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Quarterly Theory "QT" Introduction to Quarterly Theory (QT) Time must be divided into quarters for a proper interpretation of market cycles. Combining QT (Quarterly Theory) concepts with basic ICT concepts leads to greater accuracy. Understanding QT allows you to be flexible. It adapts to any trading style as it is universal across all time frames. QT eliminates ambiguity by providing specific time-based reference points to look for when entering trades . THE CYCLE Annual Cycle - 3 quarters each Monthly Cycle - 1 week each Weekly Cycle - 1 day each* Daily Cycle - 6 hours each Session Cycle - 90 minutes each *Monday to Thursday, Friday has its own specific function . Annual Cycle: Q1 JANUARY - MARCH Q2 APRIL - JUNE Q3 JULY - SEPTEMBER Q4 OCT - DECEMBER Monthly Cycle**: Q1 FIRST WEEK Q2 SECOND WEEK Q3 THIRD WEEK Q4 FOURTH WEEK Weekly Cycle*: Q1 MONDAY Q2 TUESDAY Q3 WEDNESDAY Q4 THURSDAY Daily Cycle: Q1 ASIA Q2 LONDON Q3 NEW YORK Q4 AFTERNOON **Monthly Cycle starts with the first full week of the month. *Friday has its own cycle, which is why it is not listed. Q1 indicates the quarters that follow. If Q1 expands, Q2 is likely to consolidate. If Q1 consolidates, Q2 is likely to expand. TRUE OPENS True price opens are the beginning of Q2 in each cycle. It validates key levels. What are the true opens? Yearly: First Monday of April (Q2) Monthly: Second Monday of the month (Q2) Weekly: Second daily candle of the week Daily: Start of the London session (6 hours after the open of the daily candle) Asia - London - NY - Evening: 90 minutes after the open of the 6-hour candle. DIAGRAM: Q1 (A) Accumulation - Consolidation. Q2 (M) Manipulation - Judas Swing (Trade this). Q3 (D) Distribution (Trade this). Q4 (X) Continuation - Reversal of the previous quarter. Q1 (X) Continuation - Reversal of the previous quarter. Q2 (A) Accumulation - Consolidation. Q3 (M) Manipulation - Judas Swing (Trade this). Q4 (D) Distribution (Trade this). ANNUAL CYCLE: MONTHLY CYCLE: WEEKLY CYCLE: DAILY CYCLE:
Education
by Ed_Ale
Mastering ICT Concepts: The Ultimate Trading Strategy GuideA lot of people are drawn to ICT trading concepts because they offer a deep understanding of how the markets truly work. With this guide, I want to explain the most popular ICT strategies in a simple and detailed way to help traders navigate these concepts effectively. The Inner Circle Trader (ICT) methodology offers a suite of trading strategies that delve into market mechanics, focusing on institutional behaviors and liquidity dynamics. This guide explores five prominent ICT strategies: Fair Value Gaps (FVG), Power of Three (PO3), Inversion Fair Value Gaps (IFVG) with Liquidity Sweeps, Breaker Blocks, and the Silver Bullet Strategy. Each section provides an in-depth explanation, trading approach, key considerations, and designated spots for illustrative images. 🔍 1. Fair Value Gaps (FVG) A Fair Value Gap (FVG) represents a price imbalance created when the market moves rapidly in one direction, leaving a gap between consecutive candlesticks. This gap signals inefficient pricing, which the market tends to revisit later to balance liquidity. Understanding FVGs is crucial as they reveal hidden institutional footprints. How to Trade: Identification: Spot an FVG when there is a three-candlestick formation where the second candle creates a gap between the high of the first candle and the low of the third candle. Retracement Expectation: The market typically seeks to fill these gaps as it rebalances price inefficiencies. Entry Strategy: Wait for price to return to the gap and enter in the direction of the initial impulse. Confirm the trade with market structure shifts or other confluence factors. Targets: Use previous highs/lows, liquidity zones, or equilibrium levels (50% of the FVG) as potential targets. Key Considerations: Timeframes: Higher timeframes like 1-hour, 4-hour, and daily yield more reliable signals. Volume Confirmation: High volume during the initial impulse strengthens the likelihood of a retracement. Partial Fills: The market may not always fill the entire gap. ⚡ 2. Power of Three (PO3) The Power of Three (PO3) describes how institutional players manipulate price action through three key phases: Accumulation, Manipulation, and Distribution. This strategy highlights how smart money engineers liquidity and misleads retail traders before delivering the intended price move. How to Trade: Accumulation Phase: Identify consolidation zones where price ranges sideways, often before major sessions (London or New York). Manipulation Phase: Wait for false breakouts or stop hunts where price temporarily breaks out from the range before reversing. Distribution Phase: Enter the trade in the opposite direction of the manipulation, targeting the liquidity created during the false move. Entry Confirmation: Market structure shifts after the manipulation phase. Bullish or bearish order blocks aligning with the intended direction. Fair Value Gaps in the distribution phase. Key Considerations: Patience: This strategy often requires waiting several hours for all three phases to complete. Liquidity Zones: Look for equal highs or lows near the range to anticipate the manipulation move. Time Windows: PO3 often plays out during high-volume sessions. 