My Watchlist and Indicators Breakdown: Strategy Behind the Charts
A practical breakdown of the assets and tools I trust every session, and how they shape my trading decisions
Every trader has a method to the madness, and today I want to walk you through mine. Based on my current setup and the tools I use daily, this piece explains why I focus on certain assets, what indicators I rely on, and how this structure guides my decisions.
This analysis is grounded on my 15-minute USDCAD chart, taken during a key trading session, but the logic applies across all instruments in my current watchlist.
Why These Symbols Are in My Watchlist
Let's start with the watchlist you see in the screenshot:
1. DXY (US Dollar Index): the DXY is my compass. If I'm trading any USD pair, I need to know where the dollar is heading. It gives crucial macro context and helps filter directional bias. If DXY is bullish, I avoid long setups on EURUSD or GBPUSD and vice versa.
2. XAUUSD (Gold): gold is not just a hedge; it's also a volatility magnet. Watching gold gives me insight into risk sentiment. If there's a sudden spike in gold, it often means fear is creeping into markets. That has ripple effects across USD pairs.
3. BTCUSDT.P (Bitcoin Perpetuals) Bitcoin is the new VIX for a lot of traders. It gives a sentiment check from a different asset class. Massive moves in BTC often precede similar volatility in indices and even in FX, due to capital rotations.
4. SPX (S&P 500) Equities and FX are increasingly correlated, especially when driven by macro narratives like inflation, Fed policy, and global risk appetite. If SPX breaks a level or enters a trend, it usually tells me something about the risk-on/risk-off landscape.
5. EURUSD, USDJPY, USDCHF, USDCAD These are my core FX majors. Liquidity is high, spreads are tight, and they react cleanly to fundamentals. I pick setups across these based on my macro thesis and intraday price action.
6. DAX (Germany 40) I include one European equity index for diversification. DAX is often a leading risk indicator for the Eurozone, and it correlates with EURUSD movements. It helps me understand what's happening outside the US-centric view.
7. US30 (Dow Jones) Dow is more cyclical compared to the SPX. It gives me a broader view of the economy, especially for themes related to industrials and inflation-sensitive sectors.
8. NAS100 (Nasdaq 100) High beta, tech-heavy, and extremely reactive to interest rate expectations. I watch NAS100 to gauge how growth is being priced and how speculative capital is behaving.
Why I was focusing on USDCAD when I published this
Out of the entire list, USDCAD got my attention today for three reasons:
It just completed a failed breakdown, with price reclaiming prior daily lows aggressively
The London Open set the stage, and we saw a powerful reaction shortly after
News catalysts for USD are about to drop (Prelim UoM Sentiment and Inflation Expectations)
That’s a perfect storm of price action plus fundamentals.
Framework: Black Tie Report + News Context
My chart is built around a framework I call the Black Tie Report, which blends market structure with macro catalysts and time-based pivots.
I also integrate Forex Factory News (highlighted bottom left). This allows me to track high-impact releases and avoid trading blindly into major catalysts.
Indicators I Use (and Why)
1. HMA (Hull Moving Average) It’s smooth, responsive, and doesn’t lag as much as a traditional EMA. On the 15-minute chart, it helps me gauge short-term directional flow without noise. As you can see, once price broke above the HMA and closed strong, momentum shifted.
2. Session Opens (London and New York). These are part of the Black Tie Report Framework Indicator and act like magnets and barriers. Price often respects these levels. I mark London Open on every chart because it sets the tone for the day. NY Open is the second key pivot.
3. Previous Day OHLC (Open, High, Low, Close) These levels are institutional magnets. Price reacts to them frequently. Here, we see price reclaiming the Previous Day Low and trying to hold above the Previous Day Close. That shift from bearish to bullish bias is crucial.
4. Box Structure (Daily Range Box) I use a custom box to visualise the daily range and identify failed breakdowns or breakouts. In this case, the wick below the box shows a failed breakdown: price snapped back inside the prior range.
5. Bias Label Top right of the chart, you’ll see my labelled bias: “Bullish: Failed Breakdown.” This comes from a blend of structure (price reclaiming the daily low), news timing, and reaction to session opens. Everything is integrated into the Black Tie Report Framework.
How This Setup Helps Me Trade
With all these elements in place, I have:
Macro view from DXY, SPX, and Gold
Micro trigger from HMA crossover and session open reclaim
Contextual catalyst from upcoming USD news
Bias confirmation from price reclaiming prior day levels
This helps me stay out of random trades. I only act when all elements align.
Trade Plan Example: USDCAD Intraday Long
Let’s say I’m eyeing a long based on this setup:
Entry: On a clean break and retest of 1.3960 (above previous close)
Stop: Below 1.3950 (invalidation of reclaim) or previous low
Target 1: 1.3982 (previous daily open)
Target 2: 1.4005 (previous daily high)
Alternative Target: just set the desired R/R (eg: 1.3, 1.5, 2, etc)
This is a clean R:R trade. I let the news volatility push it toward my targets or invalidate it quickly.
Why I Keep It Minimal
You’ll notice I’m not cluttering the chart with RSI, MACD, or 5 different moving averages. That’s intentional. Most indicators are just derivatives of price. I want to see:
Where are we in the context of the last day’s trading?
What is price doing at key session opens?
Is momentum shifting, and is it supported by fundamentals?
That’s all I need.
How the Watchlist Evolves
My watchlist isn’t static. I update it based on:
News cycle: If there's ECB news, I’ll watch EUR crosses more closely
Earnings season: I’ll lean heavier into SPX, NAS100, and DAX
Risk sentiment: In panic, I watch gold and DXY; in euphoria, I focus on BTC and NASDAQ
Volatility shifts: I rotate out of tight ranges into pairs or indices with momentum
Right now, we’re in a macro-driven market. Inflation, interest rates, and consumer sentiment are in focus. So I want instruments that respond cleanly to those themes.
Final Thoughts
Every trader has their own tools. Some swear by oscillators, others by volume. My edge comes from:
Clean structure
Time-based pivots
Simple moving average momentum (sometimes I don’t even use it)
Macro awareness
This keeps me nimble but grounded. If you’re still building your system, start with what you can interpret in real-time. Fancy indicators won’t save you if you can’t read price.
Trade what you see, not what you hope. And always know why you’re watching something. That clarity alone is a superpower in this game.
If you liked this breakdown and want access to future trade setups, updates on bias shifts, and market walkthroughs, consider becoming a paid subscriber. The edge is in the consistency.