Friday September 12, 2025

Q: What is the importance of journaling CPI days for traders?

Journaling CPI days is crucial because they are high-volatility events. By recording trades on the day before, of, and after CPI announcements, traders can analyze discipline, P&L, and results over time to refine strategies.

Q: Why is the upcoming week considered to be littered with landmines for traders?

The week includes contract rollover, FOMC, and options expiration—events known for poor liquidity, volatility, and unpredictable action. Many traders consider this week better suited for rest than trading.

Q: What strategy is highlighted in current conditions?

The system favors leaning long while bulls control. Traders are encouraged to hold a runner after profit and look for trap-the-trader long setups. Shorts may only become viable once all-time highs are tested across indices.

Q: How does discernment, like King Solomon’s wisdom, apply to trading?

Traders, like Solomon seeking discernment, must filter noise, manage position size, and distinguish between calculated risk and emotional bets. This practical wisdom helps avoid costly mistakes.

Q: What is the Battle Plan, and how do traders use it?

The Battle Plan is a pre-market map of setups and levels. Traders review it, mark charts, and trade with group alignment. It often includes specific trade ideas and helps maintain structure during volatile weeks.

Q: What’s the overall philosophy of this trading system?

The philosophy centers on disciplined, systematic trading. Key principles include focusing on the system over P&L, high-probability setups, risk management, journaling, patience, and discernment.

n Friday’s AM Briefing, Micros Trader warned that the upcoming trading week is filled with high-risk events including FOMC, contract rollover, and option expiration — making it an ideal time for traders to consider stepping back. A key focus was on journaling CPI days to evaluate performance and adjust strategies accordingly. Market sentiment remains bullish with major indices nearing all-time highs, and traders are advised to avoid premature short positions. The devotional emphasized the importance of discernment and discipline in navigating volatile market conditions.

☀️ AM BRIEFING

Opening Remarks

Good morning, traders. Welcome to the Friday, September 12th AM Briefing. This is Episode 512, and today we're going to walk through some critical insights as we wrap up the trading week and prepare for what’s ahead — a week packed with potential volatility, high-impact events, and decision-making pressure.

We’ll touch on specific trade setups, chart levels in the ES and MES futures markets, and how to manage these upcoming sessions with strategic discipline. We'll also close out with a short devotional and prayer focused on discernment — something we all need more of in trading.

Key Trading Practices & Risk Management

One of the key messages in today’s briefing is around journaling and how to leverage CPI days as a diagnostic tool.

Micros Trader strongly encourages all traders to start journaling around CPI days — specifically the day before, the day of, and the day after the CPI report. He notes that his journaling software allows users to tag these as “special days,” enabling deep analysis of behavior, performance, trade count, P&L, and top runners.

“In a year you’re going to have 12 CPI days that you can go back and go, ‘Yeah, I don’t think I want to trade CPI.’ Or you might go, ‘Man, I do really well.’”

This process is essential to identifying whether CPI volatility benefits or harms your strategy. It helps you recognize patterns like overtrading or poor discipline during news-driven moves.

Next week is a landmine week: contract rollover, FOMC, and option expiration all hit — consider stepping aside or trading small.

Micros Trader also reminds traders to check their motivations: are you trading your plan or trading your emotions? The markets test our discernment every day, and poor decisions — especially during high-risk events — are often punished swiftly.

“Blown accounts don’t come from discipline — they come from greed.”

Another trading tactic emphasized today is holding a runner. After securing partial profits, keeping a runner allows for added upside while managing risk.

Current Market Analysis & Trade Setups

Top of the range: 6492
Bottom of the range: 6462 — described as a “highly lucrative level” to look for longs after a clean retest

Micros Trader notes the market is entering a “parabolic” stretch, and while the bias remains bullish, the speed of the move invites caution.

“We could fall all the way back 100 points and I’m still going to lean in the camp bulls control.”

He also focuses on the all-time high (ATH) levels across major indices:

NQ (Nasdaq 100): Very close to ATH. Traders are cautioned against shorting until that level is tagged.
Russell: Also nearing ATH.

“Eyeballs are here on NQ’s all-time high. Be careful looking for shorts — let us grab those highs first.”

Despite the fast moves, the tone is clear — the bulls are in control unless the 6492 level breaks decisively.

Micros Trader also confirms that one of the Battle Plan trade ideas was activated overnight — a long setup — and recommends keeping a runner if you're in it.

Essay Format Questions

What emotion affected your trade today?
How will you respond differently next time?

Devotional: The Importance of Discernment

The devotional centers on King Solomon, who famously asked for wisdom to discern right from wrong — not book knowledge, but the kind of wisdom that leads to good decision-making under pressure.

Micros Trader draws a clear parallel to trading:

“As traders we face similar decisions daily. Every trade requires discernment: is this trade setup truly high probability or am I seeing what I want to see? Is my position sizing appropriate or am I driven by greed?”

The core message is this: good leadership — of a nation or a trading account — requires a wise heart that can cut through the emotional noise and pressure.

The prayer closes by asking for Solomon’s wisdom: to wait on high-probability setups, pass on marginal trades, and maintain discipline when the market gets loud.

Upcoming Schedule & Announcements

Today: Sentiment and expectations released 30 minutes after the open.
Next Week: Contract rollover, FOMC, OpEx — potential landmine week. Consider taking the week off.
Live Streams: Tuesday morning and again during Wednesday’s FOMC release.
Battle Plan: Monday’s plan will be unlocked for all viewers.
Website: MicrosTrader.com

❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the importance of journaling CPI days for traders?

Journaling CPI (Consumer Price Index) days is crucial because these are “special days” with outsized volatility. By recording trades on the day before, of, and after CPI announcements, traders can measure discipline, trade count, P&L, and outcomes. Over time, this builds a database of tendencies—whether CPI days are profitable or best avoided—allowing for more informed strategy adjustments.

Why is the upcoming week considered to be “littered with landmines” for traders?

The week contains multiple high-risk, low-probability trading days: contract rollover (Monday/Tuesday), FOMC day (Wednesday), option expiration (Friday), and the days immediately before/after these events. Liquidity drops, volatility spikes, and whipsaw conditions make it a challenging week. Many pros treat this as a time to step aside or “take a vacation” rather than force trades.

What are the key market levels and sentiment right now?

Bulls remain in control as the market pushes toward all-time highs. Key ES levels are 6492 (top of range) and 6462 (bottom of range). NQ is within reach of its ATH, with ES, Dow, and Russell already close. Until those highs are tested in unison, short setups carry higher risk, and long traps remain favored.

What strategy is highlighted in current conditions?

The system emphasizes leaning long and keeping a runner once trades go profitable. “Trap the trader longs” have been the bread-and-butter setups. The market context remains bullish unless the 92 level breaks. A “ladder back short” only becomes viable once highs are tagged across indices.

How does discernment, like King Solomon’s wisdom, apply to trading?

Just as Solomon prayed for discernment to govern wisely, traders need discernment to filter noise, manage size, and separate calculated risks from emotional bets. Wisdom in trading shows up in patience, sticking to plans, and recognizing when overconfidence or greed is creeping in.

What pitfalls have traders faced recently, especially around CPI?

Many traders let greed override discipline, moving stops and overleveraging, which led to blown accounts. To avoid this:

Stick to the plan
Manage risk without chasing
Journal special days like CPI
Control emotions under pressure

What is the Battle Plan, and how do traders use it?

The Battle Plan is a pre-market map of setups and key levels. Traders review it, mark levels on their charts, and trade with group alignment. It often includes specific trade ideas (e.g., “Battle Plan Trade Idea #1”) and helps maintain structure during volatile weeks.