🔄 3. Inversion Fair Value Gaps (IFVG) with Liquidity Sweeps Inversion Fair Value Gaps (IFVG) are advanced price inefficiencies that act as dynamic support or resistance zones. When price fills a traditional FVG, that zone can later serve as an IFVG—particularly when aligned with liquidity sweeps. How to Trade: Identify Original FVG: Locate an FVG that has already been filled. Liquidity Sweep Trigger: Wait for price to sweep liquidity above or below a key level. Inversion Zone: When price returns to the previous FVG, treat it as a new support or resistance zone. Entry Confirmation: Watch for market structure shifts or rejection candles at the IFVG. Key Considerations: Confluence Zones: Combine IFVG with liquidity sweeps and order blocks. Patience: Wait for price action confirmation before entering. Stop Placement: Place stops below the IFVG in bullish setups or above in bearish setups. 🧱 4. Breaker Blocks Breaker Blocks are zones where previous support or resistance levels are invalidated by a liquidity sweep, only to become reversal zones. They represent areas where smart money accumulates orders before delivering price in the opposite direction. How to Trade: Identify Liquidity Sweeps: Spot areas where price breaks above or below a key high/low before reversing. Breaker Formation: The candle that invalidates the liquidity sweep forms the Breaker Block. Entry Strategy: Wait for price to retrace into the Breaker Block and confirm the trade with rejection candles or market structure shifts. Targets: Previous liquidity pools or opposing order blocks. Key Considerations: Higher Timeframes: Use 1-hour or 4-hour charts for the best results. Volume Analysis: High volume during the breaker formation strengthens the signal. Risk Management: Place stops beyond the breaker boundary. 🎯 5. Silver Bullet Strategy The Silver Bullet Strategy is a time-based model designed to capitalize on institutional price delivery patterns during specific one-hour windows. This strategy focuses on liquidity sweeps and Fair Value Gaps within these timeframes. How to Trade: Time Windows: Target these key one-hour sessions: London Open: 03:00 AM – 04:00 AM EST New York AM Session: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST New York PM Session: 02:00 PM – 03:00 PM EST Identify Liquidity Zones: Look for equal highs/lows or session highs/lows. Execute Trades: Enter trades when price sweeps liquidity and rejects from an FVG or Breaker Block within the Silver Bullet window. Targets: Use opposing liquidity pools or session extremes. Key Considerations: Strict Timing: Only trade within the designated time windows. Confluence Factors: Combine with market structure shifts and order blocks. Risk Management: Place stops beyond liquidity sweep wicks. Conclusion Mastering ICT trading strategies requires patience, precision, and continuous practice. These five strategies—FVG, PO3, IFVG with Liquidity Sweeps, Breaker Blocks, and the Silver Bullet—provide a comprehensive framework to align with institutional price delivery. Use confluence factors and practice in demo environments before applying these methods in live markets. Happy Trading! Note: This guide is for educational purposes only and not financial advice. __________________________________________ Thanks for your support! If you found this guide helpful or learned something new, drop a like 👍 and leave a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🚀
Education
by TehThomas
16
Liquidity Sweeps: A Complete Guide to Smart Money Manipulation!🔹 What is a Liquidity Sweep? A liquidity sweep occurs when price temporarily moves beyond a key level, such as a previous swing high or low to trigger stop-losses and lure breakout traders into bad positions before reversing in the opposite direction. This is a classic smart money technique used to grab liquidity before initiating the real move. Financial markets need liquidity to function, and institutions (smart money) can’t enter or exit large positions without it. Instead of chasing price like retail traders, they manipulate price to engineered levels where liquidity is resting, allowing them to fill their orders without causing massive slippage. 🔹 How Liquidity Works in the Market To understand liquidity sweeps, it’s important to know where liquidity pools exist. These are areas where a high number of stop-loss orders and pending market orders are placed. Stop-loss liquidity: Traders set stop-losses above swing highs and below swing lows. When price hits these levels, stop-loss orders trigger as market orders, adding fuel for big moves. Breakout trader liquidity: Many traders enter buy trades when a high is broken and sell trades when a low is broken. Smart money often uses these breakout orders as liquidity before reversing the market. Essentially, liquidity sweeps allow smart money to take the opposite side of retail traders’ positions before moving the market in their favor. 🔹 Identifying Liquidity Sweeps on the Chart A valid liquidity sweep has three key components: 1️⃣ A Key Liquidity Zone: Look for well-defined swing highs and lows where stop-losses are likely sitting. Equal highs and equal lows are prime targets because many traders place stops there. Areas with high trading activity (volume profile levels, POCs) are also potential liquidity pools. 