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Our View

Follow the Money
As we go into the end of November, there is one word that comes to mind: rotation, rotation, rotation. If the rotation is selling the NQ, they are buying the ES or Dow, or, in yesterday’s trade, the RTY, which closed up 2.20%. The other massive rotation is into the pharmaceuticals. Eli Lilly and Co. traded up to six ones, $1,111.11, after hitting its 52-week low of $623.78 on August 8 following weak orforglipron data. Days later, CEO David Ricks bought $1.05M of stock (his first open-market purchase since 2019), joined by other insiders totaling over $3.5M in mid-August buys. The stock has since surged 77% to its all-time high yesterday.

Johnson & Johnson hit its 52-week low of $140.68 on January 10 of this year, the lowest level since late 2020. Since then, the stock has climbed more than 47%, hitting a new all-time intraday high of $207.72 yesterday. Merck & Co. (MRK) reached its 52-week low of $73.31 on May 15, and since that dip, shares have surged over 44%, hitting a new all-time intraday high of $105.84.

The global pharmaceutical sector’s total market cap has increased by approximately $1.025 trillion over the past six months, rising from $5.9T on May 25 to $6.925T as of November 25—a solid 17.4% gain.

Our View
The on-again, off-again 1/4 bps rate cut is back on again! According to the CME FedWatch tool, the probability for a December 2025 rate cut fell to 42.4% before the dovish speeches by Waller on Nov 17 and Williams on Nov 22, and is now showing 84.9% as of yesterday. The rate cut optimism, combined with the final sessions of November, the constant rotations, and month-end rebalancing, has caught the shorts with their pants down.

Our Lean

This week, I posted an ‘odds time’ tweet that said I was willing to bet 5k the ES would trade 5750, 5800, 5850, and 5900 by the end of the week. So far, I have hit two of the objectives, and while I still think 5850 is in play, 5900 may not be achievable this week—but I’m not ruling out more buying in the first week of December. This is far from over on the upside.

Our lean: So far, the ES and NQ have done the same thing—open higher, blast higher, pull back, and rally again. Will that happen today? It could, but I told the PitBull I was concerned about how far they have gone in such a short period of time. You can sell the early rip and buy the pullbacks, or just be patient, wait for the pullbacks, and start buying again.

December will see new all-time highs. You can take it from there…

Goldman Sachs: How to Build a Global Investment Portfolio for the Next Decade

Passive multi-asset portfolios based on benchmarks have seldom been optimal and may miss out on opportunities in smaller or alternative assets, Goldman Sachs Research finds.

  • Current benchmarks are also dominated by US assets, and investors need to manage foreign exchange risk more actively—investments in emerging market assets, gold, or the Swiss franc may reduce the risk to portfolios from a weakening US dollar.

  • Private markets have grown significantly and may allow investors to enhance returns with less volatility by actively managing the underlying assets.

Read the full article here.

 

Market Recap

What’s the old saying? What goes down must come up? Or is it the other way around? Well, we’re not talking the other way—we’re talking going up, exactly what it’s done since last Friday’s November expiration when the ES hit its 6525.00 low and has now made a 6810.75 high on Globex Tuesday night, up 285.75 points. The NQ, which traded down to 23,905.50, made its high at 25,235.75— up 1,330.25 points, basically in 2.5 sessions.

The ES traded down to 6701.75 on Globex, opened Tuesday’s regular session at 6716.50, and did the exact same thing it did on Monday: ripped 13.5 points up to 6730.00, then sold off down to 6674.50 at 9:50. It rallied 66.75 points up to 6741.25 at 10:45, then traded back down to 6716.50 (the RTH open).

After the pullback, the ES rallied 57.75 points up to 6774.25 at 12:35, pulled back to 6761.75 at 12:55, and then fell into an upward back-and-fill grind until 1:45. The ES made a new RTH high at 6774.75 at 1:45, sold off down to 6757.50 at 2:15, and traded up to another new high of 6787.75 at 3:49. It then traded 6785.00 as the 3:50 cash imbalance showed $2.7 billion to buy, popped up to 6792.50 at 3:54, sold off down to 6781.00 at 3:59, and traded 6780.25 on the 4:00 cash close. After 4:00, the ES traded down to 6778.50, flatlined, and settled at 6780.75.

