One of the simplest mindset shifts that quietly changed my trading was learning to stop building scenarios around what the market should do from here. The moment you commit to a narrative, you start filtering price action through it instead of reading what’s actually in front of you. Just follow the tape. The structure is there to tell you when you’re wrong, or when things are getting tired and about to shift, and that’s really the whole job.
No prediction required — just alignment with what’s unfolding.
PrimeTrading is an equity SWING trading community to learn & trade alongside experienced traders. It's like sneaking into a trader's POD, where you can see us execute & discuss...but in ours, you can also interact and ask questions.
I would have killed for such an opportunity when I started trading! 🔥
Education & mentoring from Alex & experienced traders.
See how I execute intraday while I share all my trades with explanations live.
Alex's daily market commentary, Portfolio updates, trade explanations, and daily FocusList.
Share & Discuss potential trade ideas with an amazing, like-minded community.
Talk Sectors, Macro Economy, Cryptocurrencies & much more!
Talk about mental game & psychology to evolve as a trader!
Early Market Sessions and Q&A 5x week.
Trade & learn with us, from Novice to Expert!
Cheers, Alex 🛡️✌️
MARKET ANALYSIS
$QQQ PRICE ACTION
Uptrend above rising 21dma-structure.
Alright, the 694/714$ range held today on the bottom-area retest. The scenario we discussed last night is taking shape.
Possible that we get sideway action/consolidation as the market digests the recent run-up. Chop would not be bad here at all. Otherwise, if we fail to hold that 696$ pivot, then a 21dma-structure retest is possible.
BREADTH $QQQ McClellan Oscillator / Summation (MCSI/MCO)
MCSI is still in a downtrend below a declining 10dma. Breadth contraction regime.
MCO hook-down today as breadth was not great.
LIQUID LEADERS PRICE & BREADTH (PRICE/MCSI/MCO)
For the type of stocks we trade, today was a classic, textbook breadth-oversold bounce in an uptrend. MCO did hit -2.9σ at open this morning, which is extremely oversold and a reason for the snapback in a lot of LLs at their 21dma-structure area.
360° MARKET VIEW $QQQ TLMM Dashboard
MARKET INTERNALS — Credit Spreads / VIX / Bitcoin
Credit Spreads (SHY/HYG)
Sill above rising 21dma-structure, BUT rejected right into that intial break structure when the trend started. This is KEY spot. Could be seen as potential reversal spot, but if we spike through, then BIG red flag.
VIX
VIX tight inside structure
Bitcoin (BTC)
Getting tight into structure too...
Try TradersLab.io — the full workflow behind how I trade.
Everything starts with the market, then internals, then sectors and groups, down to screeners to find the best Liquid Leaders, watchlists, and ultimately the Focus List. That entire process is built into one platform.
It’s the same framework I use every day, just structured so you can go from top-down analysis to actionable ideas in minutes, without jumping between tools.
Built for swing and position traders who want clarity, not noise.
Open the app →
Try it 1-month FREE with the code “TRIAL”.
SECTORS & THEMES
Top 10 Leading THEMES - Relative Strength RANK sorted (W/ Leading & Setting up Stocks)
Top 10 Leading SECTORS - Relative Strength RANK sorted (W/ Leading & Setting up Stocks)
Themes Lab — Beta
Top-down read on where market strength actually lives: 180+ themes ranked by relative strength, with the leaders that are coiling at support inside each one. Strength first, names second.
LEADING THEMES (RS)
Foundry — RS 92.98 (#1)
Memory — RS 92.49 (#2)
Semiconductor Equipment — RS ~92 (#3)
Power Semiconductors — RS 88.55 (#4)
Analog Semiconductors — RS 85.98 (#5)
Semis dominating the tape at +52.7% 3M, with Foundry and Memory both north of RS 92 on broad setup coils.
TOP SETUPS @ 21dma-structure area
$STX RS 100 — Memory
$WDC RS 100 — Memory
$PWR RS 100 — Grid Infrastructure
$CIEN RS 100 — Optical Components
$LITE RS 100 — Photonic ICs
$TSEM RS 99 — Foundry
$ASML RS 99 — Semiconductor Equipment
$VRT RS 99 — AI Servers & Hardware
$VICR RS 98 — Power Semiconductors
$ARM RS 97 — Analog Semiconductors
THEMES SETTING UP (full breadth)
Watch the themes where the whole leadership board is coiling at the 21dma-structure area together — that’s where the cleanest follow-through tends to come from:
Optical Components — $CIEN, $GLW, $VIAV, $OUST all setting up (4 of 5 leaders)
Semiconductor Equipment — $ASML, $MKSI, $AMAT, $LRCX all setting up (4 of 5 leaders)
Specialty Chemicals — $CF, $LYB, $ESI, $DD, $DOW all setting up (5 of 5 leaders)
Memory — $STX, $WDC both tightening near support (2 of 4 leaders)
Photonic ICs — $LITE, $COHR both coiling (2 of 2 leaders)
TAKEAWAY
Strength is concentrated and deep across Semiconductors — Foundry, Memory, and Semiconductor Equipment all leading with multi-name coils. The cleanest breadth setups are in Specialty Chemicals (5 of 5) and Optical Components (4 of 5) — watch for rotation broadening beyond pure semis.