2️⃣ A Quick Price Spike Through That Level: Price briefly moves beyond a high or low, triggering stop-losses and luring breakout traders in the wrong direction. This move often happens suddenly, with a sharp candle wick or a short-term breakout that quickly fails. 3️⃣ An Immediate Reversal (Rejection): Price fails to hold above/below the liquidity level and reverses aggressively. Strong rejection candles like long wicks, bearish engulfing (after a buy-side sweep), or bullish engulfing (after a sell-side sweep) confirm the sweep. The stronger the rejection, the higher the probability that smart money just manipulated price to collect liquidity before the real move. 🔹 Types of Liquidity Sweeps 🔸 Buy-Side Liquidity Sweep (Bull Trap) Price spikes above a key high, triggering stop-losses from short sellers and inducing breakout buyers. If price fails to hold above that level and quickly reverses, it confirms the sweep. This is a signal that price is likely to drop as smart money absorbs liquidity before selling off. Example of a buy side liquidity sweep (BSL) 🔸 Sell-Side Liquidity Sweep (Bear Trap) Price dips below a key low, triggering stop-losses from long traders and trapping breakout sellers. If price fails to hold below that level and quickly reverses, it confirms the sweep. This is a signal that price is likely to rise as smart money collects liquidity before pushing higher. A liquidity sweep is not just a random wick, it’s a strategic price move designed to trap traders before a reversal. Example of a sell side liquidity sweep (SSL) 🔹 Why Liquidity Sweeps Matter Liquidity sweeps provide traders with some of the highest probability reversal signals because they: ✔ Show where institutions and smart money are active ✔ Confirm major support and resistance levels ✔ Help traders avoid false breakouts ✔ Provide excellent risk-to-reward setups Once a liquidity sweep is confirmed, price often moves aggressively in the opposite direction, as smart money has finished collecting liquidity and is now driving price toward their true target. 🔹 How to Use Liquidity Sweeps in Your Trading 1️⃣ Identify Key Liquidity Zones Mark previous swing highs and lows where traders are likely placing stop-losses. Pay attention to equal highs/lows and tight consolidations, as these areas tend to hold a lot of liquidity. Use volume profile tools to see where the highest liquidity clusters exist. 2️⃣ Wait for a Liquidity Sweep & Rejection Don’t enter just because price broke a high/low, wait for confirmation. A strong rejection candle (wick, engulfing pattern, pin bar, etc.) signals that the sweep was a trap. Lower timeframes (5m, 15m) can help confirm entry after a sweep happens on higher timeframes. 3️⃣ Combine with Other Confluences Liquidity sweeps are most effective when combined with: ✅ Fair Value Gaps (FVGs): Price often sweeps liquidity before filling an imbalance. ✅ Order Blocks: Smart money enters positions at order block levels after a sweep. ✅ Fibonacci Retracements: Sweeps often happen near the Golden Pocket (0.618 - 0.65). ✅ Volume Profile (POC): If a sweep happens near a Point of Control (POC), it adds extra confluence. The more confirmations you have, the higher the probability of a successful trade! 🔹 Common Mistakes Traders Make with Liquidity Sweeps Entering too early: A liquidity sweep needs confirmation. Wait for a clear rejection before trading. Ignoring higher timeframes: The strongest sweeps happen on 1H, 4H, and Daily charts. Lower timeframes can be noisy. Forgetting the invalidation rule: If price closes above/below the liquidity sweep level, the move may not be valid. Chasing price after a sweep: Always look for an optimal entry (retracement to a key level) rather than impulsively entering. 🔹 Advanced Tips for Trading Liquidity Sweeps 📌 Use Time-of-Day Analysis: Liquidity sweeps often occur before major sessions open (London, New York, etc.). Many sweeps happen during high impact news releases, be cautious. 📌 Look for Repeated Sweeps at the Same Level: If price sweeps liquidity multiple times without follow through, it increases the chance of a strong reversal. A double or triple sweep is a powerful confirmation that smart money is manipulating price before a real move. 📌 Use Liquidity Sweeps for Entry & Exit Points: Entering after a confirmed liquidity sweep can provide great risk-to-reward setups. Use liquidity sweeps as take-profit targets if price is approaching a key high/low, expect a sweep before reversal. 📌 Final Thoughts: Mastering Liquidity Sweeps Liquidity sweeps are one of the most powerful tools in a trader’s arsenal because they reveal smart money’s true intentions. By understanding how they work, traders can: ✅ Avoid being trapped by false breakouts ✅ Identify high-probability reversal points ✅ Follow smart money instead of fighting it Next time you see price breaking a high or low, don’t immediately assume it’s a breakout. Look for the liquidity sweep if it happens, it could be a game changer for your trading strategy. 🚀 Also, check out our Liquidity sweep indicator! __________________________________________ If you found this guide helpful or learned something new, drop a like 👍 and leave a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🚀 Make sure to follow me for more price action insights, free indicators, and trading strategies. Let’s grow and trade smarter together! 📈✨
