 6234, and 1150 were highlighted as critical inflection points, with a long/flat directional bias prevailing above the 91 mark. Risk management and emotional discipline were also underscored, with a reminder that no single trade should jeopardize a trader’s capital.Opening Remarks
In this Wednesday morning briefing, the focus is on trading with intentionality, executing only high-quality setups, and staying aware of critical market levels. The speaker reiterates a common yet vital principle: the greatest danger lies in the space between setups. Trading impulsively or reactively, especially outside of predefined zones, often leads to mistakes that can derail both confidence and capital.
The Power of Intentionality and Platform Discipline
A radical but effective suggestion is introduced—keep your trading platform closed when not in a trade. The idea is simple but powerful: if the platform is closed, you're far less likely to act on impulse. As the speaker explains, "If your platform is open, you are much more likely to be a reactive trader versus an intentional one." Launching the platform takes only about ten seconds, making this a feasible discipline mechanism for most traders.
Traders are encouraged to avoid the trap of needing to "always be in the market" and instead focus on those rare, high-conviction moments. This form of self-imposed structure forces one to follow their battle plan and resist the temptation of mediocre setups.
Essay Format Questions
- Which part of your trading felt reactive versus intentional?
Battle Plan Setup Philosophy
A central concept throughout the session is the battle plan. This refers to having a specific, pre-defined strategy before entering the trading day. It includes clearly identified price zones where reactions are most likely to happen and trades can be executed with high probability.
The speaker describes this as asking yourself: “Where do I want to engage in price that has the most likelihood that we’re going to have a really nice reaction?” Waiting for price to enter those zones—even if it doesn’t—remains critical. As the speaker notes, “I didn’t get the pullback I needed to get long... and that’s no big deal.”
Missing a setup is okay; forcing a bad one is not.
Reps, Mental Trading, and Muscle Memory
Traders are encouraged to build “reps and memory” by practicing mental trading. This includes visualizing the setup, anticipating price behavior, and mentally executing as if live. The speaker likens this to a golfer hitting “a hundred three-foot putts”—developing a repeatable habit through consistent practice. This kind of mental conditioning helps reduce hesitation and increases confidence when real opportunities emerge.
Key Market Context and Levels
From a macro view, today follows major economic data releases, including CPI and PPI. The Beige Book, although not as impactful, is still mentioned as part of the broader data landscape influencing market expectations.
The opening step in daily prep is locating current price in relation to yesterday’s distribution. Is it inside yesterday’s high/low range? Or breaking above or below?
Trend Bias and Trade Direction
The broader trend remains long/flat, particularly above the trend line and the 91 level. The speaker advises against shorting in such a context, noting: “I would not be shorting, in my humble opinion… the easy trade was waiting for this.”
Risk Management and Mindset
The session concludes by reinforcing some timeless truths in trading psychology and risk control. The statement “No single trade should hurt you” serves as a grounding reminder to always respect leverage and avoid risking too much on any one position.
Traders are urged to maintain emotional composure: “Be in control. Don't just decide, ‘I’m going to short it’ without a clear setup.” Acting on emotion is contrasted with patiently waiting for intentional trades.
Lastly, a seasonal note: July tends to exhibit bullish tendencies. The speaker warns against counter-trading during this time, as fading strong trends is “a hard way to make a living.”
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
- Day Traders Blog – MicrosTrader Daily Commentary
- CME Group – Micro E-mini Equity Index Futures Overview
- CME Trading Simulator – Practice Futures with Real-Time Data
- YouTube Community Tab – MicrosTrader Posts & Polls
- AM Briefing Archive – July 16 Prep for E-mini & Micros Futures
- MES Micros Blog – Wednesday ES/MES Levels & Trade Plans
- Rumble Video – AM Briefing for ES/MES Futures Traders
- MicrosTrader YouTube Post – July 16 Trading Insights
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Why does the speaker recommend closing your trading platform when not in a trade?
A: Closing the platform minimizes impulsive, reactive trades and reinforces discipline to wait for high-quality setups.
Q: What is the "battle plan" in trading?
A: It's a predefined strategy where traders identify specific price zones they plan to engage, based on high-probability setups.
Q: Why is the 91 level significant in today’s market context?
A: It’s identified as a major pivot point—if price holds above it, long positions are favored; shorting above this level is discouraged.
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