Premarket analysis › Tue, Oct 20, 2026
NQ, ES & Gold Premarket Analysis for Tue, Oct 20, 2026: Key Levels, Bias & Liquidity
Levels as of 8:45 AM New York time, before the cash open. NQ neutral, ES neutral, Gold bearish. Prior day and overnight levels, Asia and London ranges, unfilled gaps, buy-side and sell-side liquidity and reversal areas for NQ, ES & Gold futures, Tue, Oct 20, 2026.
- NQ: bias neutral, at 29,601.25; buy-side 29,736.75, sell-side 29,478.50.
- ES: bias neutral, at 7,723.75; buy-side 7,750.25, sell-side 7,704.50.
- Gold: bias bearish, at 4,142.1; buy-side 4,155.5, sell-side 4,130.1.
NQ premarket analysis (NQZ6)
Daily bias: Neutral
Bias is neutral: yesterday closed near the high of its range; the overnight is trading below yesterday's close.
Monday's session
NQ opened Monday at 29,227.00, traded 29,226.00–29,983.50 (a 757.50 point range, wider than the 5-day average of 683.25) and closed at 29,743.75, +352.50 on the day and 68% of the way up its range. The regular session ran 29,653.75–29,983.50.
Overnight session
The overnight has traded 29,478.50–29,803.50 and is at 29,601.25 as of 8:45 AM ET. Asia ranged 29,576.00–29,784.75 and London 29,582.25–29,736.75.
Liquidity
Buy-side (above): 29,736.75 (London high), 29,784.75 (Asia high), 29,803.50 (overnight high), 29,983.50 (prior day high / equal highs).
Sell-side (below): 29,478.50 (overnight low), 29,226.00 (prior day low).
Gaps and key zones
- Bearish 1h FVG 29,983.50–30,047.75 (formed Fri 9 AM) above price
- Bearish 1h FVG 30,343.50–30,417.75 (formed Wed 11 AM) above price
- Bullish 1h FVG 29,399.25–29,478.50 (formed Sun 6 PM) below price
Reversal areas to watch
- Short reversal area: 29,983.50 to 30,047.75, where the prior day high (also the equal highs) is just inside a bearish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the short setup to watch.
- Long reversal area: 29,478.50 to 29,478.50, where the overnight low is just inside a bullish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the long setup to watch.
All key levels
| Level | Price | From now | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prior week high | PWH | 31,289.25 | +1,688.00 |
| Prior day high | PDH | 29,983.50 | +382.25 |
| Equal highs | EQH | 29,983.50 | +382.25 |
| Overnight high | ONH | 29,803.50 | +202.25 |
| Asia high | Asia H | 29,784.75 | +183.50 |
| Prior day close | PDC | 29,743.75 | +142.50 |
| London high | London H | 29,736.75 | +135.50 |
| Prior day midpoint | PD EQ | 29,604.75 | +3.50 |
| London low | London L | 29,582.25 | -19.00 |
| Asia low | Asia L | 29,576.00 | -25.25 |
| Overnight low | ONL | 29,478.50 | -122.75 |
| Prior week low | PWL | 29,268.75 | -332.50 |
| Prior day low | PDL | 29,226.00 | -375.25 |
ES premarket analysis (ESZ6)
Daily bias: Neutral
Bias is neutral: yesterday closed near the high of its range; the overnight is trading below yesterday's close.
Monday's session
ES opened Monday at 7,703.00, traded 7,677.00–7,773.25 (a 96.25 point range, in line with the 5-day average of 96.50) and closed at 7,739.75, +36.75 on the day and 65% of the way up its range. The regular session ran 7,727.50–7,773.25.
Overnight session
The overnight has traded 7,704.50–7,752.75 and is at 7,723.75 as of 8:45 AM ET. Asia ranged 7,724.00–7,752.75 and London 7,727.50–7,750.25.
Liquidity
Buy-side (above): 7,750.25 (London high), 7,752.75 (overnight high / Asia high / equal highs), 7,773.25 (prior day high), 7,887.00 (prior week high).
Sell-side (below): 7,704.50 (overnight low), 7,677.00 (prior day low), 7,676.00 (prior week low).
Gaps and key zones
- Bearish 1h FVG 7,773.25–7,774.75 (formed Fri 11 AM) above price
- Bearish 1h FVG 7,813.75–7,822.25 (formed Wed 9 AM) above price
Reversal areas to watch
- Short reversal area: 7,750.25 to 7,773.25, where the London high is just under a bearish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the short setup to watch.
- Short reversal area: 7,752.75 to 7,773.25, where the overnight high (also the Asia high) (also the equal highs) is just under a bearish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the short setup to watch.
