Nasdaq 100 futures London session playbook: Reclaim 23,319 to ignite the next leg higher

Bulls must establish a base above the 50% retracement at 23,319.75, while key micro pivots at 23,281, 23,255, and 23,228 offer clear bounce zones for tactical entries.

1. Session setup

• Context: After yesterday's pullback off the 23,421.25 high, NQ futures have been grinding sideways, squeezed between Micro 5 (lower channel boundary) and Micro 4.

• Objective: Identify the levels that will dictate direction in the London open—either a renewed bullish push or a measured retracement.

2. Key levels to watch

LevelDescription

23,319.75 - 50% retrace of yesterday's range – key bullish pivot.

23,350–23,368 - Value Area Low (~23,350) & mid-channel resistance at 23,368.

23,394 - Point of Control (POC) – major volume node.

23,421.25 - Yesterday's high – ultimate upside target.

23,281 - Micro 4 – first support on pullbacks.

23,255 - Micro 3 – secondary support.

23,228 - Micro 2 – last line of defence on deeper drops.

Nasdaq 100 Futures price chart courtesy of TradingView | Playbook by MacroStructure dot connect

3. Bullish playbook

1. Entry Trigger:

   • Clean reclaim and close above 23,319.75 on a 15‑minute chart.

   • Confirmation with rising volume or uptick in momentum oscillators.

2. Initial Target:

   • 23,350–23,368 (Value Area Low & mid‑channel resistance).

3. Stretch Target:

   • 23,394 (POC) – look for a brief stall or consolidation.

4. Aggressive Add‑On:

   • Break and retest of POC → target 23,421.25 (prior high).

5. Stop‑Loss:

   • Below 23,300 or just under the reclaim level to give room for noise.

4. Bearish/pullback playbook

1. Short Trigger:

   • Failure to hold 23,319.75, with a close below and fresh sellers stepping in.

2. Support Zones for Bounces:

   • 23,281 (Micro 4)

   • 23,255 (Micro 3)

   • 23,228 (Micro 2) – key level; break here opens lower targets.

3. Primary Target on Break:

   • Drop below 23,228 → look for a move toward the lower trend‑channel boundary near 23,195–23,200.

4. Stop‑Loss:

   • Above 23,319.75, or above the breakdown candle high.

5. Trade execution and risk management

• Timeframes: Use 5‑ and 15‑minute charts for entries, 1‑hour to monitor structure.

• Position Sizing: Risk no more than 1–2% of account per trade.

• Trailing Stops: Once in profit by 1R (risk), trail to breakeven or just behind next micro pivot.

• News/Flow: Watch for London economic releases (e.g., UK CPI) that can spike volatility.

6. Pro tips for London session

• Micro Pivot Confluence: The more pivots you see clustered (e.g., 23,281 & a trend‑line touch), the higher the probability of a clean bounce or break.

• Volume Profile Insight: Notice how volume clusters around the POC—aggressive traders often defend or attack here.

• Momentum Confirmation: A quick squeeze above/below key levels with matching momentum spike (e.g., via TTM Squeeze or MACD) adds conviction.

• Scaling In/Out: Stagger entries at each micro level and scale out into areas of heavy volume (VAL, POC, prior high).

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