Thursday August 28, 2025

Q: What kind of trading advice is offered regarding small opening ranges?

The briefing advises against trading on days with super small opening ranges. Micros Trader believes trading these sessions wastes emotional energy and mental equity, suggesting there are easier days to trade.

Q: What are the key news drivers mentioned for Thursday, August 28th?

On August 28th, preliminary GDP and unemployment claims were scheduled one hour before the open, pending home sales thirty minutes after the open, and PCE data the following day. PCE was highlighted as the major market mover.

Q: How does the battle plan assist traders?

The nightly battle plan includes daily commentary, activated trades, and a trade of the day. It also provides up to five potential setups for the next session with a price map, helping traders prepare.

Q: What was the specific trade idea discussed for Nvidia, and what was the rationale?

For Nvidia, the plan suggested a long if price stayed above 6471, targeting the all-time high. Micros Trader cautioned against trading the middle of the range and advised profit-taking before the exact high.

Q: What is the overall market sentiment conveyed in the briefing for ES and NQ?

The sentiment was bullish, with ES and NQ in upper distribution and nothing appearing bearish. Micros Trader said approaching with a bearish mindset near all-time highs was the wrong concept.

Q: When would a short trade be considered, according to the briefing?

A short would be considered if the market takes out the all-time high and then rejects back inside the range, with targets set at the range low or the Nvidia candle low.

Q: How does the scripture shared relate to the trading day?

The scripture from 1 Samuel was shared as reflection. It serves as a reminder for traders to look beyond surface-level price action and focus on deeper underlying factors, much like the contrast between appearance and the heart.

Micros Trader advised caution in Thursday’s AM Briefing, citing a narrow opening range and the likelihood of muted price action ahead of Friday’s PCE data release. He characterized the session as a “no-trade day,” following similar conditions in the prior session. The outlook for ES and MES futures remains bullish near all-time highs, with long entries favored unless the market rejects and falls back into lower ranges. Short setups were described as difficult and only viable under specific retracement conditions.

☀️ AM BRIEFING

Opening Remarks

Micros Trader begins today’s Thursday, August 28th AM Briefing with a scripture reading from 1 Samuel: “Man does not see what the Lord sees, for the man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”

He follows this with a trading tip of the day, reminding traders to avoid forcing trades on small-range sessions: “There are easier days to trade. Once again, we were victims of another small range. Is it worth trading? I believe yesterday was another example of a super small opening range not worth trading. You’re just burning emotional energy and mental equity trying to trade those types of days.”

Micros Trader stresses that today is also shaping up to be a “no-trade day” due to another very small opening range. He attributes this to the end of the month, end of summer, and proximity to a long holiday weekend, all of which tend to contribute to lower volatility and indecisive price action.

Economic News and Market Movers

Ahead of today’s market session, several economic data releases are on the calendar.

One hour before the open: Preliminary GDP and Unemployment Claims.
Thirty minutes after the open: Pending Home Sales.
Tomorrow: PCE data, which Micros Trader identifies as a true market mover.

He cautions that today may see very little activity as traders and institutions wait for the PCE release.

The Daily Battle Plan

Micros Trader explains the structure of his nightly “battle plan,” which includes daily commentary, activated trade setups, and a designated “trade of the day.” For yesterday, the trade of the day was officially “no trade,” reflecting the difficult small-range conditions. The plan also outlines up to five potential trade setups for the next session with a clearly defined price map.

ES/MES Market Outlook and Trade Scenarios

The current focus for ES and MES futures is around the all-time high. Micros Trader emphasizes that the market is in the upper distribution and that nothing appears bearish at this stage: “If you come into the chart thinking, where can I get short, that might be the wrong concept.”

Long Setup: If the market does not ladder under 6471, there is a potential long opportunity targeting the all-time high. Micros Trader advises taking profit just before the level since price does not always reach it exactly.

Current Long Opportunity: As long as ES/MES remains near the all-time high and above the current range, long entries targeting the all-time high remain favorable.

Short Setup: Short trades are considered more difficult, but one condition could activate them: “If we take this all-time high and slam back inside of this range, that can be a short targeting the low of here—if not the Nvidia candle low. Below there, it gets fun.” He references Tuesday night’s battle plan for more detailed notes on this short scenario.

Broader Market Observations

Micros Trader briefly notes that the Russell and Dow are showing “session stacking,” while the NQ and ES are not exhibiting the same behavior.

❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the primary purpose of the AM briefing video?

A: The AM briefing video, presented by microsTrader.com, aims to provide daily market insights, trading tips, and a battle plan for potential trade setups. It covers a scripture for reflection, a "tip of the day" for practical trading advice, a review of news drivers, and a detailed analysis of potential trade ideas and price levels for the upcoming trading day.

What kind of trading advice is offered regarding small opening ranges?

A: The briefing consistently advises against trading on days with "super small opening ranges." Micros Trader believes that attempting to trade on such days often leads to a waste of emotional energy and mental equity, suggesting that there are "easier days to trade." This is highlighted as a "no trade day" in such circumstances.

What are the key news drivers mentioned for Thursday, August 28th?

A: On Thursday, August 28th, several economic data releases are highlighted as news drivers. One hour before the market opens, preliminary GDP and unemployment claims are due. Thirty minutes after the market opens, pending home sales will be released. The briefing also notes that PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) is a significant market mover scheduled for the following day, which might lead to limited market movement on Thursday afternoon.

How does the "battle plan" assist traders?

A: Each night, a "battle plan" is published, offering daily commentary on the previous day's trading, including which trade ideas were activated and the "trade of the day" (which sometimes is "no trade"). It also outlines up to five potential trade setups for the next day, accompanied by a price map indicating where these trades might exist. This plan helps traders anticipate and prepare for market movements.

What was the specific trade idea discussed for Nvidia, and what was the rationale?

A: For Nvidia, one battle plan trade suggested a small long position if the market did not "ladder under 6471" (which it did not). The target for this trade was the all-time high. Micros Trader expressed disinterest in trading "in the middle of this range" and emphasized the importance of taking profit "just before the level" of the all-time high, as the market doesn't always reach the exact level.

What is the overall market sentiment conveyed in the briefing for ES and NQ?

A: Despite some "session stacking" observed in Russell and Dow, the briefing indicates that NQ and ES are in the "upper distribution" and there is "nothing about this bearish." Micros Trader suggests that approaching the chart with a bearish outlook might be "the wrong concept," especially when the market is near its all-time high and above a significant range.

When would a short trade be considered, according to the briefing?

A: While the overall sentiment is not bearish, a short trade would be considered if the market takes out the all-time high and then "slams back inside of this range." In such a scenario, the short position would target the low of the current range, or potentially the Nvidia candle low. This indicates a strategy of trading a rejection of higher prices rather than initiating a short directly at the high.

How does the scripture shared relate to the trading day?

A: The scripture from 1 Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees for the man sees what is visible but the Lord sees the heart," serves as a morning reflection. While not directly trading advice, it can be interpreted as a reminder for traders to look beyond superficial market movements or initial appearances and to consider deeper underlying factors or a broader perspective, similar to how the "heart" is seen over mere "appearance."