Back Into the Range — Leadership Check
by Tony Rago
Friday’s rally pushed us right back into the heart of the big sideways zone we’ve been chopping around in for what feels like months. That context matters — range environments reward patience and punish chasing. Coming into the new week, bulls need to show they can defend pullbacks into 6,900 on ES and hold that level on a daily close, which is key for keeping the broader range intact. On NQ, the equivalent line in the sand sits near 25,500. Those are the areas where buyers have to step up and prove this move has staying power.
If this is going to fail and rotate back toward last week’s lows, this is the area it would likely happen from — a loss of 6,900 on ES and sub-25,000 on NQ would signal a lack of leadership and open the door for downside follow-through. Until then, it’s about reading intent, not predicting outcomes. I’ll be leaning heavily on the opening ranges today, looking for clues on who’s willing to take control early. Range rules still apply — trade what is, not what you hope for. Let’s get after it. 💪
👉 Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Check it out here and trade it smart.
