Admiral Tiko's Chart of the Day: US Treasury Yield to Maturities (YTMs)

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 Interest Rates are rising again:

Beyond Charts: What a Futures Day Trading Course Teaches About Risk Management

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In the fast-paced world of futures trading, success is often measured not by the number of winning trades but by the trader’s ability to protect capital and manage risk. Many aspiring traders enter the market with a focus on charts, patterns, and technical indicators, hoping to predict the next big move. While technical skills are crucial, the true differentiator lies in understanding and mastering risk management—a principle at the heart of any futures day trading course.

 

Understanding Risk Before Chasing Profits

A common mistake among novice traders is chasing profits without a clear understanding of the risks involved. A professional futures day trading course emphasizes that risk management isn’t an afterthought—it’s the foundation. Traders learn to define the maximum loss they are willing to tolerate per trade, per day, and even per week. This approach ensures that a single poor decision does not erase months of hard-earned gains.

One of the core lessons is position sizing. Traders are taught how to adjust the size of each trade according to market volatility and account size. By scaling positions appropriately, they minimize the potential impact of adverse price movements. This precision allows traders to remain in the market longer and seize opportunities consistently, rather than being side-lined by catastrophic losses.

 

Beyond Stop-Losses: Advanced Risk Strategies

While many traders rely solely on stop-loss orders, a comprehensive futures day trading course goes further. It teaches techniques like hedging, diversification across instruments, and correlating trades to reduce exposure. Traders also learn to evaluate market conditions and liquidity before entering positions, recognizing that timing can be just as important as strategy.

Another essential component is psychological risk management. Markets can be unpredictable, and emotional decisions often lead to mistakes. Experienced instructors in these courses teach traders to stick to their plans, avoid revenge trading, and maintain discipline during volatile periods. Over time, this fosters the emotional resilience necessary for long-term success.

 

Leveraging Knowledge Through Community

Learning doesn’t happen in isolation. Many traders benefit from real-time feedback and shared experiences. Access to best trading chat rooms allows participants to discuss strategies, review market setups, and gain insights from seasoned traders. These communities are not just networking platforms—they are live classrooms where theory meets practice. By observing how others handle risk, traders can refine their own approaches and develop a more adaptive mindset.

Engaging with these communities reinforces the lessons from a futures day trading course. Traders see firsthand how risk management techniques are applied under pressure, how strategies are adjusted in volatile markets, and how discipline separates consistent performers from impulsive ones.

 

From Classroom to Market

A well-structured futures trading course provides actionable strategies, but the true test is applying them in live markets. Traders learn to create trading plans that incorporate risk assessment, profit targets, and exit strategies. They also understand the importance of journaling trades to identify patterns, mistakes, and areas for improvement.

Through practical exercises and simulated trading sessions, students internalize risk principles. They experience losses in a controlled environment, learning to manage setbacks without panic. By the time they transition to live trading, these lessons become ingrained habits rather than theoretical concepts.

 

Conclusion

The journey of a futures trader is often romanticized as a battle against the markets, filled with daring predictions and dramatic wins. However, the reality is far more disciplined. A futures day trading course teaches that mastering risk is not just a technical requirement—it is the art of preserving capital, maintaining discipline, and thinking strategically. Coupled with the insights gained from the best trading chat rooms, traders are equipped with both knowledge and community support to navigate the complexities of modern markets.

In futures trading, understanding risk is the true edge. By integrating education, strategy, and community, traders transform from reactive participants to proactive market professionals. Those who embrace these principles don’t just survive—they thrive.

 

HA ORB was profitable today

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HA Opening Range Breakout (ORB) for NASDAQ-100 Futures

for Friday, September 19, 2025

Trading three NQZ25 contracts: 

Let's do the Math

3 NQ contracts need $3,333 x 3 = $10,000 in margin money

so here in less than an hr it made a tad over15 %

 

Here is the trade list for today:

Here are two ways you can join this wonderful tool:

NO TRADESTATION NEEDED

A) Self-directed Trading is done in our NQ Chatroom.... Click here to go thru PayPal: 

https://www.hamzeianalytics.com/HAPDTS_NQ_details.asp

B) Run it thru Striker Securities in Chicago - totally hands off

https://striker.com/searchsystems.php?detail=on&sysID=3705

Market Commentary for Friday, September 19, 2025, by Peter Cook

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We are waiting on Settlement and Options Expiration.  I don't have much this morning, but we are still seeing the "Sell the News" stuff verify with bonds down, dollar up and Asia weak (which also makes Crypto weak). 

