S&P 500 (ES)

Prior Session was Cycle Day 3: Theme for 2026 >>> NOT DEAD…CAN’T QUIT

That read is clean—and very “CD3 doing CD3 things.”

You framed it exactly right:

• Targets were the job, and the job got done.

• Once 6953.45 and the DTS levels were tagged, upside was no longer discovery—it was inventory completion.

• The 6945–6955 acceptance is the key tell: that wasn’t rejection, that was permission.

From there, the market did what strong bulls do on CD3:

• Rally into objectives

• Hand off risk

• Let late longs fight gravity

“Bulls own the ball” is the correct metaphor. CD3 is about establishing control, not necessarily finishing the game.

What Today Actually Confirmed

• 🐂 Structural health: No impulsive sell after target fulfillment

• 📍 Context clarity: Upside achieved before weakness = strength, not failure

• 🧭 Narrative intact: NOT DEAD… CAN’T QUIT fits perfectly—this wasn’t exhaustion, it was cadence

If CD3 was about proof of life, it delivered.

For greater detail of how this day unfolded, click on the Trading Room RECAP 1.5.26 link.

Transition from Cycle Day 3 → Cycle Day 1

Market Structure Read

   ESH

Nasdaq (NQ)

Prior Session – Cycle Day 3: Objectives Achieved

Cycle Day 3 closed with objectives fulfilled, keeping the three-day cycle statistic firmly intact at 92%.

Buyers decisively stepped in—putting on their “big boy” pants—and successfully reclaimed the previously lost ledge at 25,675, albeit only briefly.

The remainder of the session was marked by spirited, two-way consolidation, with price action holding above the key 25,535 target outlined in the DTS Briefing (1.5.26). This level now transitions into the primary reference point for bulls and should be defended on any future test.

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Transition: Cycle Day 3 → Cycle Day 1

As we transition into Cycle Day 1, a normal expectation for this cycle would be a decline toward the 25567–25532 zone. The key question is whether the BIG BOY “pants” move higher in the prior session was merely a flash in the pan—or the beginning of something more meaningful to kick off the new year.

At present, the market resembles a hung jury, with the verdict still pending. For now, we’ll give the benefit of the doubt to the bulls, who are currently wearing the pants.

As always, nothing changes for PTG:

• Follow the plan

• Take Triple-A setups only

• Manage $risk

• ALWAYS have hard stop-losses placed on the exchange

PTG’s Primary Directive (PD) is to
👉 ALWAYS STAY IN ALIGNMENT with the DOMINANT FORCE

Scenarios for Today

Bull Scenario

• Price sustains a bid above 25600 ±

• Initial targets: 25655 – 25710

Bear Scenario

• Price sustains an offer below 25600 ±

• Initial targets: 25535 – 25515

Key Reference Levels

• PVA High Edge: 25653

• PVA Low Edge: 25566

• Prior POC: 25600

NQH

Economic Calendar

Trade Strategy: Our tactical trade strategy will simply remain unaltered…We’ll be flexible to trade both long and short side from Decision Pivot Levels. Continue to focus on Bull/Bear Stackers and Premium/Discounts. As always, remaining in alignment with dominant intra-day force increases probabilities of producing winning trades.

Stay Focused…Non-Biased…Disciplined  ALWAYS USE STOPS!

Good Trading…David

“Knowing is not enough, We must APPLY. Willing is not enough, We must DO.” –BR

*****This trade strategy report is disseminated for “education only” and should not be viewed in any way as a recommendation to buy or sell futures products.”

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS

IMPORTANT NOTICE! No representation is being made that the use of this strategy or any system or trading methodology will generate profits. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. There is substantial risk of loss associated with trading securities and options on equities. Only risk capital should be used to trade. Trading securities is not suitable for everyone.

Disclaimer: Futures, Options, and Currency trading all have large potential rewards, but they also have large potential risk. You must be aware of the risks and be willing to accept them in order to invest in these markets. Don’t trade with money you can’t afford to lose.

This website is neither a solicitation nor an offer to Buy/Sell futures, options, or currencies. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those discussed on this web site. The past performance of any trading system or methodology is not necessarily indicative of future results.

CFTC RULE 4.41 –HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER-OR-OVER COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFIT OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN