YM Futures Trade Review: Stop Run Into Daily Highs

The Setup: Stop Run at Daily Highs

Going into this session, my pre-market prep identified a clear line in the sand: the daily and overnight highs on YM. I had two scenarios mapped out:

• Bullish scenario: Price breaks out and fills the magnet above (single prints on TPO)
• Bearish scenario: Price runs the highs and fails, setting up a short back into value

Using a TPO composite (multiple days layered together), I could see where value sat. Above the white lines was "too expensive" territory. Below was where price would likely attract buyers. This context framed everything.

The Entry: Orderflow Confirmation

When price ran the daily highs, I switched to my PnF chart with volume imprint for orderflow-based execution. Here's what I saw:

• The stop run move showed +136 delta on YM (buyers aggressively lifting)
• Absorption kicked in at the level. Aggressive sellers started outweighing buyers across rotations
• Then came the exhaustion signal: buyers made one final push with +31 delta, but the next rotation printed +33 delta to the downside
• The bar that opened after this confirmed sellers had control. I entered short with 5 contracts.

Stop went behind the daily high. My targets were the naked point of control, previous close, and overnight singles, three magnets below.

Trade Management: Why I Didn't Add

The trade moved in my favor immediately, which is usually a good sign. I have a rule: if a trade is working from the start, I'm allowed to add to push winners. But I didn't add here, and the review process helped me confirm I followed my rules correctly.

Two reasons I stayed with my original 5 contracts:

• Unfinished auction above: These act as micro magnets. Adding would mean moving my stop down, and that stop would likely get taken out if price revisited the unfinished auction.
• ETH VWAP proximity: The most likely rotation-back point was right where I'd be adding. Adding into VWAP resistance is asking for trouble.

The trade hit target anyway. But these decisions only become clear when you review. In real-time, the temptation to add is strong. The review proves the discipline was right.

Why Daily Trade Reviews Matter

This is the practice field for traders. A professional football player doesn't just show up for match day. The majority of their time is spent training, reviewing film, and refining their game. Trading is no different.

Here's what my review process does for me:

• Pattern recognition: I see the setup in real-time, then again in review. Seeing it twice in one day compounds recognition faster than anything.
• Strategy improvement: Each review shows what worked, what didn't, and what can be refined.
• Rule validation: Did I follow my rules? If yes, confidence grows. If not, I know exactly where I broke them.
• Execution improvement: Was my entry timing clean? Could I have gotten a better fill? These details matter.

If you have no review process, you're not improving. The market is the best teacher, but only if you're paying attention after the session too.

Key Takeaways