Europe bought the Asia dip, and they seem to be in a good mood.  We'll see if that persists.  Remember their options expire after today.  US options expire this morning and then in the afternoon into the close as most people will sell for profit or loss, not wanting to accept assignment.  

The expiration is "call heavy" which means we will need to see a lot of people roll their options up and out in order to "go up."  We typically have a big hangover next week when that happens. There is still a lot of support at 650 on SPY though, it'll take some hammering away to chip at it and knock it loose.  

#SMH (Semiconductor stocks) went up significantly yesterday.  That's a big red flag for me and a sign of a pretty significant top there.  Please be careful on those stocks and locate your exits, the next few months are going to be very, very rocky over there. 

#INTC (Intel) went up 20+% yesterday.  It's done a 15+% move 4 other times in the last 25 years of history and every single time within a month it's retraced at least -15%.  It isn't bullish to see stocks move like that, it is usually a sign of excessive speculation.  

Levels:

All the best;

  

Peter Cook

#NQ_F Chatroom Chief Moderator

Hamzei Analytics, LLC

 Sign-up link: https://www.hamzeianalytics.com/HAPDTS_NQ_details.asp 

This email went out to Members at 0956 ET on Sept 19th.

GM #ES_F & #NQ_F Traders

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Good Morning to #Stock Index #Futures Traders from Sunny Cape Naples, FL.... Temp is 80F, expected range is 90/74

Our Real-Time Audio/Video Sharing for HA Prop DayTrading #Systems is starting now on both @Zoom + @GoToMeeting Chartrooms

ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO! 

Critical Econ Data points for today are:  NONE

Today is Sept OX (Options Expiration) for Stock Options, Index Options & Index Futures

Fari Hamzei to speak at @NinjaTrader @NTEcosystem at 430pm today

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Subject is 20 of HA Prop Indicators for better trading #FUTURES

Please use the following link to enter the event

Long form link: https://ninjatraderecosystem.com/webinar/ha-expert-level-proprietary-indicators?utm_campaign=org-nte-us&utm_source=partner-link&utm_medium=eco-vendor&utm_content=eco-event&utm_term=ecosystem_hamzeianalytics_september2025

HA ORB lost a tad today

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 HA Opening Range Breakout (ORB) for NASDAQ-100 Futures

(trades both MNQ & NQ)

for Thursday, September 18, 2025 

Here are two ways you can join this wonderful tool:

NO TRADESTATION NEEDED

A) Self-directed Trading is done in our NQ Chatroom.... Click here to go thru PayPal: 

https://www.hamzeianalytics.com/HAPDTS_NQ_details.asp

B) Run it thru Striker Securities in Chicago - totally hands off

https://striker.com/searchsystems.php?detail=on&sysID=3705

Market Commentary for Thursday, September 18, 2025, by Peter Cook

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We are gapping up on news this morning.  #NVDA is "investing" in #INTC (that now makes the Federal Government and the largest corporation on the planet trying to save #INTC).  What a stupid use of money, but I guess #NVDA is thinking they can try to brand their tech with an #INTC name and try to get around the ban in China or the export controls in the US.   We'll see if that works or not. 

Chips are up on that, but we are well off the overnight highs due to some morning selling.  

We saw the Call Wall move DOWN on SPY yesterday, that tells me we had a lot of people betting that we'd be ripping upward on FOMC day.  Instead, we did nothing and burned all that premium.  If we see market makers try to take this back under 660 to kill the Calls, it will really sting.  

I looked at the moves in the last 2 hours of the session yesterday and it looked like mostly "Sell the News" stuff. Builders down, bonds down, oil and gas operators down. The candle yesterday on IWM is exceptionally bearish out a week or so.  

