Leadership Check at the Open
by Tony Rago
NQ is still boxed inside Friday’s range while ES is pressing its nose higher, trying to break out above recent highs. For NQ, bulls need to reclaim and hold above 25,633 to open the door toward 25,750 and 25,812 — those are the upside markers that signal real commitment, not just rotation. On the ES side, it’s about defense as much as offense. Bulls need to hold the line and protect pullbacks into the weekly pivot at 6,917, an area that often acts as a decision point for trend continuation versus chop.
What I’m watching closely is leadership — and the opening range should give us the first real clues on whether today wants to trend or grind. With economic data hitting at :45, the first 30 minutes matter even more as positioning settles before that catalyst. Bulls are holding so far, but this is the part of the tape where they need to fully commit if higher is the path. Stay flexible, stay sharp, and be ready to adapt — anything’s on the table today. Let’s get after it 💪
👉 Full breakdown is inside today’s Pre-Market Playbook. Check it out here and trade it smart.