LEADERS STALKLIST
Liquid Leaders Universe (top RS)
SNDK, BE, SATS, VSAT, LITE, WDC, PL, MU, CIEN, STX, DOCN, INTC, TSEM, DDOG, TTMI, HUT, FTNT, BTSG, RKLB, WULF, STM, CNC, CSCO, AMD, VSH, TXN, NBIS, FROG, SMTC, VIAV, HUM, OSCR, FLEX, TWLO, CRWD, LRCX, MKSI, NOK, BKSY, CAT, COHR, PANW, APLD, LSCC, ADI, MTSI, VICR, CIFR, ORA, PENG
Liquid Leaders sorted by 1-Day Return (top daily RS)
Liquid Leaders Episodic Pivot (EP) sorted by Gap (Potential new Leader/Catalyst)
None
Liquid Leaders 21dma-structure Pullback scan (LONG)
AXTI, BE, WDC, PL, CIEN, STX, NVTS, AAOI, TTMI, MKSI, COHR, LSCC, NVT, SANM, ARM, LUNR, CORZ, GFS, NXT, MCHP, BWA, CF, CGNX, FPS, QCOM, OUST, FLNC, ODFL, TKO, IONQ, LOGI, CART, APP, AFRM, SMCI, TEAM, GDDY, PTC
PORTFOLIO UPDATE
Hey guys,
Mixed bag of a read today, but overall some good signs mixed with stuff to respect.
Market picture:
QQQ held the 696$ range structure, which is good — could start building a sideways/consolidation here. Ideal scenario, but it means some chop before new momo comes back, so keep that in mind. QQQE held structure too and sitting right at yesterday’s high, that’s strong. Credit Spreads still above the rising 21dma-structure BUT rejected right into that initial break zone where the trend started — that’s a KEY spot. Could be a reversal spot, but if we spike through it’s a big red flag, so eyes on it.
VIX tight inside structure, BTC tightening into structure too, and LLs tapped the 21dma-structure area today on a -3σ MCO oversold reading — that’s deep deep oversold and what sparked today’s bounce.
So all in all: we might have seen the worst of the selling. From here, expecting some decoupling with chop as LLs build their right side and base. Digest, etc. That’s what I’m playing.
On my book:
I’m too high in margin, so cutting some stuff to reduce NER and overall exposure. Not because I think the market is in a bad spot — I just can’t allow myself to DD more, and more importantly, I want to free up room to focus on the REAL good leaders. The ones backtesting their rising 21dma-structure, not the ones trading below it.
This is the phase where leaders’ relative strength should POP. If a name isn’t showing it here, I don’t mind trading a bit more during this transition to position myself properly in the right merchandise. That’s the whole game right now — being in the right stuff when momo comes back.
Cuts:
VRT / QBTS in cores — below 21dma-structure
ORCL — software lagging group + didn’t like that close
VICR / GEV in NER will be close as well
Adds / candidates:
AFRM long entry — fan of this chart at the rising/sideway 21dma-structure. Rotating closed NER positions below structure into this. Only thing I’m adding back today.
CAT, IBIT, TSLA, IBKR all add candidates on the right side of that pullback
BE, LITE, COHR as well if not already in...might push my NER on those if they are strong tomorrow.
Will have a beautiful, fresh FocusList ready for tomorrow 💪
Good luck guys ✌️
Today’s action:
NEW: AFRM
ADDED: COHR, ARM
TRIMMED:
OUT: GEV, VICR, QBTS, VRT, ORCL
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, GAMEPLAN, and TOP IDEAS [05/19]
THE MARKET PICTURE (5-pillars checklist)
1. $QQQ Price Action — risk-on
Uptrend above rising 21dma-structure. The 694/714 range held today on the bottom-area retest — the scenario I flagged last night is playing out.
Held the 696 pivot, character was constructive. Sideways digestion of the recent run-up wouldn’t bother me here at all.
2. Breadth Regime — risk-off
MCSI still in a downtrend below a declining 10dma — breadth contraction regime.
