NQ Futures Playbook: Trigger 26,018.75, Pivot 25,955, Guardrail 25,767.5 (10/30/2025)

A hedge fund desk brief to the inner circle with predictions for daily pivot times over the lunch hour

Technical Analysis contained in this post was performed manually by

Andrew Jodice

of

Markets, Liberty, & Discipline

. He’s studied and blends Al Brooks’ theory, Richard D. Wyckoff’s theory, and Charles H. Dow’s theory to conduct his analysis, and implements Al Brooks’ strategy to execute trades.

This Section of the Article is for Free Subscribers.

Executive Summary

NASDAQ Daily Chart with AAVWAP’s, MTF RSI, MTF Stochastic RSI, MACD, ZLEMAs, CVD, cRSI, RSI ZLMA, AAVP’s, Woodie’s CCI, Money Flow Index, and On-Balance Volume

Bias is mildly positive while the United States Dollar Index is not advancing and while equity volatility is subdued. [Theory]

Momentum becomes active above 26,018.75. Balance favors two-way trading between 26,018.75 and 25,955. Control shifts to sellers below 25,955, with the four-hour trend “guardrail” near 25,767.5 acting as the last line before a larger down move. [Fact]

Six-hour outlook: range inside 26,018.75 and 25,955 at 40 percent, breakout to the upside at 30 percent, breakdown below 25,955 at 30 percent. Twenty-four-hour outlook: breakout 42 percent, range 30 percent, breakdown 28 percent, provided the Dollar Index fails below about 100.53 and the volatility gauge “VINMO” remains below 18. [Theory]

Desk Note: use the triggers and invalidations verbatim, and adjust directional bias in real time with the DXY, VINMO, ZB-T Bonds, and XAUU.

Review of Yesterday’s Call & Improvements

We are building directly on NQ Futures Playbook: Trigger 26,018.75, Pivot 25,955, Guardrail 25,767.5 (10/29/2025). The same triggers govern today.

Improvements for execution: require a fifteen-minute close for breakouts and breakdowns, then trade the retest; throttle long size if the Dollar Index rises above 100.20; pause new longs if VINMO jumps above 18.

Key Levels / Takeaways

• One-day swing trigger: 26,018.75. [Fact]

• Four-hour volume-weighted average price: 25,992.92. [Fact]

• Fifteen-minute anchored volume profile developing point of control: 25,954.70. [Fact]

• Micro “prints” where price stalled: 25,967 and 25,962.75. [Fact]

• Four-hour trend guardrail reference: approximately 25,767.5. [Fact]

• Lower shelves marked on your charts: 25,592, 25,341, 25,323, 25,062. [Fact]

Plain English: above 26,018.75 favors buying pullbacks for continuation; between 26,018.75 and 25,955 favors patient two-way trades; below 25,955 favors short setups toward 25,820 and 25,767.5. [Theory]

Decision Tree ( Free )

• If a fifteen-minute bar closes above 26,018.75 and a quick retest holds at or above 26,005, consider a long for continuation toward 26,065, then 26,105, then 26,205. Invalidate the idea on a fifteen-minute close back below 25,955. [Theory]

• If price trades into 25,967–25,955 and momentum turns up, consider a bounce back toward 25,995–26,019, with a stretch objective at 26,065. Invalidate on a decisive break below 25,945. [Theory]

• If a fifteen-minute bar closes below 25,955, consider a short toward 25,905, then 25,820, then 25,767.5. Invalidate on a fifteen-minute close back above 25,985. [Theory]

Decision Tree ( Paid )