Friday, January 16, 2026 – Tony’s Pre-Market Playbook

Expiration Energy — Stay Patient
by Tony Rago

Big options expiration on deck today, which means volatility has every reason to show up. We’ve spent the week rotating around the weekly pivots, and that dance could continue right into the open with another test. Those levels matter because they often act as decision points — above them, the tape tends to lean bullish; below them, sellers usually have the edge. Rather than front-run it, I want to see price actually engage those pivots and then react. Let the market tip its hand before committing.

NQ opens have been a little wild lately, and I’ll be the first to admit I pushed it yesterday. Today, patience is the trade. I’m looking for clearer confirmation and may even let the first 30 minutes pass on NQ to avoid getting chopped up by early noise. This is a good reminder to trade what you see, not what you want to happen — especially on expiration days when moves can exaggerate quickly. Stay focused, stay disciplined, and let’s finish the week strong 💪

👉 Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook.


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