KRAKEN:BTCUSDEducation
by TehThomas
Fair Value Gaps (FVGs) – A Complete GuideWhat Are Fair Value Gaps (FVGs)? A Fair Value Gap (FVG) is a price imbalance on a chart that occurs when the market moves aggressively in one direction, leaving an area where price did not trade efficiently. These gaps are often created by institutional traders (banks, hedge funds, and large market participants) executing big orders. Key Characteristics of a FVG: ✅ Occurs when price moves impulsively, creating an imbalance ✅ Appears in a three-candle formation ✅ The gap forms between the wicks of the first and third candles How to Identify a FVG: 1️⃣ Look for a strong price move (bullish or bearish). 2️⃣ Find a three-candle sequence where the middle candle has a large body and a gap between the first and third candle wicks. 3️⃣ Mark the area between the first and third candle wicks—this is your Fair Value Gap. Example: Imagine price explodes upward with a big green candle, skipping multiple price levels without much resistance. This creates an inefficiency because price hasn’t traded fairly in that area, making it likely that price will revisit it later to fill the imbalance. Here you can see that price completely filled up that gap and moved higher. Same here: How to Use Fair Value Gaps in Trading FVGs can serve as key zones where price is likely to react. Here’s how you can use them to improve your trading: 1️⃣ Fair Value Gaps as Support & Resistance Bullish FVG (Support Zone): If price retraces into a bullish FVG (gap formed in an uptrend), it can act as support and push price higher. This is a good area to look for buying opportunities. Bearish FVG (Resistance Zone): If price retraces into a bearish FVG (gap formed in a downtrend), it can act as resistance and push price lower. This is a good area to look for selling opportunities. 2️⃣ Using FVGs for Trade Entries & Exits Price often revisits a Fair Value Gap before continuing its original trend. A trader can wait for price to fill the gap and then look for confirmations like candlestick patterns or volume spikes before entering a trade. Stop-loss placement: Put your stop-loss below/above the FVG zone to reduce risk. 3️⃣ Liquidity & Institutional Activity Institutional traders often target these inefficiencies to fill their orders. When price returns to an FVG, it may be because institutions are executing trades at those levels. Why Are Fair Value Gaps Useful? They act as magnets for price – Price tends to revisit these gaps before continuing its move. They provide high-probability trade setups – FVGs help traders find potential reversal or continuation zones. They improve risk management – You can use them for better stop-loss placement. They align with Smart Money Concepts (SMC) – Institutions often use these levels for liquidity. Tips & Tricks: How to Combine Fair Value Gaps with Other Strategies 1️⃣ FVG + Order Blocks = Strong Confirmation If a Fair Value Gap aligns with an Order Block, it becomes a powerful area of interest. This increases the chances of a successful trade. 2️⃣ FVG + Fibonacci Retracements If an FVG aligns with a key Fibonacci level (like 61.8% or 50%), the chances of a price reaction increase significantly. 3️⃣ FVG + RSI or Divergence If price revisits a FVG while RSI is overbought or oversold, it signals a high-probability reversal. 4️⃣ Higher Timeframe FVGs Are More Reliable FVGs on the 1-hour, 4-hour, or daily charts are more effective than those on smaller timeframes. 5️⃣ Monitor News Events If an FVG is formed due to a major news event (e.g., Fed announcement, CPI data, earnings report), be cautious, as price may act differently than expected. Final Thoughts Fair Value Gaps are a powerful tool that help traders identify key levels of liquidity and institutional price action. They work best when combined with other strategies like Order Blocks, Fibonacci, and RSI to increase accuracy. By understanding how and why price moves back into these gaps, traders can anticipate potential high-probability trade setups and trade alongside smart money. __________________________________________ Thanks for your support! If you found this idea helpful or learned something new, drop a like 👍 and leave a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🚀 Make sure to follow me for more price action insights, free indicators, and trading strategies. Let’s grow and trade smarter together! 📈✨
KRAKEN:BTCUSDEducation
by TehThomas
33
How To Do Multi-TimeFrame Analysis With TradingViewHey, In this video I provide the two key laws that helped me with trading; 1. An imbalance on the higher time-frames is a range on the lower time-frames. 2. A run on the higher time-frames is a trend on the lower time-frames. From this point of view, I share with you how I analyze the charts from Monthly to Weekly to Daily chart, and how I like to time the next few days of price-action. The chart I use in this tutorial is GBP/USD. Kind regards, Max Nieveld
