Full time trader and entrepreneur. Have been trading in the markets for 7 years with a focus on the Nasdaq. I trade the Initial Balance Failed Auctions as my main strategy.
7+ Years of Experience
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Trading Timeframe
15-30 Minute
Instruments Traded
NQ, GC
Trading Approach
Failed Auction Trading
Trading Approach
I focus on the Initial Balance during the NY session — the high and low formed in the first hour of trading. I mark these levels immediately and use them as my primary reference points for the rest of the session.
While I watch for both breakouts and failures of the IB high/low, I favor failures — meaning price breaks out of the IB range but can't continue, and trades back within it. I look for weakness on lower timeframes as price approaches these levels, anticipating the failure before it's fully confirmed.
My entries depend on the strength I see coming back into the range — I want real conviction in the move, not just a break with no follow-through. Position sizing and stop placement adjust based on how aggressive that move looks, since these can be fast, reactive entries.
Once in a trade, I typically target around 50% of the IB range, generally taking the full position off there. This setup tends to work best in range-bound sessions rather than strongly trending days.
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