Look, Friday was rough, no two ways about it. Yet, it proved once again why the Golden Setup is crucial to trading. Let me explain. The Market Dropped 400 Handles in Minutes Friday morning started clean. I had a Golden Setup forming on the NQ. Entry was marked at the 50 level. Risk was defined at minus 15 points on a micro contract. Everything looked textbook. Then news hit and the market collapsed. I got stopped out for my minus 15 points. Watched that same position keep falling another 400 handles after I exited. If I hadn’t had that stop in place, if I’d tried to “give it room” or convinced myself it would bounce back, the damage would have been catastrophic. Instead, I took my planned small loss and moved on. This is what the Golden Setup does. It defines your risk before you ever enter the trade. You

  Friday Flow — Keep It Tightby Tony Rago Friday already! After a couple of solid days filled with liquidations and dip buys, we’ve basically come full circle — right back where we started the week. Expectations are low for a major breakout or breakdown, but we’ll trade it as it comes. Plan is to keep it slow and clean today — look for a couple of solid moves to cap off the week. We’ve still got some headline risk floating around with the government shutdown, and Fridays tend to deliver a busy news cycle, so stay sharp. 👉 Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Check it out here and finish the week strong. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Friday%2C%20October%2010%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-10102025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

  Bulls March Toward 6833by Tony Rago More highs printed in the extended hours — and those are usually weak highs that get revisited. ES tagged the 6,812 target and backed off, now hovering around 6,800 pre-market. For that level to convert into solid support, price needs to hold above 6,782 — that’s my line in the sand for bulls to regroup and attack new highs. Over 6,812, next upside targets are 6,826 and 6,833. On NQ, bulls have 25,500 in sight as long as they defend 25,250 and 25,188. Maybe we just chop here, maybe not — but make no mistake, bulls have the ball. It’s up to them to keep pressing. As always, I’ll let the opening ranges tell the story. 👉 Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Check it out here and come ready. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Thursday%2C%20October%209%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-10092025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

  Big Levels Back in Playby Tony Rago We saw a sharp rejection from the highs and now we’re right back to the weekly pivot on ES and the big 25,000 roundy on NQ. For now, both are holding as major support — but if they flip to resistance, a bigger pullback opens up fast. On ES we’ve retraced 50% of yesterday’s move back to 6,777, while NQ hasn’t quite completed its retrace at 25,133. Those are the key spots to watch. If they hold as resistance, bears might finally build momentum and press through yesterday’s lows. If not, we could just consolidate here before the next leg higher. 👉 Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Check it out here and come prepared. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Wednesday%2C%20October%208%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TonysPre-Market-Playbook-10082025-1.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

  Patience at the Highsby Tony Rago Target hit — NQ tagged 25,250, while ES is stalling just under 6,800. Overnight action was tight, which sets us up for a possible range-bound day unless the tape finds a reason to break. With the government shutdown unresolved and payroll numbers sitting on Friday’s schedule, the market’s clearly waiting for a catalyst. The plan is patience. Stay objective here — don’t fight this tape. If you can’t bring yourself to buy a long signal, step aside and wait for your pitch. Let the open play out, watch the initial balance, and let the market show you where it wants to go. 👉 Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Check it out here and stay disciplined. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Tuesday%2C%20October%207%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-10072025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

  Bulls Push Higher to Start the Weekby Tony Rago Fresh week, fresh setups. Bulls defended the weekly opens overnight and pushed NQ into a new high. Next stop is the open target at 25,250, as long as 25,106 holds. On ES, bulls need to convert 6,788 into support to set up another high. Over 6,800, the next hurdle sits at 6,812. Pullbacks are still in play if we slip under the weekly opens and pivots, but shorts remain nothing more than probability trades until we see sustained lower highs and lower lows. No econ this morning, so the plan is simple: let the open settle, watch the ranges print, and trade what sets up. 👉 Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Check it out here and start the week strong. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Monday%2C%20October%206%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-10062025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

Hello TheoTrader, 6,300 jumps. That’s how many times I threw myself out of an airplane with a camera strapped to my head, free-falling at 120 miles per hour to capture someone else’s once-in-a-lifetime moment. Some people heard that number and thought I was crazy. But here’s what they didn’t understand: by jump 6,000, it wasn’t about the adrenaline anymore.  It was about the process. The 10-Second Decision Every skydive comes down to about 10 seconds of critical decision-making. Exit altitude. Wind conditions. Formation positioning. Camera angles. And most importantly – when to break off and pull. You can’t hesitate. You can’t second-guess. By the time you realize you’ve made a mistake, you’re already in it. But you also can’t rush. The jump happens whether you’re ready or not, and forcing it never ends well. I learned this doing 10 jumps a day in Chicago – sometimes 50 in a week.

  Bulls in Control, Bears Need a Miracleby Tony Rago Fresh highs overnight and no payroll number on the calendar this morning. For bulls, the play is simple: defend pullbacks at the key levels and keep pressing forward. Without a catalyst, bears would need a miracle here. Yes, we saw some weakness creep in yesterday, but until the tape can take out a prior low with conviction, it’s just noise. Don’t get anticipatory — let trades set up. It’s Friday, and the goal is to finish the week strong. 👉 Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Check it out here and be ready to close out the week. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Friday%2C%20October%203%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TonysPre-Market-10032025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]