Proper context can start the day with a solid win and make all the difference.

DAILY SCHEDULE First, watch the pre-open Tour recording HERE <<== Then, meet in the chaRTroom here by 9:15 ET for updates and Q&A

Through the prior close... Thursday night's choppiness had fluctuated between probing the 2739.75 intraday high up to 2747.25 to retracing it down to 2731.25. The setup can be as bullish as it would have been bearish, when fully formed but not triggered. Friday's Employment Situation report triggered a surge to 2744.50, that still needed another dip before the open could rally to fresh highs. The pre-open restraint paid off by letting post-open buying pressure run up to 2764.25 into the noon hour. Potential to the low 2760's was fulfilled, and the balance of the session fluctuated around 2760.00-2761.00. A late dip down to 2757.00 began too late to be strong-handed, and snapped back up to attack 2764.00 into the close. Two-week old gaps and higher prior lows were tested from below, and held through the close to prevent putting any higher targets into play. Overnight action's new info... Sunday night's open was uneventful, no gapping involved. But price immediately began firming back up to and through Friday afternoon's highs. Extending to 2774.50 by midnight has since ranged sideways between 2770.00-2775.00. The upper-end is being pierced now. If, then... Despite not retracing the initial upleg, the overnight plateau disqualifies overnight action from being relentless trending. Nevertheless, the burden of proof is on buyers to maintain a gap coming out of the weekend. Already probing above this morning's bias-up 2772.50 target, the next higher resistance is likely to be tested at 2777.25. Testing 2780.00, too, during a relevant window would make its recovery -- or rejection -- predictive. In other words, testing 2777.25 and/or 2780.00 must be maintained to avoid reversing down sharply through the morning. First Trade... [Click here to view the Bias parameters] Exiting the open at 9:45 under 2764.25 would be unlikely to trigger the 2766.00 bias-up signal at 10:15. Exiting the open above 2768.25 would be likely to trigger bias-up. Exiting the open under 2772.00 after testing 2777.25 could reverse momentum down.

Fresh post-open highs still hovering above overnight highs. The sideways range between 2770.00-2775.00 that began at midnight persisted right up to the open. Picking the resolution from a standing stop is rarely reliable. Especially not when fluctuating narrowly around a relevant level, like this morning's 2772.50 bias-up target. The open did immediately surge and extended to test 2777.25 up to 2779.00. Still testing 2777.25 when the opening 15 minutes of volatility lapsed -- and not exceeding or reacting to it -- offered no new clues. But a lone detached bar did suggest near-term buying pressure was peaking, and a reversal attacked 2772.50 to within 1 tick. 2772.50 held, renewing the bias-up signal. Its 2777.25 renewed bias-up target was already tested, and now it's being retested. Extending above 2778.00 would start to signal the rally is extending, confirmed above 2780.00. Back under 2774.25 would signal a deeper retracement underway, likely targeting Friday afternoon's "lower prior highs" down to 2761.00-2762.00.

MON afternoon signal (triggered at 1:20 ET) SPX ES Bias-up: above 2781.75 2784.00 ...would target 2787.50 2789.75 Bias-down: under 2773.25 2775.75 ...would target 2767.00 2769.50 Signal status: NO-BIAS, TESTED BIAS-UP SIGNAL FAQ Flowcharts: Bias-UP // Bias-DN INTRO VIDEOS #1 and #2 1. At 1:20, trading above the bias-up signal or under the bias-down signal would put into play a test of its bias-up or bias-down target. 2. Not triggering either bias signal at 1:20 would be "no-bias," and the bias signals should define the bias environment's range. -- A test of the opposite bias signal would be targeted if one bias signal was tested before triggering no-bias. 3. Touching the bias signal within 3 minutes either way of 1:20 would invoke a grace period through 1:30 to trigger a late signal. -- "Late" signals don't require testing the opposite bias signal, but it's still likely. 4. Still testing the bias signal at 1:30 after invoking the grace period would trigger "noN-bias," with no bias influence.

Reaction from higher highs still a higher low. Retracing the open's surge from its 2779.00 high back down to 2772.75 held the 2772.50 bias-up target, renewing the bias-up signal. The 2777.25 renewed bias-up target was retested, on the way to fresh highs at 2785.50. The noon hour's retracement attacked 2779.00. Which is still a higher low -- albeit slightly higher -- in the ongoing series of higher highs and higher lows. And it's only slightly above the open's surge. A fresh low would be credible for reversing momentum down, possibly reversing today's trend back down to Friday's "lower prior highs" at 2761.00-2762.00. Otherwise, back above 2784.00 would next target 2788.00, and possibly a reaction down, but probably only temporary and shallow.

TUE morning signal (triggered at 10:15 ET) SPX ES Bias-up: above 2787.50 2789.75 ...would target 2795.25 2797.50 Bias-down: under 2779.25 2781.75 ...would target 2771.00 2773.50 Signal status: BIAS-UP FAQ Flowcharts: Bias-UP // Bias-DN INTRO VIDEOS #1 and #2 1. At 10:15, trading above the bias-up signal or under the bias-down signal would put into play a test of its bias-up or bias-down target. 2. Not triggering either bias signal at 10:15 would be "no-bias," and the bias signals should define the bias environment's range. -- A test of the opposite bias signal would be targeted if one bias signal was tested before triggering no-bias. 3. Touching the bias signal within 3 minutes either way of 10:15 would invoke a grace period through 10:30 to trigger a late signal. -- "Late" signals don't require testing the opposite bias signal, but it's still likely. 4. Still testing the bias signal at 10:30 after invoking the grace period would trigger "noN-bias," with no bias influence.

Monday's opening surge to 2779.00 trended back down ultimately through the opening 15 minutes of volatility. But it held above the 2772.50 bias-up target -- easily at 9:45, and barely at 9:30 -- to prevent sellers from gaining traction. The 2777.25 renewed bias-up target had been met, but probing it again would have potential up to 2788.00. 2788.00 was met to within 3 ticks by a last-minute surge. Having fulfilled buying pressure, backing-and-filling is likely. Although, less likely coming at day's end than intraday. The target is essentially met, but wasn't rejected before the close. Gapping up Tuesday wouldn't be surprising. Meanwhile, a pullback has room down to 2781.00 before suggesting the trend is already reversing down -- and gapping open under 2781.00 could form a "session-long decline." Details and other markets coverage are discussed in the post-market Wrap recording here. Monitor overnight Globex trading in the chaRTroom here.