Quote from yoohoo:
Hi BoyBrutus. I do use volume but more in a Wyckoff style that I have developed. I never look at bid and ask depth as that can be false and anyhow, I make the decision based on the fact that I think the price will move in my direction. If you look at time and sales you will see what volume is safe to trade before you get averaging of prices, so you don't need to look at depth. Please understand that this is my approach, I'm not knocking those who find depth useful.
Markets tend to move with herd emotion, but because the amplitude of the move differs between markets, most traders don't understand that they tend to move up and down together. For trading the ER my first point of reference in the cash market $RUT as the cash can smooth out some of the tick wobbles. Alongside that I look at the cash Dow but the ES and $SPX is fine too.
Thanks yoohoo thats good information. I watch the ES YM NQ and ER2 and also the $sox, and look for divergences to give an indication of some setups. I get my direction and timing from the ES and then wait for the moment on the ER2 which always has that last volatile, shake out swing before any major move. I think I will use the bars to set a more rigid stop discipline as I'm giving back to much on my few bad trades.