Weekly Market Overview: Week of August 17, 2026

How I’m reading ES, NQ, YM, RTY, GC, and CL heading into the week — published every Sunday. Records everywhere except the one index that mattered most in July Last week was another record-setting run for U.S. equities. The S&P 500 closed above 7,798 and the Dow pushed to a fresh all-time high near 53,900, … Continue reading Weekly Market Overview: Week of August 17, 2026

Confused Traders Don’t Execute: Why Clarity Beats Cleverness

You're staring at a setup. It looks right. But you don't take it, or you take it half-sized, or you take it forty seconds late. Afterward you can't fully explain why you hesitated — it just didn't feel clean. That feeling has a name: confusion. Not confusion about the market. Confusion about your own rules. … Continue reading Confused Traders Don’t Execute: Why Clarity Beats Cleverness

Futures Trading Glossary: 30+ Terms Every Beginner Should Know

Part of the Futures Trading 101 series. You can spot a confused trader in one sentence. They use terms they've heard but never actually understand — "I got stopped out because of slippage on my tick value" said with zero conviction. That's not a knock. Every trader starts here. But confused traders don't execute, and … Continue reading Futures Trading Glossary: 30+ Terms Every Beginner Should Know

Futures Prop Firms Explained: Common Questions New Traders Ask

Part of the Futures Trading 101 series. Before you start an evaluation, make sure you've read Risk Management 101 for New Futures Traders and Futures Trading Psychology — both matter more than the firm you pick. You see a profit target, a monthly fee, and the promise of a funded account. It looks simple: pass … Continue reading Futures Prop Firms Explained: Common Questions New Traders Ask

Risk Management 101 for New Futures Traders: Position Sizing That Actually Protects You

Part of the Futures Trading 101 series. Need a refresher on contract math first? See Tick Value, Point Value, and Contract Size. The trade can be good and the size can still ruin you You see a clean setup, enter with a few contracts because it “feels right,” and your stop gets hit. The loss … Continue reading Risk Management 101 for New Futures Traders: Position Sizing That Actually Protects You

Futures Trading Hours: When Markets Are Open and Why It Matters

Part of the Futures Trading 101 series. A new futures trader finishes work, opens a chart at night, and sees price moving. The market is open, so they assume it is a good time to trade. That assumption can be expensive. Futures trade far more hours than stocks, but “open” does not mean “the conditions … Continue reading Futures Trading Hours: When Markets Are Open and Why It Matters