All key levels
| Level | Price | From now | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prior week high | PWH | 7,887.00 | +163.25 |
| Prior day high | PDH | 7,773.25 | +49.50 |
| Overnight high | ONH | 7,752.75 | +29.00 |
| Asia high | Asia H | 7,752.75 | +29.00 |
| Equal highs | EQH | 7,752.75 | +29.00 |
| London high | London H | 7,750.25 | +26.50 |
| Prior day close | PDC | 7,739.75 | +16.00 |
| London low | London L | 7,727.50 | +3.75 |
| Prior day midpoint | PD EQ | 7,725.00 | +1.25 |
| Asia low | Asia L | 7,724.00 | +0.25 |
| Overnight low | ONL | 7,704.50 | -19.25 |
| Prior day low | PDL | 7,677.00 | -46.75 |
| Prior week low | PWL | 7,676.00 | -47.75 |
Gold premarket analysis (GCZ6)
Daily bias: Bearish
Bias leans bearish: yesterday closed below the prior day low, near the low of its range; the overnight is trading below yesterday's close. The nearest draw on liquidity in that direction is 4,130.1, the overnight low.
Monday's session
Gold opened Monday at 4,185.0, traded 4,155.6–4,211.2 (a 55.6 point range, narrower than the 5-day average of 67.8) and closed at 4,160.3, -26.4 on the day and 8% of the way up its range. The regular session ran 4,155.6–4,187.8.
Overnight session
The overnight has traded 4,130.1–4,166.5 and is at 4,142.1 as of 8:45 AM ET. Asia ranged 4,134.5–4,166.0 and London 4,134.6–4,155.5. The overnight broke the prior day low at 4,155.6 and is holding beyond it.
Liquidity
Buy-side (above): 4,155.5 (London high), 4,166.5 (overnight high), 4,197.7 (equal highs), 4,211.2 (prior day high).
Sell-side (below): 4,130.1 (overnight low), 4,095.0 (prior week low).
Gaps and key zones
- Bearish 1h FVG 4,155.5–4,160.6 (formed Tue 1 AM) above price
- Bearish 1h FVG 4,174.8–4,178.4 (formed Mon 9 AM) above price
- Bullish 1h FVG 4,112.4–4,114.5 (formed Wed 2 PM) below price
- New day opening gap 4,160.3–4,162.4 (the last 5 PM close to the 6 PM reopen)
Reversal areas to watch
- Short reversal area: 4,155.5 to 4,160.6, where the London high is just inside a bearish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the short setup to watch.
- Short reversal area: 4,166.5 to 4,174.8, where the overnight high is just under a bearish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the short setup to watch.
All key levels
| Level | Price | From now | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prior week high | PWH | 4,242.3 | +100.2 |
| Prior day high | PDH | 4,211.2 | +69.1 |
| Equal highs | EQH | 4,197.7 | +55.6 |
| Prior day midpoint | PD EQ | 4,183.4 | +41.3 |
| Overnight high | ONH | 4,166.5 | +24.4 |
| Asia high | Asia H | 4,166.0 | +23.9 |
| Prior day close | PDC | 4,160.3 | +18.2 |
| Prior day low | PDL | 4,155.6 | +13.5 |
| London high | London H | 4,155.5 | +13.4 |
| London low | London L | 4,134.6 | -7.5 |
| Asia low | Asia L | 4,134.5 | -7.6 |
| Overnight low | ONL | 4,130.1 | -12.0 |
| Prior week low | PWL | 4,095.0 | -47.1 |
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What is buy-side and sell-side liquidity?
Buy-side liquidity is the stop and breakout orders resting above old highs, such as the prior day high or the overnight high. Sell-side liquidity rests below old lows. Price often runs to these levels before it reverses or continues.
How is the daily bias worked out?
It is a rule-based score, not a forecast: where yesterday closed against the prior day's range, where it closed inside its own range, where the overnight is trading against yesterday's close, and whether the overnight swept yesterday's high or low and came back inside.
What is a fair value gap (FVG)?
A three-candle imbalance where the first and third candles do not overlap. An unfilled 1 hour FVG is a zone price often comes back to. A bullish FVG tends to act as support and a bearish FVG as resistance.
What is a reversal area?
A place where resting liquidity sits right next to an opposing unfilled gap, for example an old high just under a bearish FVG. If price sweeps the high into the gap and rejects, that is the reversal to watch for.
Video transcript
Premarket game plan for Tuesday, October 20: N Q, E S & Gold. Key levels, bias and liquidity. N Q. Bias is neutral: yesterday closed near the high of its range; the overnight is trading below yesterday's close. Buy-side liquidity: the London high at 29,737. Sell-side: the overnight low at 29,478. Let the open pick a side. Reversal area: 29,984 to 30,048, where the prior day high (also the equal highs) is just inside a bearish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the short setup to watch. E S. Bias is neutral: yesterday closed near the high of its range; the overnight is trading below yesterday's close. Buy-side liquidity: the London high at 7,750. Sell-side: the overnight low at 7,704. Let the open pick a side. Reversal area: 7,750 to 7,773, where the London high is just under a bearish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the short setup to watch. Gold. Bias leans bearish: yesterday closed below the prior day low, near the low of its range; the overnight is trading below yesterday's close. Buy-side liquidity: the London high at 4,156. Sell-side: the overnight low at 4,130. Reversal area: 4,156 to 4,161, where the London high is just inside a bearish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the short setup to watch. Get these levels every morning on Signal Trade App, plus free ICT alerts. Link in bio.
Levels are computed mechanically from real CME futures prices; the bias is a rule-based read of the prior day and overnight, not a prediction. Not financial advice. Futures trading carries substantial risk of loss.