Throughout the trading session, PTGDavid provided continuous market insights, highlighting key technical levels and strategic trade opportunities.
The day began with the fulfillment of the Three-Day Cycle Targets, as the S&P 500 (ES) reached 5751.25 and the Nasdaq (NQ) hit 20082.50.
With these levels achieved, PTGDavid noted that price action was moving toward the next respective targets of 5792 for ES and 20280 for NQ.
As the market continued to develop, he emphasized the importance of VWAP pullbacks and maintaining a long-side bias, advising against chasing trades. Shortly after, he confirmed that the 21-day exponential moving average (DEMA) at 5805 was met, signaling a potential area for price consolidation.
Mid-morning, PTGDavid anticipated some back-and-fill action around the 5800–5805 range, advising traders to closely watch the Open Range High on any dips. He pointed out that shallow pullbacks were bullish, meaning that buyers remained in control. He also issued a clear warning to traders looking to short: “FAFO” (a cautionary phrase implying risk for those going against strong momentum).
By late morning, PTGDavid confirmed that the Open Range Long strategy had fulfilled all targets across multiple instruments, including crude oil (CL) and Nasdaq (NQ). He shared supporting chart images to illustrate the technical movements. This marked a “Trifecta” day, where multiple assets achieved their projected trading targets using the Open Range strategy.
After a brief lunch break, PTGDavid returned to observe perfect symmetrical swings, highlighting their significance in identifying pullback opportunities. As the afternoon progressed, he noted a period of quiet lunchtime consolidation, with price holding above key VWAP levels, reinforcing the overall bullish bias.
Heading into the final 30 minutes of trading, PTGDavid emphasized that bulls continued to dominate the session, as VWAP pullbacks consistently held. He then reported a MOC (Market on Close) Buy Imbalance of $1.2 billion, which later expanded to $2 billion, indicating significant institutional buying pressure into the close. However, just before the closing bell, he noted an unexpected MOC fade, suggesting that some of the buy-side liquidity was absorbed or reversed before settlement.
Educational Takeaway: This session showcased the importance of technical discipline and structured trading strategies. By tracking cycle targets, VWAP pullbacks, Open Range strategies, and institutional order flow (MOC imbalances), traders can align their decisions with market structure rather than chasing impulsive moves. The ability to anticipate price reactions at key levels—rather than reacting emotionally—separates disciplined traders from those caught on the wrong side of momentum.