Education
by newcapitalfx
1
Dominate Gold the 15-Min Chart with SMC, Breakouts,Sharp Entry'sIntroduction In the fast-paced world of forex trading, understanding institutional moves is crucial. The 15-minute timeframe provides the perfect balance between actionable signals and structural clarity. By combining Smart Money Concepts (SMC), Change of Character (CHoCH), and Breakouts, you can build a robust strategy to identify high-probability trades with minimal risk. Why Focus on the 15-Minute Timeframe? Clarity in Price Action: Reveals institutional footprints like liquidity sweeps and order blocks. Less noise compared to lower timeframes (1-5 minutes). Faster Setups: Quick entry/exit compared to swing trading on higher timeframes. Perfect for traders who prefer multiple opportunities within a day. Scalability: Can be used for scalping or short-term intraday trading. Key SMC Concepts Explained 1. Change of Character (CHoCH) CHoCH is one of the most reliable indicators of a trend reversal. What is CHoCH? A shift from a bullish structure (higher highs and higher lows) to a bearish one (lower highs and lower lows) or vice versa. Indicates a potential reversal or start of a new trend. How to Identify CHoCH? Look for a liquidity sweep (stop-hunt) near significant highs or lows. Wait for the market to break the most recent structural high/low (depending on the direction). Confirm a new trend by observing a strong impulsive move. 2. Liquidity Zones Liquidity is where institutions execute their large orders. These areas act as magnets for price action. Common Liquidity Areas: Double Tops and Double Bottoms: Retail traders’ stop-loss zones. Trendline Liquidity: Stops placed along support or resistance trendlines. Session Highs/Lows: Focus on the Asian session’s range for liquidity traps. 3. Order Blocks (OBs) Order blocks represent areas where institutions place large orders before a significant move. How to Use OBs for Entries: Identify untested OBs near a liquidity zone. Wait for price to return and mitigate (test) the OB. Use CHoCH or a breakout confirmation for precise entries. 4. Breakouts Breakouts often occur after a liquidity sweep and signal continuation. However, combining breakouts with CHoCH gives them much higher reliability. Key Breakout Tip: A breakout should follow a liquidity grab and lead to a CHoCH for confirmation. Step-by-Step Strategy: Combining SMC, CHoCH, and Breakouts Analyze the Higher Timeframe: Use the 4-hour timeframe to identify the primary trend (bullish or bearish). Identify Liquidity Zones: Highlight key areas where liquidity may be resting (double tops/bottoms, Asian session highs/lows). Wait for a Liquidity Sweep: Watch for price to grab liquidity above/below these zones. Look for CHoCH: Bullish CHoCH: Price breaks a lower high (LH) after sweeping liquidity below a low. Bearish CHoCH: Price breaks a higher low (HL) after sweeping liquidity above a high. Confirm with a Breakout: Wait for price to break a significant level with momentum after CHoCH. Mark the Order Block (OB): Identify the last bullish/bearish candle before the impulsive move. Enter the Trade: Place a limit order at the OB. Stop Loss: Just beyond the OB. Take Profit: Nearest liquidity zone or a 3:1 risk-to-reward target. Example Trade Setup: Bullish Reversal Scenario: 4-hour trend is bullish, but the 15-minute chart is showing a pullback. Steps: Price sweeps liquidity below a double bottom. A CHoCH occurs as price breaks a recent lower high (LH). A 15-minute bullish OB forms near the breakout level. Entry is placed at the OB. TP targets the next double top or a key resistance level. Annotated Chart: (Include a chart with the liquidity sweep, CHoCH, breakout, OB, and TP levels clearly marked.) Pro Tips for 15-Minute SMC Trading Patience is Everything: Wait for liquidity sweeps and CHoCH before entering. Higher Timeframe Bias: Ensure your trades align with the 4-hour or daily trend. Use Volume Indicators: Spot strong breakouts with increased volume. Refine Entry Timing: Use the 5-minute timeframe for precise entries within the 15-minute OB. Journal Your Trades: Record setups to refine your understanding of CHoCH and SMC. Common Mistakes to Avoid Ignoring Liquidity Sweeps: Jumping into trades before a proper liquidity grab often leads to losses. Rushing into Breakouts: Many breakouts fail without CHoCH or a clear liquidity sweep. Neglecting Risk Management: Always set stops and respect your risk limits. Why This Strategy Works This approach combines: The precision of the 15-minute chart. Institutional trading mechanics (SMC and OBs). Clear reversal signals (CHoCH). The momentum of breakouts after liquidity grabs. Together, they create a strategy that aligns your trades with smart money while minimizing false signals. Conclusion The 15-minute timeframe offers a unique opportunity to blend precision and profitability. By mastering CHoCH, liquidity sweeps, and breakouts, you can elevate your trading game and consistently capture high-probability setups. If you enjoyed this guide, give it a like, share it with your trading community, and follow me for more insights!