MCO hooked down today; breadth wasn’t great even as price held. This is the divergence I’m watching.
3. Internals — mixed
Credit Spreads still above rising 21dma-structure but rejected right into that initial break-zone — a KEY spot. VIX tight inside structure (risk-on lean).
BTC tightening into its 21dma-structure area. Coiling, not breaking — constructive but undecided.
4. Liquid Leaders Action — risk-on
Textbook breadth-oversold bounce in an uptrend — LLs tagged the 21dma-structure area and snapped back off a -3σ MCO open. Setups clustering at rising structure.
Strength concentrated and deep across Semis — Foundry, Memory, Semi Equipment all leading with multi-name coils. Specialty Chemicals (5/5) and Optical Components (4/5) the cleanest breadth.
5. Portfolio & NER Feedback — mixed
Cut into strength to reduce NER and exposure — trimmed VRT/QBTS/ORCL, exited GEV/VICR. Added COHR/ARM, new AFRM long at rising/sideway structure. Freeing up room to rotate into the real leaders, not the ones trading below structure.
THE GAMEPLAN
Stress-test mode. Three pillars are risk-on — QQQ holding structure, LLs bouncing clean off oversold, internals leaning constructive — but breadth is the holdout, and that’s the disconnect I can’t ignore. Price held the 696 pivot and the LLs gave me a classic textbook bounce off a -3σ MCO, so the tape did the work it needed to today. We might have seen the worst of the selling.
The make-or-break pillar is Breadth — MCSI below a declining 10dma with MCO hooking down. If breadth repairs and turns its 10dma up, this whole thing decouples higher and the risk-on majority confirms. If breadth keeps deteriorating while price clings on, that’s the tell that the bounce was a one-day reflex, not a base. Credit Spreads rejecting at that initial break-zone is my secondary watch — a spike through there is the big red flag.
For the next few sessions I’m letting setups come to me — not forcing anything. I want leaders showing relative strength right here at rising 21dma-structure, because this is the phase where the real leadership should pop. I spent today freeing up room rather than adding size, so I’m positioned to rotate into merchandise on pullbacks into structure rather than chasing. Defense kicks in if breadth and internals break together — Credit Spreads spiking through structure alongside MCSI rolling would have me tightening stops on extended names and waiting for the dust to settle.
TOP IDEAS FOCUS LIST
These are my names — I focus on the ones sitting at or pulling into rising 21dma-structure, because that’s where the cleanest entries show up without chasing.
$BE (16) — Industrials / Electrical Equipment
$CIEN (34) — Technology / Communication Equipment
$INTC (61) — Technology / Semiconductors
$NVTS (76) — Technology / Semiconductors
$HUT (95) — Financial Services / Capital Markets
$VIAV (188) — Technology / Communication Equipment
$CAT (238) — Industrials / Agricultural Machinery
$APLD (266) — Technology / Information Technology Services
$SANM (389) — Technology / Hardware, Equipment & Parts
$LUNR (444) — Industrials / Aerospace & Defense
$GFS (773) — Technology / Semiconductors
$AFRM (2313) — Technology / Software - Infrastructure
Structure note: $NVTS, $VIAV, $APLD, $AFRM, and $GFS are pulling back into or sitting near rising 21dma-structure — those are the cleanest structure-buys. $BE, $CIEN, $HUT, $CAT, $SANM, and $LUNR look more extended off structure after the run — not chasing those, just keeping them on the radar for a pullback.
REFERENCES
PT Wiki Is Now Live!!
After weeks of building, writing, editing, and organizing... I’ve finally wrapped up the Free PrimeTrading Wiki. This is the central place where I’ve documented my entire swing trading system — the mindset, process, setups, tools, and how I actually execute.
If you’ve ever wanted a full breakdown of how I approach the market day in and day out, this is it.
What’s Inside:
Alex's Swing Trading System – full framework, entries, sizing, market timing
TradersLab Scans – the exact filters I use to build my Focus List
Trading Psychology Reflections – key mindset shifts and lessons
Glossary of Terms – clear definitions so we’re all speaking the same language
Education Articles – deep dives on Risk Management and Market Structure
Education Sessions – recorded walkthroughs: system, TLMM, process building
Tools – my Trading Journal + TradingView scripts (21dma structure, ATR extensions)
The only piece still missing is the Discord Onboarding section — it’ll be added in the next few days. This project is for you — to help you understand the why, not just the what. Let me know what you think.
https://traderslab.gitbook.io/primetrading
I really hope that you enjoyed it. If you did, please share it & hit the LIKE button so that more folks can be reached and this Newsletter can grow. :)