In the end, Tuesday’s trade was a duplicate of Monday’s—an early push up, drop, and then pop. In terms of the ES’s overall tone, the ES was firmer than the NQ. In terms of the ES’s overall trade, volume was slightly higher at 1.58 million contracts traded.

On Tap:
8:30 – GDP, Wholesale Inventories, Durable Goods
9:45 – Chicago PMI
10:00 – Personal Income, PCE, and New Home Sales
Earnings from John Deere (DE) and Li Auto Inc. (LI), and no Fed speak.

 

Guest Posts

S&P 500 (ES)

Prior Session was Cycle Day 3: Wild-Card Warfare, Buy-Throttle Jammed Forward

Today’s session delivered the full CD3 “wild-card” personality: early bruising, mid-day balancing, and a late-day bull stampede that refused to take its foot off the gas. If Monday was momentum entrenched, Tuesday was momentum caffeinated.

If you came into today expecting a typical CD3 “Wild-Card” session, congratulations — Today’s tape didn’t just swing — it whipped, snapped, buckled, and dragged traders across the floor like a barroom brawl at closing time.

Range was 118 handles on 1.569M contracts exchanged

For greater detail of how this day unfolded, click on the Trading Room RECAP 11.25.25 link.

 

…Transition from Cycle Day 3 to Cycle Day 1

Transition into Cycle Day 1: Post-Super-Cycle Cooldown (Maybe)

With the Super Cycle fireworks officially in the books — a blistering 302.39% gain (+267.50 pts) from Cycle Structure — and price closing near the highs with unmistakable pre-holiday juice, Cycle Day 1 steps onto the stage.

Statistically, CD1 carries the potential for declines toward 6754… but only if the bulls loosen their iron grip. If they keep the throttle pinned, bears may be forced to spend Thanksgiving nibbling on leftovers instead of fresh downside.

This is a full trading session leading into a half-day Fryday to close out the month, as market participants mentally pre-load the tryptophan and take a brief timeout to give thanks for the year’s blessings.

 

Programming Note

PTG will be taking a well-deserved Fryday off to extend the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

To the entire PTG community — your loyalty, energy, and steady support means the world. I’m deeply grateful for each of you.

Wishing you an abundant Thanksgiving, Health, Wealth, and Prosperity for many years to come.

 

Of course, nothing changes for PTG…Simply follow your plan. Take only Triple A setups and manage the $risk. ALWAYS HAVE HARD STOP-LOSSES in-place on the exchange.

 

PTG’s Primary Directive (PD) is to ALWAYS STAY IN ALIGNMENT with the DOMINANT FORCE.

As such, scenarios to consider for today’s trading. 

Bull Scenario: Price sustains a bid above 6780+-, initially targets 6805 – 6810 zone. 

Bear Scenario: Price sustains an offer below 6780+-, initially targets 6765 – 6755 zone.

 

ESZ

Thanks for reading, PTGDavid

 

MiM

MOC Recap

The market-on-close flow by 15:51 showed +$2.2B to buy, driven by a massive $4.3B wave of buy interest against $2.05B in sells. This was the peak moment of demand, with the buy-lean percentages above 67%, suggesting broad-based accumulation rather than isolated block prints.

From 15:52 through 15:54, buy flows cooled but remained elevated, running between $3.1B and $3.7B. These were still decisive numbers, and the percentage-of-symbols leaning buy stayed above 57%. This phase reflected rotation rather than a wholesale trend — healthy two-way activity but still net-positive.

The turn came at 15:55. As price began to soften, the imbalance flipped negative to –$907M. This was the start of a steady unwind, with sell pressure holding between –$2.0B and –$2.8B from 15:55 to 15:58. Notably, symbol-lean percentages pushed below –50%, confirming real rotation out of prior buy-side strength. The heaviest selling hit at 15:56 with –$2.75B in sells and nearly 60% of symbols leaning negative — approaching wholesale liquidation thresholds.

By 15:59, the imbalance shrank to a mild +$255M buy, but this was mechanical end-of-window rebalancing rather than new conviction.

Price action confirmed the flow. After an early spike matching the 15:51 buy surge, prices faded in tandem with the shift to negative imbalance at 15:55, tracking the rise in sell programs and the steady bleed in buy volume.

