ES Emini and MES Micros Trade Plan

Opening Remarks

Micros Trader opened the November 12th AM Briefing by revisiting the core theme of the week: implementing “finance runners” as part of advanced trade management. This technique, referred to as “game changing,” was used in two highlighted trades: a 200-point long held over 96 hours, and a structured short entry using the “Speculator Special” setup.

Micros Trader emphasized the importance of contentment in trading psychology and warned against the dangers of overconfidence during winning streaks. The directional bias remains bullish, with a strong conviction to avoid shorting unless in pre-defined, low-risk zones.

Trade Management Strategy: Finance Runner

Micros Trader described the “finance runner” as a technique that allows traders to stay in the game longer while managing risk. The concept involves scaling out of a position with partial profits, then using those gains to “finance” a remaining contract—the runner. The stop on the runner is moved to a level where, even if it gets stopped out, the overall trade remains green.

For example, a short position taken at 6888 using three contracts followed this method:

• One contract was closed for a 6-point gain.
• The second was closed at the 50% target.
• The 6-point profit on the first contract allowed the trader to move the stop-loss on the third to -6 points.

This converted the last contract into a “financed, paid-for runner” with a guaranteed green outcome.

The purpose of this strategy is to avoid settling for small scalps and instead capture more substantial directional moves with limited exposure.

Case Study: 200-Point Long Over 96 Hours

Micros Trader then walked through a major long trade initiated from the weekly “Penta List,” specifically from “Battle Plan 4.” The idea was to buy into a strong range located roughly 100 points below Thursday’s closing price.

Confident in the setup, Micros Trader executed the entry as price retraced into the key zone. Initially aiming for a 100-point target, the plan shifted when that target was narrowly missed. Instead of exiting, the stop was moved up to lock in 50 points and the trade was converted into a swing position.

A potential catalyst—news regarding the U.S. government shutdown—provided additional confidence that markets could gap higher. Over the next 96 hours, the trade evolved with the stop being trailed under critical levels such as range lows and the RTH low. The position was ultimately exited with a 200-point gain.

Micros Trader reflected that although this was the first 200-point realized gain, “perfect chess” might have involved continuing to trail the stop and attempting to catch an even larger move.

Market Outlook and Directional Bias

The dominant theme of the current environment is that bulls are in control. Micros Trader repeatedly stated that the market is “laddering up” and “going up like a banshee.” The Dow is nearing or making new all-time highs.

Because of this strength, Micros Trader cautioned against any shorting unless it’s at a very specific, pre-identified level and done with reduced size. He stated: “I would rather lose going long than lose going short in this move at this point.”

When asked why no shorts were called during a minor pullback, three justifications were offered:

• Bulls still control the macro direction.
• Bears failed to produce a backside structure.
• Price remained above the “halfback,” a crucial technical level.

Any attempt to countertrend should be surgical and small, not reactionary.

Essay Format Questions

1. What emotion affected your trade today?
2. How will you respond differently next time?

Trading Psychology: The Discipline of Contentment

The Daily Devotional segment focused on the idea that contentment is not a feeling—it is a discipline. This applies to both profits and losses.

Traders were urged to embrace the concept of “green over greed.” A consistent 5–10 point daily profit should be appreciated, rather than constantly hunting for the biggest possible win.

Equally important is sizing positions so that a loss results in an “oh well” emotional response. That is, losses should not trigger tilt or emotional overreaction.

Micros Trader warned that many newer traders break discipline after a winning streak. They begin to front-run levels, over-leverage, or abandon proven routines such as end-of-day journaling. Eventually, the lack of structure causes their performance to collapse, and they’re forced to restart from scratch.

Consistency, especially during drawdowns or hot streaks, is the ultimate skill. One must stick to the trading plan and pre-trade checklist regardless of recent outcomes. The goal is to root identity and peace in the process—not in the most recent trade or P&L.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Battle Plan: A strategic playbook containing trade setups for the day or week.
• Finance Runner: A risk-managed contract held after partial profits, designed to capture larger moves.
• Strong Range: Pre-determined areas of interest for trade entry, usually key support or resistance.
• Halfback: A 50% retracement of a prior move. Remaining above it signals bullish strength.
• Speculator Special: A high-risk, high-reward setup reserved for tactical opportunities.
• Traitor Meditations: Journaling software used to reinforce trading discipline.

Three Questioning Answers for New Futures Traders

1. How do experienced futures traders decide when to hold a position (a “runner”) over the weekend?

A: Holding a runner position over the weekend is a critical decision that depends primarily on the narrative and the number of built-in points (or cushion) you have in the trade. A trader might decide to hold a long position if they have a comfortable cushion, such as 50 points or more, and they have an inclination or belief (the narrative) that a key market driver, such as a government shutdown, will be resolved over the weekend, leading to a gap up. The goal is to set the stop loss far enough away that even a gap down requires a significant move to exit the position.

2. When trading futures, what is the importance of understanding price ranges and what are the basic rules for trading them?

A: Understanding price ranges is essential because they identify periods where price has been ping-ponging back and forth over multiple days. These ranges provide clear levels for entries and exits. The basic rules for trading within a range are:

• Look for longs at the bottom of the range, especially when bulls control.
• Look for shorts at the top of the range, if bears control.
• Do not short near the bottom or go long at the top, as this relies on breakouts for profit, which are less reliable than mean-reversion setups.

3. What does it mean to “finance a runner” and how does that relate to securing a “green trade guaranteed”? 💸

A: Financing a runner is a crucial risk management strategy that can be game changing. It involves taking profits (TPs) on a portion of the contracts in a multi-contract trade and then adjusting the stop loss on the remaining contracts (the runner) to ensure the entire trade can no longer lose money. The process usually involves:

1. Taking an initial contract off for a small profit (e.g., six points).
2. Moving the stop loss on the remaining runner contract(s) to a level that offsets potential losses (e.g., minus six points).
3. This creates a “financed paid for runner” with a “green trade guaranteed” — meaning the trade is either profitable overall or breaks even.

ADDITIONAL LINKS:

• Today’s AM Briefing: ES Emini and MES Micros Trade Plan
• Official ES Trade Plan – Battle Plan Access
• MES Micros Blog: Live ES/MES Trade Prep – Wednesday, Nov 12
• Day Traders Blog – Microstrader Insights & Updates
• AM BRIEFING Archive: ES/MES Levels, Setups & Plans
• Follow Microstrader on Twitter for Real-Time Updates
• Rumble Video: 5 Best ES Setups & Key Levels – 11/12/2025
• CME Info: Micro E-Mini Equity Futures Overview
• CME Trading Simulator – Practice Futures in Real Time
• Microstrader Community Post on YouTube