Smashelito - Contextual Analysis using Market Generated Information & Order Flow

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you trade?

I primarily trade E-mini S&P 500 Futures (ES), but I also have experience trading a variety of other financial products.

Where can I find your daily trading plans and analysis?

You can access my daily trading plans for E-mini S&P 500 Futures (ES) on X (Twitter) Smashelito and Substack Smashelito's ES/SPX Newsletter. The plans are published prior to the start of the overnight session to make navigation easier for overnight traders and the best part: it’s completely free.

What is the purpose of having a daily trading plan?

My daily trading plans include my personal interpretation of the current market structure and key levels that I will be paying attention to in the upcoming session. It's important to note that these levels are based on past market activity and are not meant to predict the future.

The primary purpose of having a daily trading plan is to be prepared for the upcoming session. I spend a significant amount of time analyzing the market structure before the start of the trading day, so that I can focus on real-time activity during the session, such as order flow, pace, and volatility. I outline different scenarios because it is impossible to predict exactly what will happen in the market. By being aware of various potential outcomes and having a thorough understanding of market context, you can gain a sustainable edge in the market.

Each of my plans also includes a summary of the previous session, highlighting any important nuances or patterns that may be relevant to carry forward.

I always recommend that traders have a pre-market routine to stay prepared and maintain discipline and consistency. By approaching the market professionally and separating yourself from the majority of traders, you significantly increase your chances of success.

Do you have any plans to offer daily plans for other products?

There has been a consistent request for daily plans for E-mini Nasdaq-100 (NQ). With that in mind, the plan is to provide daily NQ plans in a more concise format through the upcoming private Substack Smashlevels.

What trading software do you use?

I use the Sierra Chart trading platform with Denali data feed, which is one of the most powerful tools for trading analysis available. For any questions you may have about Sierra Chart, I recommend consulting the technical support resources provided by the company. Their documentation is comprehensive and generally covers most questions you may have.

Are your chartsbooks available for purchase?

Yes, in response to high demand from traders, I have decided to make the chartbooks I use in Sierra Chart available for purchase. For further details, including the cost, please send an email to: smashelito@gmail.com.

What tools and indicators do you use?

I use Market and Volume Profile to analyze market structure, along with Depth of Market (DOM), Time and Sales (Tape), and my customized Footprint charts to analyze order flow and execute trades. The only indicator I use on my charts is the Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP).

Can you explain what those letters stand for in your charts?

The TPO or Market Profile Chart is a visual representation of market activity over a specific period of time, typically 30 minutes per letter. This type of chart does not include volume data, but it does feature a time element, making it a useful tool for analyzing market structure. TPO stands for Time Price Opportunity.

Can you explain the concept of Smashlevels?

This is my personal short-term pivot for the upcoming session, which is based on various contextual factors. It is important to note that this is not an automatic buy/sell level, but rather a reference point. Levels alone are not meaningful unless they are confirmed by order flow. Holding above Smashlevel increases the odds of reaching upper targets, while holding below increases the odds of reaching the lower targets.

Can you explain the yellow levels in the plans?

The yellow levels highlighted at the bottom of my daily plans are the primary levels that I focus on intraday. My strategy for preventing impulsive decisions at unfavorable locations involves following a simple yet effective rule of exercising caution when initiating trades outside of the yellow levels. This implies that I am cautious chasing longs above the final yellow upside target and shorts below the final yellow downside target. It is crucial to understand that refraining from chasing a trade is not an automatic invitation to initiate a trade in the opposite direction.

Do you participate in any Discord or Telegram groups?

I only share my insights on X (Twitter) Smashelito and Substack Smashelito's ES/SPX Newsletter. Please be aware that there may be scammers posting suspicious links in the comment section claiming to be me and directing you to various groups. These links are not from me and should be ignored.

Do you provide any individual training and mentorship opportunities?

At this time, I am not offering individual mentorship. If you are a subscriber to my Substack Smashelito's ES/SPX Newsletter, you have been added to the mailing list and will be given priority consideration for coaching opportunities if and when they become available in the future.

How can I support you and your analysis work?

I appreciate you asking. One way you can support my work is by engaging with it - sharing and liking the content that you find valuable. This helps me reach a wider audience of traders like yourself. I really appreciate the engagement from those who regularly interact with my work. Knowing that my efforts are providing value to you keeps me motivated to continue with this project.

Contact Smashelito

For all inquiries, please send an email to smashelito@gmail.com

Visualization of order flow through a Footprint chart

Smashelito

Contextual Analysis using
Market Generated Information
& Order flow

SubstackES/SPX Trading Plans

Private SubstackSmashlevels

X/twitter@Smashelito

Chartbooks

Abbreviations

A/D: Advance/Decline
AMT: Auction Market Theory
APBL: Afternoon Pullback Low
ARH: Afternoon Rally high
ATH: All Time High
CHVN: Composite HVN
CLVN: Composite LVN
d1: Daily Time Frame
DOM: Depth of Market
DTPOC: Developing TPOC
DVPOC: Developing VPOC
EOD/M/Y: End of Day/Month/Year
FS: Full Session
HOD: High of the Day
HVN: High Volume Node
HTF: Higher Time Frame
IB: Initial Balance
IBH: Initial Balance High
IBL: Initial Balance Low
IBR: Initial Balance Range
LIS: Line in the Sand
LOD: Low of the Day
LVN: Low Volume Node
M1: Monthly Time Frame
MA: Moving average
MAE: Maximum Adverse Excursion
MFE: Maximum Favorable Excursion
MGI: Market Generated Information
NVPOC: Naked Volume Point of Control
OF: Order flow
ON/ETH: Electronic Trading Hours
ONH: Overnight High
ONL: Overnight Low
OTF: Other Time Frame
OTFU: One Time Framing Up
OTFD: One Time Framing Down
PA: Price action
RTH: Regular Trading Hours
SMASHLEVEL: Smashelito Pivot
SME: Smashmodel Extremes
SOC: Scene of Crime
TAPE: Time and Sales
TPO: Time Price Opportunity
TPOC: Time Point of Control
VA: Value Area
VAH: Value Area High
VAL: Value Area Low
VP: Volume Profile
VPOC: Volume Point of Control
VWAP: Volume Weighted Average Price
W1: Weekly Time Frame