Monday, April 20, 2026 – Tony’s Pre-Market Playbook

Headline Risk Is Driving the Open
by Tony Rago

We’re opening the week with a gap down tied to Hormuz Strait headlines, and that’s putting risk back on the table right out of the gate. Crude catching a strong bid back to 87.02 is a clear reminder that macro news can hit this tape fast and spill into index movement just as quickly. When that kind of headline risk is in play, it tends to distort the open, so traders need to respect the noise and let price start showing its hand before forcing anything.

The plan is simple: let the open develop and keep a close eye on the prior day low as a potential trigger for continuation lower. If that level breaks cleanly, it could open the door for more downside pressure intraday. But this is not the kind of environment to get reckless in — patience matters more than prediction here. Stay on your toes, stay selective, and let the market confirm the trade before stepping in. We’ll see how it wants to shape up, and then we go get it. 💪

👉 Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Check it out here and trade it smart.

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