Expiration Day Fireworksby Tony Rago It’s a big expiration day — which means at some point we should see a move, and it could get violent in either direction. Bulls are still holding the line, so new highs are on the table to close out the week. But if 6662 on ES or 24,500 on NQ give way, that opens the door for a deeper slide. Bottom line: don’t let the slow price action fool you into complacency. Stay sharp, stick to your rules, and be ready when the tape decides to move. Let’s finish the week strong. Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Check it out here and get set. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Friday%2C%20September%2019%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-09192025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

  Rate Cut Rally, Bulls in Controlby Tony Rago Overnight we got new highs on the heels of the rate cut, and now all eyes are on 6700 for clues. As long as ES holds above 6677 and NQ stays over 24,500/24,612, I have to treat this as a dip-buy market. Break those levels, and we could be looking at a deeper pullback and even a retest of the FOMC lows. Plan is simple: let it open, lean with the bulls until the key levels fail, and let the opening ranges set the tone. Stay sharp, trade what’s in front of you, and let’s crush it today. Full breakdown is in today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Read it here and join me live in the TheoTrade main chat room at 10am Eastern. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Thursday%2C%20September%2018%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-09182025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

  FED DAY: Protect Your Capitalby Tony Rago If this is your first Fed day trading futures, hear me out — these tapes get wild. Expect volatility around the announcement and the press conference. That’s where traders get chopped up if they’re oversized. Today’s not about swinging for a windfall. It’s about capital preservation. Trade small, avoid the super high ATR, and if you’re going to participate, stick to micros. Be smart and protect the account — plenty of opportunities come after the dust settles. 👉 Full breakdown is in today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Read it here and trade safe. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Wednesday%2C%20September%2017%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-09172025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

  Range or Ramp? Bulls Control the Tapeby Tony Rago More highs overnight with bulls firmly in control heading into tomorrow’s FOMC. Expectations are low for fireworks today, but we’ve got to be ready for anything. ES is sitting too close to 6700 not to go test it. For bulls, the line in the sand is 6662 — defend that level, scoop the dips, and the door’s open. NQ will follow, with 24,750 as the next target. Keep it simple — could be another quiet, range-bound tape built for scalps. Avoid the chop, let the open set the tone, and trade the levels that matter. Full breakdown is in today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Read it here and be ready to roll. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Tuesday%2C%20September%2016%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-09162025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

  Whacky Tape Meets FOMC Weekby Tony Rago Starting today we’re trading the Z25 contract. The next couple of days are the heaviest part of the roll, and that always brings the potential for some whacky price action. Don’t force it — today and tomorrow are about playing it easy and letting the tape shake out. Big volatility is coming later this week with FOMC, so no need to overdo it ahead of that. Let the open settle, see where we are by the top of the hour, and then trade clean setups only. 👉 Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Read it here and start the week with a win. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Monday%2C%20September%2015%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-09152025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

My name is at the top of the Spark leaderboard this week in our 9-hole league. 770 points. 18 rounds. First place by 5 points. I’ll be honest – it feels good. But not for the reasons you might think. The Adventure Mindset I’ve always been drawn to new challenges. I was a skydiver videographer for years, living out of a camper van for a time. Later, I got into competitive bicycle racing. When I decided to learn futures trading, I went to the CME to learn how to trade futures from traders on the floor. Each time, I was starting over. Each time, I was the rookie. My buddy and I also won the Spark Summer league recently – a 2-man team tournament with over 50 teams competing. The Golf Revelation Golf is teaching me something different. You can’t muscle a golf ball into submission. You can’t intimidate it

  6600 Tagged — Can Bulls Hold It?by Tony Rago Yesterday ES printed 6600, but NQ still couldn’t punch through to new all-time highs. That’s the tell — if NQ can’t get it done, it opens the door for bears to finally step back in, especially if 6600 sticks as the high. They’ve been out of the conversation for a long time, but this could be their shot. Same plan as always: let price open, watch where the ranges land, and take it from there. No forcing trades — just execution when the tape gives us the setup. Let’s finish the week strong. Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Check it out here and get set. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Friday%2C%20September%2012%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-09122025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

  CPI Keeps Us in Rangeby Tony Rago Another big data drop, another muted reaction. CPI didn’t change the tape — we’re still stuck in the same range. The plan stays simple: let price open, watch where the opening ranges land, and trade what’s in front of us. Bulls need to defend 6526 and 23,812 to keep momentum alive. Bears get the ball if they can push us under those levels. Let’s see how the open sets up and take it from there. I’ve laid out the full game plan in today’s Pre-Market Playbook. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Thursday%2C%20September%2011%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-09112025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

  PPI Pushes Bulls to the Edgeby Tony Rago PPI sent ES ripping to new highs, and NQ is right on the doorstep — now it’s on the bulls to finish the job and take it out. The cash session will tell us if there’s real follow-through. I’ll be letting the open establish its ranges and then taking the read from there. If bulls want it, nothing’s really in their way — but so far, aggressive buyers haven’t shown up at these levels. We’ll see if they step in today. Full breakdown is in today’s Pre-Market Playbook. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Wednesday%2C%20September%2010%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-09102025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]

  Range-Bound and Waiting on CPIby Tony Rago Overnight was dead quiet — still sitting inside Friday’s big hourly reversal bar. Nothing’s changed: the plan is to trade the range until we break out of it, either through the highs or the lows. The tape feels like it’s stalling ahead of CPI, so we may just get some two-way price action today. As always, let the opening ranges set the tone and trade what’s in front of you. Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. [file_download style=”2″][op_file_download_item title=”Tuesday%2C%20September%209%2C%202025%20-%20Tony’s%20Pre-Market%20Playbook” icon=”style1-Pdf-64×64.png” file=”https://theotrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TonysPre-MarketPlaybook-09092025.pdf” package=”” level=”” new_window=”Y”][/op_file_download_item][/file_download]