The Top-Down Read

Step 1 — The Weekly Candle Closure

Last week’s candle signature sets the week’s target before anything else. A continuation closure above the previous week’s high? Main target is the previous week high — as long as price is below it, I’m framing longs towards it. A reversal signature lower? Previous week low, and I’m framing shorts. Mark the target first. Everything else hangs off it.

Step 2 — Read the Closure Across the Triad

Now the same closure on all three. If one asset closed bullish and another bearish, last week’s candle is also a PSP — extra conviction in the reversal direction. And the asset that closed in the direction of the move is the weaker one: it’s the most likely to run its previous low or high first. That tells you which chart to execute on before the week even opens.

Step 3 — Mark the Draws

Previous week high and low, plus any unfilled higher time frame gaps. If I’m bearish into a weekly bullish gap, I’m shorting into the gap — then reassessing. A bullish crack in correlation inside that gap (an SSMT, or an SMT fill where one asset tags the gap and a correlated one doesn’t) is the signal to flip and start framing longs.

Step 4 — Let the SSMT Time the Week

Weekly cycle SSMTs put in the high or low of the week more often than not. SSMT is the manipulation; distribution follows; continuation comes the next day if the higher time frame draw still hasn’t been met. No weekly cycle SSMT on the highs yet? Then there’s no defined high of the week — keep framing with the draw.

Opposing Cracks

• Once the narrative is locked, opposing SSMTs don’t move me — they’re retracement fuel, not reversal signals. And when a bullish and bearish cycle sit on the chart at the same time, trust the one aligned with the higher time frame bias — and the one whose tCISD is confirmed and being respected.

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