If you’ve ever wondered how to catch those 50-70 pip moves during the London session, ICT Intraday Profiles might be the key you’ve been searching for. As someone who’s spent years navigating the trading world, I’m here to break down this strategy in the simplest terms possible.
What Are ICT Intraday Profiles?
ICT Intraday Profiles are models that help traders understand typical price movements during certain times of the trading day. They focus on identifying the daily high in a sell day and the daily low in a buy day. By understanding these patterns, you can pinpoint intraday trade setups that offer significant profit potential.
Types of ICT Intraday Profiles
There are two main types of ICT Intraday Profiles, based on the day’s market bias:
- ICT Intraday Sell Profile
- ICT Intraday Buy Profile
Let’s dive into each one.
ICT Intraday Sell Profiles
When the market has a bearish bias (expecting prices to go down), we look at sell profiles. There are two variations:
- London Normal Protraction – Sell Profile
- Bearish Bias: Confirm that the market is trending down.CBDR: The Central Bank Dealers Range should be less than 40 pips.Asian Range: Should not exceed 20-30 pips.Price Rally: After 12:00 AM (New York time), price should move up slightly.Judas Swing: The upward move shouldn’t be more than 2-3 times the CBDR.
In this setup, we’re looking for the price to rally a bit before reversing and heading down. Once you see a market structure shift on a lower timeframe (like the 5-minute chart), you can consider entering a sell trade. Place your stop loss above the high of the London session and aim for targets like previous lows or significant support levels
2: London Delayed Protraction – Sell Profile
- Delayed Rally: Price doesn’t rally right after 12:00 AM.Protraction Stage: The upward move happens around or after 2:00 AM.Bearish Bias: The overall trend is still down.
Here, patience is key. Wait for the delayed rally after 2:00 AM. Once the price moves up and reaches a premium price level (an area where the price is considered high), look for signs to enter a sell trade. Your stop loss would go above the recent high, and you’d target areas where buyers might have placed their stop losses.
ICT Intraday Buy Profiles
For bullish markets (expecting prices to go up), we focus on buy profiles:
1: London Normal Protraction – Buy Profile
- Bullish Bias: Confirm an upward trend.CBDR: Should be under 40 pips.Asian Range: Keep it between 20-30 pips.Price Dip: After 12:00 AM, the price should drop slightly.Judas Swing: The downward move shouldn’t exceed 2-3 times the CBDR.
In this scenario, we anticipate a small dip before the price starts to rise. Look for a market structure shift upwards on a lower timeframe to signal an entry. Place your stop loss below the low of the London session and aim for higher price levels where sellers might have stop losses.
2: London Delayed Protraction – Buy Profile
- Delayed Dip: Price doesn’t dip right after 12:00 AM.Protraction Stage: The downward move happens around or after 2:00 AM.Bullish Bias: The overall trend is up.
Again, patience pays off. Wait for the delayed dip after 2:00 AM. Once the price moves down to a discount price level (an area where the price is considered low), look for signs to enter a buy trade. Your stop loss goes below the recent low, and you target higher price levels.
Best Time Frames and Pairs for ICT Intraday Profiles
- Time Frames: Use the daily chart to determine the overall market bias. For spotting entries and exits, switch to lower time frames like the 15-minute or 5-minute charts.
- Currency Pairs: While ICT Intraday Profiles were initially used for indices like the NASDAQ futures, they’ve proven effective in forex and metals as well. Popular pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD during the London session are excellent choices.
Which ICT Intraday Profile Is Best?
The London Normal Protraction profiles, both for buy and sell setups, are generally more straightforward and reliable. They often provide clearer signals and are easier for traders to execute confidently.
Final Thoughts
ICT Intraday Profiles offer a structured way to approach trading during the London session. By understanding these profiles and patiently waiting for the right setups, you can enhance your trading performance. Remember, always back-test these strategies and adjust them to fit your trading style.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CBDR is a specific price range established between 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM New York time. It represents the consolidation phase where major financial institutions set up their positions. In ICT Intraday Profiles, the size of the CBDR helps determine potential price movements during the London session.
The Asian Range, formed between 8:00 PM and 12:00 AM New York time, reflects the price consolidation during the Asian trading session. Its size and position can influence the likelihood of price sweeps or reversals during the London session.
A Judas Swing is a false breakout that tricks traders into thinking the price is moving in one direction when it’s about to reverse. In ICT Intraday Profiles, recognizing the Judas Swing helps traders avoid false signals and enter trades in the correct direction.
he directional bias is identified by analyzing higher time frame charts, like the daily or 4-hour charts. Look for trends, key support and resistance levels, and market sentiment indicators to determine whether the market is bullish or bearish for the day.
Yes, while they were initially applied to indices like the NASDAQ futures, traders have successfully adapted ICT Intraday Profiles to other markets, including metals like gold and silver. It’s essential to back-test the strategy in any new market to ensure its effectiveness.