I'll be looking to see in the next few days if we continue to verify that first knee-jerk reaction Post-FOMC or not.  Tomorrow is the key, as we get a reset of the Call Heavy options markets.  Then comes the move at the end of the month with the JP Morgan Collar. 

Levels:

All the best;

Peter Cook

#NQ_F Chatroom Chief Moderator

Hamzei Analytics, LLC

Sign-up link: https://www.hamzeianalytics.com/HAPDTS_NQ_details.asp 

This email went out to Members at 0935 ET on Sept 18th.

Upside Surprise

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GM #ES_F & #NQ_F Traders

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Good Morning to #Stock Index #Futures Traders from [partly] Sunny Cape Naples, FL.... Temp is 74F, expected range is 86/72

Our Real-Time Audio/Video Sharing for HA Prop DayTrading #Systems is starting now on both @Zoom + @GoToMeeting Chartrooms

ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO! 

Critical Econ Data points for today are:

And, tomorrow is September Expiration for Stocks, Options & Futures.  I will only trade in the morning.  Hate OX afternoons.

How are the Big-Cap High-Beta names are fairing post FOMC Rate Cut

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Let's look at top five favorites traded by active traders, sorted by beta

they all look the pretty much the same --  a tad sick (with exception of #TSLA)

keep an eye on negative sigma levels for a potential buy points

use call spreads with long duration

FED Action

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Fed Cuts Rates by Quarter Point and Signals More Are Likely - WSJ

Market Commentary for Wednesday, September 17, 2025, by Peter Cook

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We are treading water ahead of the big FOMC announcement (Rate Cuts). 

I don't have a big read on it today, but TradeStation is suspending margins after 1 PM, which usually means some fireworks are coming.

China is banning #NVDA chips.  That has our fearless leaders a little irritated this morning, but the market doesn't really care so far.  Mostly because the US already bans #NVDA from selling anything good to China, so they end up using #AMD instead.  

I don't trade FOMC, I usually skip it.  I think the bigger event will be the huge, Call Heavy expiration that comes Friday morning with effects that will be felt next week.  If we don't see the animal spirits continue by rolling calls up and out, then this market will sink under its own bloated weight. 

Levels:

All the best;

Peter Cook

#NQ_F Chatroom Chief Moderator

Hamzei Analytics, LLC

 

Sign-up link: https://www.hamzeianalytics.com/HAPDTS_NQ_details.asp 

This email went out to Members at 0900 ET on Sept 17th.

Another MISS

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HA ORB performed well today

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 HA Opening Range Breakout (ORB) for NASDAQ-100 Futures

(trades both MNQ & NQ)

for Tuesday, September 16, 2025 

Using 3 NQZ25 contracts: 

let's do the Math

3 NQ contracts need $3,333 x 3 = $10,000 in margin money

so here in less than 2 hrs it made a tad over 22 %

List of Trades for Today:

Here are two ways you can join this wonderful tool:

NO TRADESTATION NEEDED

A) Self-directed Trading is done in our NQ Chatroom.... Click here to go thru PayPal: 

https://www.hamzeianalytics.com/HAPDTS_NQ_details.asp

B) Run it thru Striker Securities in Chicago - totally hands off

https://striker.com/searchsystems.php?detail=on&sysID=3705

Industrial Production was revised down BIGly

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Market Commentary for Tuesday, September 16, 2025, by Peter Cook

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We had a gap up this morning from the bid overnight in Asia, but it's wilting so far near the open. 

Indexes seeing lots of put buying, especially out into next week.  Puts normally cost about 8% less than calls, but we see they are about 25% more expensive here.  That means lots of demand. 

At the same time, I'm seeing a ton of flow shorting Vix and it is setup to spike (I bought some Vix calls yesterday right on the open).  

I don't know if I've seen the market this "split" in a long time - maybe February of 2017 when Trump was out there and cut the Taxes.  We started running hard, and people really shorted the heck out of the thing after the election.  They got run over at that time.  It doesn't mean the same thing will happen here though. 