TVC:GOLDEducation
by GentleGoldenEngine
63
Institutional Supply: CAD/JPY shortsHey, Little bit of a tutorial here to give you a better understanding about my zones. Of course on my profile you find multiple videos of my trading style. But if you see something like this shape up, all I do is wait... I wait for price to reach my supply zone, and show me 4hour confirmation. This confirmation is explained in other video's and posts. Study these charts, the zones play out a lot of times. A true edge. Kind regards, Max Nieveld
Education
by newcapitalfx
Profitable SMC Smart MoneyConcept Strategy Explained I will teach you how to trade liquidity grab, a trap, inducement, order block and imbalance. I will share with you my Smart Money Concept strategy for trading forex & gold. We will study a real SMC trading setup that I took on a live stream with my students. Trend Analysis With Structure Mapping The first step in our trading strategy will be the analysis of a market trend on a daily time frame with structure mapping. Analyzing GBPNZD on a daily time frame, we can see that the conditions for a bullish trend are met. Liquidity Zones Analysis The second step will be to find liquidity - supply and demand zones on a daily time frame. According to our rules, here are 3 liquidity zones that I spotted on GBPNZD. We see 2 demand zones and 1 supply zone. Test of Liquidity Zone The third step will be to wait for a test of a liquidity zone. And on that step, we should remember an important rule: We will wait only for a test of a liquidity zone that ALIGN with the market trend. It means that we will wait for a test of a demand zone in a bullish trend. We will wait for a test of a supply zone in a bearish trend. The only demand zones that meets these criteria on GBPNZD is Demand Zone 1. It aligns with a bullish trend. We don't consider Demand Zone 2, because a bearish violation of a Demand Zone 1 will be a Change of Character and a violation of a bearish trend. And here is how a test of a liquidity zone should look like. The price should simply reach that. Liquidity Grab & Imbalance After we identified a test of a significant liquidity zone that aligns with a market trend, we will start analyzing lower time frames. We will look for a liquidity grab, order block and imbalance on 4H and 1H time frames. Here is a liquidity grab that is confirmed by a bullish imbalance. We see a false violation of a liquidity zone, followed by a high momentum bullish candle. It will be our strong bullish signal. Order Block Zone In order to identify the entry point, the next step will be to identify the order block zone. According to our rules, here is the order block zone on a 4H time frame. Entry Level Our entry level will be the level of the upper boundary of the order block zone. Here is such a level on GBPNZD. A buy limit order should be set on that level. Please, note that in that particular case we don't need a 1H time frame analysis, because we have a confirmation signal on a 4H time frame. We will analyse an hourly time frame only when THERE IS NO SIGNAL on a 4H time frame. Stop Loss & Take Profit Safe stop loss should be below the lowest low of a bearish movement. To safely calculate a stop loss in pips for the trade, simply take 0.5 ATR - Average True Range. For Average True Range indicator , take the default settings - 14 length. Here is a safe stop loss level on GBPNZD. ATR is 55 pips. Our stop loss for the trade is 28 pips. Take profit for the trade will be based on the closest 4H liquidity - supply zone. That is the closest supply zone that I spotted on GBPNZD on a 4H time frame. Your target level should be a couple of pips below a supply zone. Look how perfectly the market reached the target! As you can see, that trading strategy is quite complex and combines different important elements. But what I like about this SMC trading strategy is that it truly makes sense. The intentions of Smart Money are crystal clear here and the trade execution rules are straight forward. ❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
FX:XAUUSDEducation
by VasilyTrader
5
How TradingView Helps Me Not Miss TradesHey, In this video I provide several examples that help me to not miss any trading opportunities and provide me more clarity and confidence in my trading. I share my trading style, the usage of tradingview alerts and multi-timeframe analysis to time it right. Often traders struggle with missing trades, this is why you might miss them: - Lack of confidence - Lack of chart time - Lack of knowledge If you solve them one by one, your trading performance can improve fast. Kind regards, Max Nieveld
Education
by newcapitalfx
How To Use Multi-Timeframe AnalysisHey, In this video, I dive into the methods of multi-timeframe analysis, exploring how to use daily, weekly, and monthly charts alongside intraday charts like the 4-hour to gain a clearer picture of price movement. Multi-timeframe analysis helps you view the same data through different lenses, allowing you to make predictions across various time horizons. For example, a weekly trend or a monthly move can appear as a complete trend on lower timeframes. By integrating these perspectives, you can better understand what price action is indicating and make informed decisions. Kind regards, Max
Education
by newcapitalfx
Advanced Trend Analysis in SMC Smart Money Concept Trading Forex In this article, we will discuss how to execute advanced market trend analysis with smart money concept trading. I will teach you how to identify long-term, mid-term and minor trend and how to apply trend analysis in making predictions and trading. First, let me briefly remind you the basic rules of a trend analysis in SMC trading. We say that the market is bullish if there are at least 2 bullish impulses with 2 higher highs and a retracement leg between them with a higher low. The market is bearish if there are at least 2 bearish impulses with 2 lower lows and a retracement leg between them with a lower high. If the conditions for a bullish or a bearish trend are not met, we say that the market is consolidating . Bullish violation of the last higher high in a bullish trend is called a Break of Structure BoS. Bearish violation of the last higher low in a bullish trend is called a Change of Character CHoCH. Bearish violation of the last lower low in a bearish trend is called a Break of Structure BoS. Bullish violation of the last lower high in a bearish trend is called a Change of Character CHoCH. BoS signifies a trend continuation. CHoCH signifies a trend