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Hello, my friends!
📈 After last week’s shakeout, the Top Tech cohort is rebounding and risk appetite has swung back into Greed across broader markets.
🟢 Trend structures are re-asserting, but extension risk is rising.
Sentiment sets the playbook. It doesn’t predict turns on a clock - but it frames risk, execution style, and profit-taking discipline.
Practical thresholds & actions
Reading | Tape Character | Short-Term Action | Long-Term Action |
|---|---|---|---|
0–25 (Extreme Fear) | Gaps, jumpy, flushes | Go smaller; fade exhaustion at key levels; take quicker profits | DCA/add per plan; harvest tax losses; avoid panic selling |
45–55 (Neutral) | Two-sided, choppy | Be selective; wait for confirmation (breadth/VWAP) | Maintain target weights |
75–100 (Extreme Greed) | Trendy with extension risk | Trade with trend early; tighten trails into blow-off moves | Trim/rebalance gradually; avoid new oversized risk |
Fed Chair Jerome Powell
While Greed starts to increase, these fresh impulses have been shaping U.S. and European flows:
BoE’s Mann: Signals readiness for forceful policy action - including faster/larger rate cuts if domestic demand weakens.
Scope Ratings on France: Says a government collapse is the most likely outcome - credit negative if realized.
Fed Gov. Cook (legal): Counsel indicates intent to challenge termination via lawsuit.
Now let’s dive into the live options data tool I rely on to read sentiment - bullish or bearish - and align risk on intraday Nasdaq decisions.
The Gamma Compass: BlackBoxStocks
SPY vs NQ
Here’s how I incorporated Blackbox Stocks’ Live Gamma Levels in today’s live session - applied directly from the SPY chart.
Updated in real time, these levels give me a clear blueprint for how to analyze risk, and where to avoid chop during my intraday execution.
Platform highlights
10 years in market (since September 2015)
Launched the BlackBoxAcademy
Real-time stocks, options, and dark-pool data
Active BBS community led by team traders
I’m partnering with Blackbox Stocks to bring you proprietary features I use in my day-to-day analysis.
In the coming updates, I’ll show how these live levels can sharpen decision-making - so you’re not flying blind on candlesticks alone.
Qualified Account Update
This update covers one qualified account with Alpha Futures. The objective has been steady consistency - sizing derived from the daily average range (ATR) converted to dollars, with a fixed dollar risk per trade.
I take the same entry pattern every day; it often sets up 30 - 60 minutes after the NY open, but I’m comfortable waiting several hours if conditions aren’t aligned.
Here are some steps to protect your edge by avoiding the Overtrading Tax:
1) Expectancy Math
Baseline edge: +0.20R/trade before costs
10 high-quality trades → 10×(0.20−0.05)=∗∗+1.5R∗∗10 × (0.20 − 0.05) = +1.5R10×(0.20−0.05)=∗∗+1.5R∗∗
30 mixed-quality trades (edge slips to +0.12R) → 30×(0.12−0.05)=∗∗+2.1R∗∗30 × (0.12 − 0.05) = +2.1R30×(0.12−0.05)=∗∗+2.1R∗∗ - but variance, drawdown, and rule-violation risk jump.
More trades only help if quality and execution scale - they rarely do intraday.
2) “One-and-Done” / “Two-and-Through”
Quota: Max 1–2 trades/day
Quit if:
You’re green early → stop for the day
You hit −0.5× daily loss limit → stop (protect account)
You log two B-/C-grade signals in a row → stop (selection decay detected)
3) A/B/C setup governance
A+: All criteria met (time-of-day, structure, confluence, volatility)
B+: One minor criterion missing → halve size
C: No trade - log as “watch only”
You cannot promote a B to A in real time; ratings are set before entry.
4) Prop-firm survival rails
Soft brake: Pause at −50% of daily loss limit
Hard stop: Flatten at −80% (never “max out”)
Cooldown: 20-minute no-trade timer after any loss > 0.4R or any emotional spike
Process, not pace. The goal remains consistent execution - fixed risk and one repeatable entry!
BlackboxStocks
Live Gamma Levels and premium options data - built for disciplined growth. [Access the breakout sale]
Alpha Futures
Low-cost entry, industry-leading payout cap. Test your skills and scale responsibly. Use code TDI
E8 Futures
No activation fee and 1-day pass available. Use code TDI
Disclosure: Partner offers. Trading futures involves risk; only trade with capital you can afford to lose. This is not financial advice.
Former Zillow exec targets $1.3T market
The wealthiest companies tend to target the biggest markets. For example, NVIDIA skyrocketed nearly 200% higher in the last year with the $214B AI market’s tailwind.
That’s why investors are so excited about Pacaso.
Created by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso brings co-ownership to a $1.3 trillion real estate market. And by handing keys to 2,000+ happy homeowners, they’ve made $110M+ in gross profit to date. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.
No wonder the same VCs behind Uber, Venmo, and eBay also invested in Pacaso. And for just $2.90/share, you can join them as an early-stage Pacaso investor today.
Paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals.
I’d love to hear about your entrepreneurial journey - just hit “reply” to this email to share your story!
And let’s keep the conversation going on X.
Until next time,
Steve B
Founder, The Daily Impulse
Important Disclaimer:
This newsletter is for educational purposes only and does not offer financial or investment advice. It should not be taken as a recommendation to trade assets or make any financial decisions. I am not a registered investment advisor, broker, or licensed financial professional. Please be cautious and ensure you conduct thorough research or consult with a financial professional before making any investment choices. Trading and investing involve significant risks, including the potential for substantial financial loss.
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