And I would add that retail traders really can't "scalp" the ES, by my definition, profitably for a few ticks. Yes, I know there are those who claim to. MoneyMatthew's post above is right on the money, but get his definition of "scalp" before you try to trade for a couple ticks. In my opinion scalping, for a retail trader, is not the way to go if you are trading the ES, or really anything for that matter, if you are retail. I would say, at least 25K in your account to trade it, plus experience, very low commissions, a reliable data feed and a low latency platform. It will eat beginners alive in no time. There are experienced ES traders that post here regularly. Learn who they are, and find out what they are doing. You will note that many of them add to losing positions, then lighten up as the market comes back some. Just as pit traders did. They know the turning point is coming and they want to be ready for it. But once in a while the turning point does not come and they take a real beating. Trading this way takes deep pockets. You can't do it with a 5K account!