violation. In order to apply these rules on a price chart, we perceive the market movements as the set of impulse and retracement legs. However, with such a method of analysis a big question arises: what is exactly is the impulse leg, how strong and long it should be. Which price fluctuations can be a part of the impulse and which should be excluded. Look at the example above. A price action on AUDCAD can be perceived as one single bullish impulse or a combination of 3 bullish impulses and retracements and a combination of multiple impulses and retracements. Which way of analysis is correct? The fact is that the price action analysis on each chart is correct . The only difference between them is the perspective . From a long-term perspective , the entire price movement on the chart is a one single impulse. From a mid-term perspective , it is the market that is trading in a bullish trend in 3 bullish impulses. From a short-term perspective , it is the market that is trading in a bullish trend and started to consolidate and trade in sideways for some time, resuming the growth then. With advanced SMC trend analysis, you should learn to perceive a price chart not only as a combination of impulse and retracement legs, but also as a combination of long-term, mid-term and short-term trends and movements. Depending on your trading style, such a reasoning can be applied on any time frame. Look at AUDJPY pair on an hourly time frame. From a long-term perspective, the pair is trading in a bearish trend. Studying in details the last bullish impulse, we can perceive it as a minor bullish trend with its confirmed violation after a Change of Character. Let's discuss another example. EURNZD is trading in a clear long-term bullish trend on a daily. Zooming in the chart, we can also analyze the last bullish impulse in a long-term bullish trend as a mid-term bullish trend. At the same time, if we analyze the recent minor movements, we can spot a confirmed minor bearish trade on the pair. Why do we need such an in-depth market trend analysis? Always remember that a global trend is always born from a minor trend. Minor trend analysis will help you to identify local reversal, trend following signals much earlier. The fact that EURNZD started to trade in a minor bearish trend, being globally bullish, can be an important warning sign for us. You can see that after some time the pair started to fall rapidly. A minor bearish trend continued, a mid-term bullish trend was violated and a correction started in a global bullish trend. Your ability to correctly analyze different market perspectives is essential for making accurate predictions. The trend analysis rules and events that we discussed are more than enough for successful trading any time frame and any market. Study trend analysis, learn to identify global, mid-term and minor trend and good luck in your trading. ❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
Education
by VasilyTrader
6
HOW And WHY The Markets MoveIn this video I explain HOW and WHY the markets move. At it's core, trading is a zero-sum game, meaning that nothing is created. There must always be a counter-party to any trade, after all it is called "trading". Because of this, liquidity is the lifeblood of the market and it is what is required by all participants, albeit more for the larger entities out there. In order for these larger entities to trade, they must do so in stages of buying and selling, and not all in one single position like we do as retail traders. They buy on the way down, and sell on the way up, throughout many different time horizons. Therefore, they require price to be delivered efficiently in order to sustain this working machine. I hope you find the video somewhat insightful. Regardless of your beliefs, I think it can be agreed that these two principles are what drives the marketplace and it's movements. - R2F
OANDA:WTICOUSDEducation
by Road_2_Funded
7
Two Roads to Profit. A Comparison of ICT/SMC and Advanced VSAHello traders and investors! When we start engaging in trading and investing, we get acquainted with various methods of forecasting price movements. Gradually, if we have enough persistence, strength, and patience, we choose our own path to profitable trades. Among the most popular approaches, we can highlight the use of various oscillators and channels, Dow Theory, Elliott Waves, Fibonacci levels, supply and demand, Volume Spread Analysis (VSA), market auction theory, and the Inner Circle Trader/Smart Money Concept (ICT/SMC). Many traders combine elements from different approaches into their trading system. I personally prefer a concept I call Advanced VSA. It’s a comprehensive set of tools that combines ideas from VSA, Dow Theory, and Supply and Demand analysis. The name "Advanced VSA" perfectly captures the essence of the method, as it is fundamentally based on analyzing volume and price spread. Recently, the ICT/SMC concept has been gaining more and more popularity. Today, I want to explore the similarities and differences between ICT/SMC and Advanced VSA. If there are any inaccuracies in my explanation of ICT/SMC basics, feel free to correct me in the comments. Perhaps after reading this article, you’ll be able to decide which approach resonates more with you and which one you believe will help you in your trading. I hope this will be helpful. Let’s dive in! Basic Differences Before diving into the technical details, let's first clarify the key differences between these concepts. Who Controls Price Movements The ICT/SMC concept assumes that price movements are controlled by large players, such as market makers, who direct prices in the desired direction. This is similar to a model where one "center of power" determines the market's direction. In contrast, Advanced VSA is based on the idea that two forces influence price — the Buyer and the Seller. All analysis revolves around the interaction between these two sides, creating a more balanced model where both forces are equally important. Traded Volume The ICT/SMC concept does not use traded volume as a part of its analysis. In Advanced VSA, volume is an important factor. It is considered an integral part of the data that helps to understand market processes and the actions of participants. Now let’s move on to a detailed comparison of the elements of these concepts. What They Have in Common Both concepts teach traders to identify price ranges on the chart where a large player (Market Maker in ICT/SMC) or a Buyer (in Advanced VSA) shows interest in buying, and ranges where