Template

Pre-Market Checklist

5 minutes that separate planned trading from gambling.

Every professional trader has a pre-market routine. This isn't about complexity. It's about showing up with a plan. When you know your levels, your bias, and your rules BEFORE the market opens, you trade with intention instead of reaction.

Why Pre-Market Prep Matters

Without Prep

Reactive to every move
FOMO on missed entries
No clear invalidation
Emotional decision-making
Overtrading common

With Prep

Know what you're looking for
Patient for your setups
Clear stop levels defined
Execute the plan, not feelings
Selective, high-quality trades

The 5-Minute Pre-Market Checklist

1 min

Market Context

What happened overnight? Where are we relative to yesterday?

☐ Gap up / Gap down / Flat open?

☐ Above / Below yesterday's close?

☐ Any major overnight news?

1 min

Key Levels

Mark the levels that matter. Price will react here.

Resistance 1

_________

Resistance 2

_________

Support 1

_________

Support 2

_________

Yesterday's High

_________

Yesterday's Low

_________

1 min

Bias & Scenarios

What's your lean? What would change it?

☐ Long ☐ Short ☐ Neutral

If price holds above _________, I look for longs

If price breaks below _________, I look for shorts

I'll avoid trading if _____________________

1 min

Risk Parameters

Define your limits before emotions take over.

Max risk per trade: $_________

Daily loss limit: $_________

Max trades today: _________

1 min

Today's Focus

One thing to work on. One thing to avoid.

Today I will focus on:

_______________________________

Today I will NOT:

_______________________________

Example: Filled Out Checklist

Market Context

Gap up 15 points, above yesterday's close. No major news. Globex ranged overnight after initial gap.

Key Levels

R1: 5920 (overnight high) | R2: 5950 (weekly high)
S1: 5880 (yesterday's close) | S2: 5850 (yesterday's low)

Bias

Long above 5880. If we fill gap and hold 5880, look for continuation. If we break 5850, flip short bias.

Risk

$100/trade max. $250 daily limit. Max 4 trades.

Focus

✓ Wait for pullback entry, don't chase. ✗ No trading first 5 minutes.

Making It Work

Write It Down. Physical writing creates commitment. Keep a notebook next to your trading station.
Same Time Daily. Build the habit. I do mine at 9:15 AM, 15 minutes before open.
Don't Overcomplicate. If it takes more than 5 minutes, you're doing too much. Simple works.
Review at End of Day. Compare your plan to what happened. Did you follow it? What would you change?

Bonus: High-Impact Events to Watch

Check the economic calendar before market open. These move markets:

HIGH FOMC Announcements, Fed Speeches

HIGH Jobs Report (NFP), Unemployment

HIGH CPI, PPI (Inflation Data)

MED GDP, Retail Sales, ISM

MED Major Earnings (AAPL, NVDA, etc.)

Consider reducing size or sitting out during high-impact events if you're not experienced trading them.

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