Thu AM Briefing: Emini / Micros Morning Prep for Our S&P Trading Community
Thu AM Briefing: Daily Trade Plan and Price Action Zones for S&P Futures
🎙️ AM Briefing – June 12th, 2025 (Episode #449)
“Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9
Opening Remarks
Welcome to the AM Briefing brought to you by MicroTrader.com, where together we trade better. We’re live in the ES/MES futures room. Episode 449 — just 51 away from the 500 milestone.
CPI caused a three-point loss that blew through my Daily Loss Limit — not because of the market, but because of poor sizing discipline.
CPI Reflections & Trade Plan Review
I went too big. I posted in the group: a small 3-point loss wiped me out. I had lowered my DLL, but I didn’t restrict the contract size. That was my mistake. I was tired, it was late, and I got aggressive at the wrong time. The lesson is clear: DLL without contract limits is incomplete.
Essay Format Questions
- What rule did you break during high volatility events like CPI?
- What safeguard could you implement next time to protect your capital?
Overtrading, Journaling, and Professionalism
If you’re overtrading, check your plan. Is it written? Is it reviewed daily? If not, you’re winging it — and that’s not what professionals do. That’s why we built Trader Meditations. Even a Google Sheet works — as long as you’re reviewing, measuring, and adjusting. Without that, you’re guessing.
Glossary of Key Terms
- DLL: Daily Loss Limit — your personal stop-loss for the day, beyond which no trades are allowed.
- LEAP Account: A non-cash, simulated account used for strategy testing or fallback trading when risk is too high on a live account.
Market Context: Rollover & FOMC
Volume is rising in both June and September contracts. Full rollover hits next week, along with FOMC. Today’s Core PPI and unemployment claims might not be market movers — but insiders say FOMC pays attention to PPI more than CPI.
Strong levels = directional guideposts. Above it? Long bias. Below it? Short bias. But remember: not every level bounces — some pull like magnets.
Battle Plan & Execution
Our plan last night was clean: long above the strong level, short below. The morning long setup and afternoon zone were correct, but lacked follow-through. I took both a long and a short in my LEAP account. I’m still short — if we stay under, I ride it. If we pop above the level, I’m out. My stop is trailed just above the zone.
Technical Outlook & Scorecard
- ✅ Price is below VWAP
- ✅ VWAP is declining
- ✅ We are under yesterday’s low
That gives control to the bears. In this environment, I’m giving them full control bias until structure changes. If we push up, I’ll adjust accordingly.
Community Feedback Invitation
I’m coming up on episode 500. And I’m asking: is the AM Briefing bringing enough value? Should we shift to evenings? Change format? Skip mornings and focus on battle plans? I’d love to hear your thoughts — this is for you.
Final Trade Notes
PPI just dropped. If price dumps, I’ll trail to 6000. If it rips, I’ll exit and reset. The current trade is structured to capture 50% of the short setup — standard practice. And remember: no trade is still a position. I’ll see you all live 15 minutes before the open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did George stop trading his cash account after CPI?
A: He hit his Daily Loss Limit due to oversized trades and chose to step back to avoid compounding errors.
Q: What’s the cure for overtrading according to George?
A: A written, reviewed, and adjusted trade plan — not just mental notes or reactive decision-making.
Q: Why do strong levels sometimes act like magnets instead of bounce points?
A: Because price is attracted to liquidity — and strong levels often pull price rather than repelling it.
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