Market Outlook: Trade the Plan, Respect the Range

The market is not broken. It just wants traders to be disciplined.

People who trade too much often lose. People who wait, stay calm, and follow their plan usually do better.

On Friday, December 19, prices are moving in small ranges. This means trade less, wait more, and only trade when prices clearly move.

📊 Market Cap:

QQQ / NQ:

• QQQ supply at 613–615 remains firm, with sellers defending the zone

• A push back toward Wednesday’s high could act as a liquidity trap

SPY / ES:

• Price remains stuck inside yesterday’s range

• Low probability environment for quality trades

• Only below SPY 675–674 do quick downside trades become viable and only on a clean breakdown

• Options expiration combined with tight ranges favors weak, choppy moves

Overall: The market is moving sideways inside clear ranges, so it’s best to be patient and only take trades that look very clear.

📰 News That Moved the Market:

Prices stayed stuck because sellers kept stopping price near key moving averages. With no big news and options expiration coming, the market stayed choppy. Quick trades worked better than long trades.

🗓️ What’s Coming Tomorrow:

There is no major U.S. economic news expected to move the market on December 21.

💡 One Thing to Know

When price is below the daily 20 and 50 averages, long trades should be quick, not long-term.

Trying to force big moves right now is how traders lose profits.

📌 Simple Seasonal Tip:

Late December rewards patience. Trade less. Risk less. Some days, not trading is the best trade.

🚀 Tools We Use:

• TradingView: We use this tool to look at charts, trends, and price patterns in real-time.