the Market Maker or Seller is interested in selling. When the price returns to these ranges, traders can execute buys or sells. We can call these price ranges contextual areas for buying and selling. Neither concept relies on technical indicators. Instead, they focus on the following key terms for identifying the trade direction and the trade entry point: Trend Trend break/half-trend Trend confirmation Accumulation/Distribution/Sideways movement/Flat Contextual areas for buying and selling The first four terms help determine the direction of the trade, while the fifth helps identify the entry point and the likely target of the trade. Both methods suggest using higher timeframes to find contextual areas and lower timeframes to find entry points within those areas. What Are the Differences The differences between the concepts lie in the interpretation of key terms. For the first four terms (trend, trend break, trend confirmation, accumulation/distribution/Sideways movement), the distinctions are minor and relate mostly to specific interpretations. However, the main differences arise in the rules for identifying contextual areas of interest (buyer, seller, or market maker). Let's look at these differences in more detail. Difference 1: Use of Volume In ICT/SMC, contextual areas of interest are determined solely based on price action and candlestick patterns, without taking traded volume into account. In contrast, Advanced VSA sees volume as an integral part of the analysis. contextual areas of interest are identified by both traded volume and price behavior (candlestick patterns). If there was interest from a buyer, seller in a specific price range, leading to a price change, it's logical to assume that the volume traded in that range should be higher than in previous periods over a similar timeframe. To illustrate the importance of using all available data for analysis, consider an analogy with choosing the best time for a seaside vacation. If the decision is based only on water and air temperature, while ignoring factors like wind or rainfall, the choice may be misguided. For example, choosing April for its comfortable temperature might result in encountering constant rain and high waves. Thus, in Advanced VSA, volume plays a crucial role, whereas it is absent in ICT/SMC. Difference 2: Types of Contextual Areas of Interest In ICT/SMC, the following types of contextual areas of interest are used: order block, breaker, mitigation block, and rejection block. All of these areas are formed by a specific arrangement of candles on the chart. In contrast, Advanced VSA operates with a different set of contextual areas of interest: effort, zone, and range (sideways movement). Effort refers to a single candle or bar that indicates significant market activity. Zone is formed by a sequence of candles or bars, taking into account their traded volumes. Range (sideways movement) is defined by a series of consecutive candles/bars where price fluctuates within a limited range, interacting alternately with the upper and lower boundaries of the range. It's only possible to identify which party (buyer, seller, or market maker) controls the range after the price breaks out and confirms the move. If the volumes align with Advanced VSA's criteria, order blocks and mitigation blocks in ICT/SMC can be considered as zones in Advanced VSA. So, not all order blocks and mitigation blocks will be considered zones in Advanced VSA. The breaker will be discussed separately, and there is no equivalent to the rejection block in Advanced VSA. Difference 3. Price Attraction Points In ICT/SMC, concepts such as fair value gap, liquidity void, and liquidity are used to describe price attraction points. In Advanced VSA, the terms fair value gap and liquidity void are not utilized. Most of the time, these ICT/SMC elements correspond to price interest points in Advanced VSA, such as effort. The term liquidity has the same meaning. Difference 4. Importance of Levels In Advanced VSA, levels play an important role in identifying trade opportunities. To understand the significance of levels, let’s first recall the concepts of trend and range (sideways movement). In both ICT/SMC and Advanced VSA, a trend is broken down into components, often referred to as impulses or expansion moves. A range, on the other hand, is characterized by its boundaries and the vectors of price movement between those boundaries. In Advanced VSA, important trading signals include the defense of a broken level or a price retracement to a level followed by its defense. In Advanced VSA, the defense of a broken level or the cancellation of a breakout (where the price returns back behind the broken level) followed by a defense of that level is considered a signal for identifying trades. This method helps traders spot potential entry points where either buyers or sellers to protect a key price level, giving more confidence in the direction of the market. The most important levels include the base of the last impulse, the boundaries of a range, and the test level of a zone. In ICT/SMC, there are no direct equivalents of these elements when it comes to searching for trades. However, breakers and sometimes mitigation blocks serve similar purposes to the levels in Advanced VSA, but the approaches differ. In ICT/SMC, trades are typically executed within the breaker or mitigation block, whereas in Advanced VSA, trades are found when a level is defended: buy trades above the level (supported by buyers), and sell trades below the level (supported by sellers). Additionally, Advanced VSA allows for trading within ranges, moving from one boundary to the other, as long as the boundaries are defended. Summary Despite the shared terms and similar approaches, there are significant differences between the two concepts: Number of forces influencing price movement: In ICT/SMC, it is believed that price is controlled by a single force, the Market Maker (MM). In contrast, Advanced VSA considers the interaction of two forces—buyers and sellers—as driving price movements. Use of volume in analysis: ICT/SMC does not take traded volume into account during analysis, while in Advanced VSA, volume is a crucial element for identifying market forces and areas of interest. Use of levels for trade entries: In ICT/SMC, levels do not play an important role, whereas in Advanced VSA, levels one of the possible places for identifying potential trade setups. Good luck with your trading and investing!
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by AlexeyWolf
2