Playbook 01 · Slide 02 of 10 · Pre-Session · Read the Environment

Market Condition Filters

Read the environment before placing a single trade. Trend day and range day require completely different strategies.

Must Check

Daily

Before first trade

Trend Signal

VIX > 18

+ gap holds

Range Signal

VIX < 14

+ flat open

No-Trade

FOMC/CPI/NFP

±30 min

✓ Trend Day Signals

Gap open > 10 pts — holds direction in first 15 min

Price stays one side of VWAP for > 30 min

VIX > 18 with clear directional momentum

High-impact news catalyst confirms direction (FOMC, CPI, NFP)

Globex range > 30 pts overnight

Strategy: Buy every pullback. Never fade. Exit at measured move or EOD.

↔ Range Day Signals

Flat open — price within 5 pts of prior close

Price oscillates back and forth through VWAP repeatedly

VIX < 14 — low volatility, compressed ranges

No major catalysts on the economic calendar

Globex range < 15 pts — quiet overnight session

Strategy: Fade extremes — buy bottom third, sell top third of range. Scale out at midpoint.

⚠ No-Trade Zones: 30 min before/after FOMC, CPI, NFP releases · Opening range > 40 pts (wait for structure) · VIX spikes above 35 (reduce size 50% or sit out) · Already hit daily loss limit