In sector terms, the early bid centered on broad index components — a classic basket-driven rotation — while the later selling was more diffuse, matching ETF-driven outflows rather than sector-specific blows.

Overall, the session opened with accumulation, transitioned into sustained rotation, and closed with coordinated sell programs dominating the final minutes.

 
 

Technical Edge 

Fair Values for November 26, 2025:

  • SP: 14.7

  • NQ: 63.1

  • Dow: 55.79

Daily Market Recap 📊

For Tuesday, November 25, 2025

  • NYSE Breadth: 78.89% Upside Volume
    Nasdaq Breadth: 66.29% Upside Volume
    Total Breadth: 67.81% Upside Volume
    NYSE Advance/Decline: 80.74% Advance
    Nasdaq Advance/Decline: 72.28% Advance
    Total Advance/Decline: 75.41% Advance
    NYSE New Highs/New Lows: 102 / 23
    Nasdaq New Highs/New Lows: 194 / 97
    NYSE TRIN: 1.28
    Nasdaq TRIN: 1.24

Weekly Market  📈

For the week ending Friday, November 21, 2025

  • NYSE Breadth: 42.97% Upside Volume
    Nasdaq Breadth: 45.65% Upside Volume
    Total Breadth: 44.68% Upside Volume
    NYSE Advance/Decline: 32.52% Advance
    Nasdaq Advance/Decline: 34.08% Advance
    Total Advance/Decline: 33.51% Advance
    NYSE New Highs/New Lows: 115 / 282
    Nasdaq New Highs/New Lows: 236 / 787
    NYSE TRIN: 0.63
    Nasdaq TRIN: 0.60

 

ES & NQ BTS Levels

ES Levels

The bull/bear line for the ES is at 6762.25. Trading above this level keeps the tone constructive and favors continuation higher if buyers can maintain control.

ES is currently trading near 6796.75, holding above the bull/bear line. If price remains above 6762.25, the path of least resistance leans toward testing 6826.25 and then the upper range target at 6867.25.

Immediate resistance sits at 6792.50 and then 6826.25. A sustained move over these levels opens a move toward 6867.25.

On the downside, support begins at 6781.50 and 6762.25. Losing 6762.25 would shift momentum back to sellers and expose 6726 and the lower range target at 6657.25.

Overall, staying above 6762.25 keeps buyers in control. A failure below that level increases the risk of a deeper pullback toward the mid-6600s..

NQ Levels

The bull/bear line for the NQ is 24,998.75. Price is currently trading above this level at 25,173.75, keeping the tone constructive as long as that line holds.

Immediate resistance sits at 25,135.25 and then 25,524.75. A sustained push through these opens the door toward the upper range target at 25,524.75 and eventually the upper band near 26,019.50 near the all time highs.

On the downside, support comes in at 25,085.50, followed by 24,767.75. If price slips back below the bull/bear line at 24,998.75, the lower range target at 24,472.75 becomes the next objective. A deeper failure exposes 24,602.00 and then 23,978.00.

Staying above 24,998.75 favors continuation higher; losing it shifts control back to sellers and targets the lower bands.

 

Calendars

Economic

Today

Important Upcoming / Recent

Earnings

Upcoming

Recent

Trading Room Summaries

Polaris Trading Group Summary – Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Market Context:
Cycle Day 3 – dubbed a “wild-card” day – lived up to its name with intense volatility and strong directional movement. Despite early chaos, the bulls took full control, pushing the market into a sharp rally by the close.

 

Key Trade Setups & Execution

Setup #2 (Support Buy: 6674–6678 ES)
This was the standout play of the session.

  • Manny executed it perfectly:

    • +5 / +10 early, then a +25 burst, and eventually +30 on the best runner exit.

    • Tape confirmed alignment with PTG’s DTS pullback zone (6680–6665), reinforcing the setup.

    • Described by Manny as “an easy one” – strong conviction, clear reaction.

  • David confirmed the trade zone bounce, crediting both the trade plan and DTS Briefing.

Lesson: When structure, delta, and tape align — don’t hesitate. Setup #2 exemplified preparation meeting opportunity.

