Quote from JimmyJam:
Gap Fill with ...
Market Tells
Internals = VXO, TRIN.
Indices = YM, NQ, ES.
Bankers = C, JPM, etc., or the banking index.
Good trading,
JJ
Yeah right...Look folks, there are several ways to handle gaps, none of which require use of the Vix, trin, indices or stock sectors...
One simple approach is to look for price to test the halfway point between the previous day's (RTH) closing high, and the next day's (RTH) opening low.
Previous day's closing high 1513.75 minus next day's opening low 1510.75 = 3 points. Halfway between is 1512.25. This is the "test" that most traders are looking for. A close below signifies weakness, a close above suggests support.
Most of the retail propaganda suggests that there are several types of gaps. Most of that is crap. What matters is how quickly (after the open) the gap is tested and whether price takes out the midpoint and goes on to fill the gap, or "fails" to fill the gap and reverses.
Instead of some vague comment about "tells". Lets look at what really makes sense. Most of the intraday volume on the ES contract happens in the first 90 minutes and the last hour. It is during that time that gaps are tested and either fill or fail to fill and reverse. On the chart below you actually have two (2) tests. The first one at 7:00am PST has more of a chance, simply because of the volume behind it, and because there is usually a news event, or economic report to fuel the move. Since it could not fill the gap at that point, you know the market is strong enough to move up
and you wait....The next "test" comes at 9:25am PST. When it fails again to take out the midpoint, well you can see the obvious long entries and your stops are just below the tails...
So in summary, I hope nobody take it too seriously when it is suggested that you watch a bunch of "tells"....That approach is classic retail and it leads to "analysis paralysis"...Look for the midpoint of the gap to be tested. Look for a close below in order to get a favorable short entry, and for a close above in order to get a favorable long entry. Its a good trade because your stoploss can be set pretty close. If it is going to work it will take off right away and you will have some breathing room.