Last week on Thursday represented a day in the US stock markets where a morning opening gap up offered very low risk and high reward opportunity or tremendous risk, depending on your point of view and decision making. My morning prep work that day consisted of finding markets that are opening at price levels where supply and demand are out of balance in a large way and then simply trading them back to balance. That morning, the gap up was significant on news that was perceived positive for stocks so most of the world was buying. However, if your point of view is that of a smart buyer and seller of anything who has an understanding of the laws of supply and demand, not only were you not buying like everyone else was, you were selling to that huge group of buyers as prices were at levels where supply exceeds demand.

Gap Open Into Supply – Russell 2000 IWM: 7/27/17

Lesson from the pros

Notice the price action on 7/27/17. There was a gap up on the open into supply (yellow boxes) followed by a dramatic price decline from the $143.50 price level in the Russell. This can only happen because there is much more supply at that level than willing demand. When this happens, price must decline. The dramatic rate of decline suggests a strong supply and demand imbalance at that level. While the rest of the world is buying in a strong way, the astute trader’s plan is in place well before the open that told us to sell to anyone who wanted to buy at that level. Why? Because you are selling to novice buyers who likely are consistent losing market speculators. How do we know this? Only a novice would buy AFTER an advance in price and INTO a price level where supply exceeds demand. Our job is to find this novice buyer and simply take the other side of his or her trade.

When you enter markets at price levels where supply and demand are out of balance in a big way, especially at or near the open of trading, moves in the market are typically very fast. All it takes is about 30 minutes of morning prep work that I and my team do each day that anyone can do if you understand supply and demand and how to see it on a price chart. I took this trade in the NASDAQ, not the Russell but used the Russell and other markets to make this decision.

The goal of this article is to impress upon you the importance of looking at markets for what they really are which is simply an ongoing supply and demand relationship. Opportunity exists when this simple and straight forward relationship is out of balance. Everything else in and around markets is just “noise” that is meant to invite you into markets at the wrong time and in the wrong direction. As an educator, I say that is unfortunate. As a trader, I love it, the more noise the better!

Hope this was helpful, have a great day.

Learn to Trade Now


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Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD looks offered below 1.1900

EUR/USD looks offered below 1.1900

EUR/USD keeps its bearish tone unchanged ahead of the opening bell in Asia, returning to the sub-1.1900 region following a firmer tone in the US Dollar. Indeed, the pair reverses two consecutive daily gains amid steady caution ahead of Wednesday’s key US Nonfarm Payrolls release.
 

GBP/USD slips back to daily lows near 1.3640

GBP/USD slips back to daily lows near 1.3640

GBP/USD drops to daily lows near 1.3640 as sellers push harder and the Greenback extends its rebound in the latter part of Tuesday’s session. Looking ahead, the combination of key US releases, including NFP and CPI, alongside important UK data, should keep the pound firmly in focus over the coming days.

USD/JPY drops toward 155.00 as focus shifts to US data

USD/JPY drops toward 155.00 as focus shifts to US data

USD/JPY meets fresh supply and inches closer toward 155.00 in the Asian session on Tuesday. The Japanese Yen holds the upper hand over the US Dollar after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi led the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to a historic landslide win and on intervention talks. Traders brace for key US economic data that could offer more clues on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.


Editors’ Picks

AUD/USD meets initial resistance around 0.7100

AUD/USD meets initial resistance around 0.7100

A decent rebound in the US Dollar is behind the AUD/USD’s daily pullback on Tuesday. In fact, the pair comes under modest downside pressure soon after hitting fresh yearly peaks in levels just shy of 0.7100 the figure on Monday. Moving forward, investors are expected to closely follow the release of Chinese inflation data on Wednesday.
 

EUR/USD looks offered below 1.1900

EUR/USD looks offered below 1.1900

EUR/USD keeps its bearish tone unchanged ahead of the opening bell in Asia, returning to the sub-1.1900 region following a firmer tone in the US Dollar. Indeed, the pair reverses two consecutive daily gains amid steady caution ahead of Wednesday’s key US Nonfarm Payrolls release.
 

Gold the battle of wills continues with bulls not ready to give up

Gold the battle of wills continues with bulls not ready to give up

Gold remains on the defensive and approaches the key $5,000 region per troy ounce on Tuesday, giving back part of its recent two day. The precious metal’s pullback unfolds against a firmer tone in the US Dollar, declining US Treasury yields and steady caution ahead of upcoming key US data releases.

Bitcoin's downtrend caused by ETF redemptions and AI rotation: Wintermute

Bitcoin's downtrend caused by ETF redemptions and AI rotation: Wintermute

Bitcoin's (BTC) fall from grace since the October 10 leverage flush has been spearheaded by sustained ETF outflows and a rotation into the AI narrative, according to Wintermute.

Dollar drops and stocks rally: The week of reckoning for US economic data

Dollar drops and stocks rally: The week of reckoning for US economic data

Following a sizeable move lower in US technology Stocks last week, we have witnessed a meaningful recovery unfold. The USD Index is in a concerning position; the monthly price continues to hold the south channel support.

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