New Week, Same Fast Tapeby Tony Rago New week, new opportunities to make money — and we’re kicking things off with crude back over 97 pre-market, which could pressure things a bit early and lead to some pullback action at the open. I’ll be watching the weekly opens closely for clues, because losing those levels could open the door for a move back toward the big round numbers at 7,400 on ES and 29,000 on NQ. If sellers gain traction beneath the pre-market lows, that’s where deeper pullback setups can start to develop. So far though, tech continues to do the heavy lifting, and as usual, the chips remain the key group to watch for overall market direction. This is still a tape where patience and objectivity matter more than prediction. Strong trends can stay strong longer than most expect, but when momentum finally shifts, it tends to happen fast.

Payroll Push Into New Highsby Tony Rago More highs pre-market following the payroll numbers, and the momentum train keeps rolling. NQ is now staring right at the 29,000 magnet level — a major psychological area that feels within reach if buyers can keep pressure on through the RTH session. ES continues to hold strong as well, but I’ll be watching closely to see if we get a backtest of 7,400 near the open. That kind of retest can tell you a lot about conviction. If buyers defend it cleanly, it could confirm acceptance higher. If not, there’s still enough resistance up here for bears to make a stand, and they’ll need a move under 7,377 to start building downside momentum. It’s Friday, and bulls are trying to close out yet another monster week with fresh all-time highs on the board. That’s a powerful backdrop, but also one that can create

Price Leads, Everything Else Followsby Tony Rago More highs again, and now ES has officially printed 7,400 — another major milestone in a move that just refuses to slow down. At this point, new highs have become the norm almost daily, and the market continues to reward strength while punishing anyone trying to step in front of it. Everyone keeps waiting for the meaningful pullback, but the reality is we really haven’t seen one throughout this entire run. That’s important context, because extended doesn’t automatically mean reversal. As long as buyers continue to defend key levels, price remains in control. This kind of environment demands patience and discipline more than prediction. You don’t need to catch the exact top or bottom — you just need to find spots where risk is defined and manageable. Price is the only thing that matters right now, and fighting momentum simply because something “feels”

AI Bid, New Highs — Don’t Fight Itby Tony Rago Big push to new highs overnight, driven largely by chip strength and earnings momentum — the AI trade continues to be the engine here. NQ led the charge again, and when that sector is in control, it tends to pull the broader market with it. Add in crude slipping back under 100, and you’ve got another tailwind helping risk stay bid. That said, this move is getting extended. Price has traveled, positioning is stretched, and yet shorts continue to get squeezed — a clear sign that momentum is still in control for now. This is where traders get themselves into trouble trying to pick tops. You might feel like it’s gone too far, but fighting price in a tape like this can be costly. The focus stays the same — trade what you see, not what you think. I’ll let

Pushing Highs Into the Openby Tony Rago NQ is pressing into fresh highs with a clean 28K test pre-market, while ES is working to convert 7,250 into support — a key level that could define early session direction. When a level flips from resistance to support, it often signals acceptance and continuation if buyers can defend it. What stands out here is the tape’s resilience — even with ongoing war headlines and crude holding elevated near 103, price continues to shrug it off for now. That tells you flows are still leaning bullish, but it also raises the stakes if sentiment shifts. This is the kind of tape that will test your discipline. It looks strong, but it can turn just as quickly if participants start to fade the move or react to headlines. The focus today is simple: trade what’s in front of you, not what you think should