Friday September 26, 2025

Q: During a significant price run discussed in the transcript, what specific instruction did the presenter give the group regarding shorting the market?

The presenter instructed the group, 'do not short this,' explaining that it was exactly where the bulls had to defend.

In Friday’s AM Briefing, a professional futures trader outlined a calm, structured approach to volatile markets, emphasizing discipline over impulse. The trader began the session with a spiritual devotional moments before key economic data, using it as a tool to regulate emotions. He stressed the importance of executing disciplined exits and recognizing reaction zones rather than trying to call tops or bottoms. The session provided a detailed live analysis of market structure, along with a missed trade that highlighted the value of sticking to a well-defined plan over chasing fills.

☀️ AM BRIEFING

Opening Remarks

Welcome to the AM Briefing video presented by MicrosTrader.com, where together we trade better.

Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the AM Briefing for Friday, the final Friday of September. Tip of the day: exit. It's always a good idea to know where price is going to bounce back in your face — that's a great place to take off some contracts for sure. That's what we do — we're bounce-level traders.

Trade Review and Economic Calendar

Yesterday, we were positional traders. I posted a video of our long that paid out nicely. In just about seven minutes, the PCE number will be released. We'll watch that together. Thirty minutes after the market opens, we'll get a better sense of sentiment.

Looking ahead to next week:

Monday: Pending home sales
Tuesday: JOLTs
Midweek: PMI data
End of the week: Non-farm payroll — baby!

So yes, volatility on steroids next week. Let’s get to the chart.

Recap of Thursday’s Long Setup

If you traded with us yesterday morning on Zoom or caught the YouTube stream, you’ll remember I felt confident we'd have a fantastic move. We got long here and made a monster move. I told everyone to keep a runner. If you exited, you're done — walk away from the chart. No sense in doing anything else. At the end of the day, we got a beautiful run.

I reminded the group: Do not short this.

It’s tempting, but this is where bulls had to defend. Classic liquidity run followed by a rocket back up to a strong level with a solid bounce. I got long there and exited right after. Again — don't short this. Together we trade better. We're trying to keep each other on the right side of price action. Beautiful long setups yesterday.

Overnight Price Action and Battle Plan

Overnight, we’re trying to get above the bull/bear line but can’t seem to do it. The trade I mainly wanted last night — Battle Plan Idea #2 — depended on short covering continuing and bulls showing some pulse. I said this should be the farthest we pull back. I was looking for price to dip into a specific region.

Of course, I’m not up at midnight or 1 AM to trade it, and it didn’t push as far as I’d hoped. Still, beautiful structure. I was hoping we’d ladder above that bull/bear line. If we get above it, no more shorts in my humble opinion.

Updated Setup with Asia and London Info

What am I hoping for at the open?

I’d like to see price come back in under the Asia low. Now I’ve got more information — we have the London low and Asia low defined.

If price comes into my area, I’ll look to ladder back long and add above strong levels. If we open and shoot straight up, there’s not much I’m interested in taking.

Yesterday had that beautiful final “trap-the-trader” long. I got in on a pullback. If I had entered earlier, I’d have kept a single runner, which would’ve paid. I exited at the right spot — right where price would bounce back in your face. My re-engagement was planned, but not triggered yet.

Watch out below if price dips — we’ve got two strong levels. This could be the bulls’ last stand. I’ve seen levels defended 14 times or more. We’ll see.

Market Sentiment and Key Levels

Let’s take a look at where everyone else is. We’re in the upper distribution. Is this bearish? No.

Were the bears able to extend their move? Also no.

I wish I was still long from yesterday, but it is what it is. We’ll wait for new entries. If you haven’t made a trade yet, don’t worry — another high-probability trade is always around the corner.

"But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Essay Format Questions

What emotion did you feel heading into the news release?
How can you apply the Fruit of the Spirit to your next high-stakes trade?

PCE Setup and Devotional

We’ve got two minutes before news. If we get a push down into that region and bounce back up, I’d love that — I’d even take that trade on a news candle.

Thank you for joining me. I know I’m a bit late this morning. Hit that like button — all two of you watching!

Yesterday was fantastic. I expect another fantastic day. We’ve got one minute left.

Today’s focus: The Fruit of the Spirit

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, develop these fruits in my trading and my life. When the market triggers my flesh — fear, greed, and impatience — help me respond with Your character instead. Let my trading desk become a place where Your fruit is evident.

Peace helps keep us calm during volatility. That’s part of my job — to keep you calm when things go wild.

Live Market Action and Missed Entry

Coming back into the bull/bear line now. Let's see if PCE shoots price straight up and says, “You should’ve kept a runner from yesterday.” That’s how it feels.

There was nothing here for me this morning. I was watching this time frame, hoping it would take the low and slingshot back above the bull/bear line. It didn’t — so no trade for me.

Battle Plan 1 was a possible short at the top of a range — around 82–83. None of the other trade setups really activated.

Strong push right into the bottom of the strong level with a nice bounce. Let’s see what happens.

PCE Reaction Zone Trade Commentary

Nice push. What was the PCE number? In line.

First push up into that level — I expect a reaction. Not a reversal — just a reaction.

Notice when I drew this — I marked it as a reaction zone, not a laddering zone.

To be honest, I had 3 contracts sitting at 82.25 — missed me by two ticks. That’s what we do in the battle plan: map out levels for engagement.

That would’ve paid nicely. Now, the idea would be to exit two, keep one runner at break-even, and try to ride it out.

It could drop 100 points, or not. The point is: this level was for a reaction, not a turnaround. You play it accordingly.

Would I take that trade again? I wouldn’t.

We took out the high. Is this bearish? No — this is bullish. Too bad it didn’t pull back far enough to get me long. That would’ve been sweet.

Great place to TP some contracts and keep a runner back. When the news came out, it could’ve gone the other way. Oh well — wait for the next setup.

This was a solid reaction zone. And that’s what we do.

Closing Remarks

Alright guys, I’m off to see my traders live, 15 minutes before the market opens.

❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

AM BRIEFING – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question 1: What major economic number was scheduled to be released shortly after the AM briefing began?

A: The PCE number was scheduled to come out in about seven minutes.

Question 2: According to the "tip of the day," what is a good indicator of where to exit some contracts?

A: A good place to take off some contracts is where price is going to bounce back in your face.

Question 3: What events are listed for the trading week following the briefing that are expected to cause high volatility?

A: The following week includes pending home sales on Monday, JOLT on Tuesday, some PMI data, and nonfarm payroll baby at the end of the week, suggesting volatility on steroids.

Question 4: During a significant price run discussed in the transcript, what specific instruction did the presenter give the group regarding shorting the market?

A: The presenter instructed the group, "do not short this," explaining that it was exactly where the bulls had to defend.

Question 5: What qualities are listed as the fruit of the spirit in the daily devotional included in the briefing?

A: The fruit of the spirit includes love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.