This is one weird market.  The tech stuff is squeezing early shorts for sure (#GOOG is really bad) but it's starting to morph into a bid where the Call Flow is returning and that should put a serious brake on this.  So, the squeezes are almost done. 

Many stocks are putting in large range days and reversing (e.g. #TSLA yesterday).  But #TSLA still needs to break the Anchored VWAP from 9/12 to get more bearish.  I'll be looking for that soon.  

The last thing I see here, sitting there having done NOTHING for months is #DJT.  It has to squeeze at some point; it usually does when it gets like this. I have some YOLO calls on that one. 

I'll look for support at the 0DTE Implied lows today and see if we can get some longs.  It's been very, very slim pickings for me trading over the last week.  Not many setups due to the low volatility. 

Levels:

All the best;

 

Peter Cook

#NQ_F Chatroom Chief Moderator

Hamzei Analytics, LLC

Sign-up link: https://www.hamzeianalytics.com/HAPDTS_NQ_details.asp 

This email went out to Members at 0935 ET on Sept 16th.

Bi-Monthly #Stock #Market #Timing for #SPX #NDX #SPY #QQQ #ES_F #NQ_F

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starts at 415 pm Eastern this afternoon

open to all

to join click just click here:

 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4701986054327500120

GM #ES_F & #NQ_F Traders

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Good Morning to #Stock Index #Futures Traders from Sunny Cape Naples, FL.... Temp is 75F, expected range is 90/75

Our Real-Time Audio/Video Sharing for HA Prop DayTrading #Systems is starting now on both @Zoom + @GoToMeeting Chartrooms

ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO! 

FED meets today & tomorrow for its Sept FOMC Session 

Critical Econ Data points for today are:

HA ORB Plus Results of automated #NQ_F Trading for Today

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 HA Opening Range Breakout (ORB) Plus for NASDAQ-100 Futures

(trades both MNQ & NQ)

for Monday, September 15, 2025

Using 3 NQZ25 contracts: 

let's do the Math

3 NQ contracts need $3,333 x 3 = $10,000 in margin money

so here in less than 2 hrs it made a tad over 17 %

Here is the equity curve for NQZ25 in last 60 trading days:

Here are two ways you can join this wonderful tool:

NO TRADESTATION NEEDED

A) Self-directed Trading is done in our NQ Chatroom.... Click here to go thru PayPal: 
https://www.hamzeianalytics.com/HAPDTS_NQ_details.asp


B) Run it thru Striker Securities in Chicago - totally hands off

https://striker.com/searchsystems.php?detail=on&sysID=3705

Market Commentary for Monday, September 15, 2025, by Peter Cook

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We got Elon Musk buying a bunch of #TSLA stock today.  We are scraping the bottom of the barrel to find more folks to get involved with the market here and I guess that moves the needle these days. 

That actually has some stocks like #GOOG moving too.  #GOOG has quite a few people trying to buy puts on it, and they are getting squeezed.  It's putting in a Major Weekly Top though and in the next few months it's going to be rough over there.  I have a hard time believing the indexes are going to escape that aftermath unscathed. 

Vix is up this morning - not surprising.  I'm buying some October 22nd,  20-25 Delta Calls on Vix here.  I rarely ever do that; it has to be a pretty compelling setup.  This is definitely one of those setups.  I'm also watching the bonds for another "Sell the News" move similar to the last time the Fed started cutting rates (long rates went up 1% when Fed cut almost 1%). 

We are opening around the 660 Call Wall on SPY - typically that results in selling.  My metrics say it's still a nice day to trade some longs if we can get this thing to actually sell though.  It has been difficult to get any setups lately due to the low volatility - today kind of looks like it'll be the same. 

Levels:

All the best;

  

Peter Cook

#NQ_F Chatroom Chief Moderator

Hamzei Analytics, LLC

 

Sign-up link: https://www.hamzeianalytics.com/HAPDTS_NQ_details.asp 

This email went out to Members at 0956 ET on Sept 15th.

#SPX Price to Sales Ratio

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Updated Video for HAPI CI DOT is posted here:

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see & read more about all of our Ninja Trader Indicators here:  

https://www.hamzeianalytics.com/Prop_Indicators_Videos.asp