 

Market Conditions & Challenges

  • Early Chaos:

    • Manny noted ON inventory cleanup happened fast: “6/7 min in straight up.”

    • NVIDIA’s -5.5% drop caused major volatility, described by David as “Sledge-Hammer selling.”

    • High-speed action made it tough to post live – many moves happened too quickly.

  • Technical Issues:

    • NinjaTrader instability plagued several traders.

    • Manny joked: “Powering down Ninja is like shutting down a nuclear reactor.” Several crashes noted — a reminder of the need for backup platforms.

  • Scalper’s Playground:

    • Rapid rhythm in price action favored nimble traders.

    • David called it a “scalper dream…position trader’s nightmare.”

 

Bull Control in the Afternoon

  • After initial balance, bulls took command.

    • Price sustained above 6720, triggering the bull scenario targeting 6745 → 6765.

    • By 12:25 PM, both targets were fulfilled.

  • Late-Day Surge:

    • Afternoon breakout hit 6782, another DTS upside target.

    • Final 15 minutes saw a $2.7 billion MOC buy imbalance, fueling a vertical rally into the close.

    • David noted: “The Buy Throttle is stuck in full forward.”

 

Key Takeaways & Lessons Learned

  • Preparation + Execution = Confidence:
    Manny’s premarket trade plan played out beautifully. Setups worked because the team knew what to look for (delta shifts, absorption, stacked bids).

  • Adaptability:
    Traders stayed nimble amidst fast tape and volatility, switching between scalping and positional mindset depending on rhythm.

  • Stay Aligned with Structure:
    Trades that lined up with DTS Briefing zones offered high-probability entries. Alignment between PTG’s levels and market behavior is critical.

  • Handle Tech with Grace:
    Technical issues can’t be avoided, but the room maintained humor and composure — reinforcing the value of backup tools and shared insight.

 

Summary:

A high-energy, high-opportunity day.
Despite volatility and platform issues, PTG traders capitalized on well-defined zones. The standout Setup #2 gave clean, fast profits, while the bulls ran the show into the close. Traders who stayed nimble and disciplined thrived.

 

Discovery Trading Group Room Preview – Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Morning Market Brief – Nov 22, 2025

  • Holiday Schedule:

    • Today is the last full trading day this week.

    • U.S. markets closed Thursday for Thanksgiving.

    • Friday session ends early at 1:00pm ET.

  • Market Action:

    • U.S. stocks extend gains for a fourth day, led by Big Tech.

    • Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) hit all-time highs.

    • Meta may use Google’s TPU chips for AI by 2027, pressuring Nvidia (-2.5%).

  • Fed & Macro Policy:

    • December rate cut odds rise to 85% (up from 80%).

    • Headlines circulate about replacing Fed Chair Powell.

    • Trump’s reported pick: Kevin Hasset (close ally, pro-tariff stance).

  • Trade & Tariffs:

    • Trump signals tariff revenue will “skyrocket” as importers restock.

    • Supreme Court reviewing presidential tariff authority under IEEPA.

  • Earnings & Data:

    • Earnings slow: Final major reports from Deere (DE) and Li Auto (LI) today.

    • No earnings releases Thursday or Friday.

    • Key economic releases today:

      • Jobless Claims & Durable Goods (8:30am ET)

      • Chicago PMI (9:45am ET)

      • Crude Inventories (10:30am ET)

      • Fed Beige Book (2:00pm ET)

  • Market Conditions:

    • Volatility remains steady; low holiday volume may mute or exaggerate moves.

    • No whale bias: overnight large trader volume was light.

  • ES Futures Technicals:

    • Price met resistance at 6803/00s – top of short-term downtrend channel.

    • Breakout above this level would confirm short-term bullish shift.

    • Closed above 50-day MA (6757) – bullish signal.

  • Key Levels:

    • Resistance: 6803/00s, 7215/20s, 7340/45s

    • Support: 6565/70s, 6486/81s

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Disclaimer: Charts and analysis are for discussion and education purposes only. I am not a financial advisor, do not give financial advice and am not recommending the buying or selling of any security.
Remember: Not all setups will trigger. Not all setups will be profitable. Not all setups should be taken. These are simply the setups that I have put together for years on my own and what I watch as part of my own “game plan” coming into each day. Good luck!
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