Premarket analysis › Wed, Oct 21, 2026
NQ, ES & Gold Premarket Analysis for Wed, Oct 21, 2026: Key Levels, Bias & Liquidity
Levels as of 8:45 AM New York time, before the cash open. NQ neutral, ES bullish, 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, Wed, Oct 21, 2026.
- NQ: bias neutral, at 29,841.00; buy-side 29,919.00, sell-side 29,727.50.
- ES: bias bullish, at 7,775.75; buy-side 7,785.50, sell-side 7,757.00.
- Gold: bias bearish, at 4,144.9; buy-side 4,160.6, sell-side 4,129.5.
NQ premarket analysis (NQZ6)
Daily bias: Neutral
Bias is neutral: yesterday closed near the high of its range; the overnight swept the prior day high and came back inside.
Tuesday's session
NQ opened Tuesday at 29,745.50, traded 29,391.75–29,903.50 (a 511.75 point range, narrower than the 5-day average of 722.65) and closed at 29,893.75, +150.00 on the day and 98% of the way up its range. The regular session ran 29,391.75–29,903.50.
Overnight session
The overnight has traded 29,727.50–30,010.25 and is at 29,841.00 as of 8:45 AM ET. Asia ranged 29,845.75–30,010.25 and London 29,736.25–29,919.00. The overnight swept the prior day high at 29,903.50 and came back inside.
Liquidity
Buy-side (above): 29,919.00 (London high), 30,010.25 (overnight high / Asia high), 31,289.25 (prior week high).
Sell-side (below): 29,727.50 (overnight low), 29,653.75 (equal lows), 29,391.75 (prior day low).
Gaps and key zones
- Bearish 1h FVG 30,010.25–30,047.75 (formed Fri 9 AM) above price
- Bearish 1h FVG 30,343.50–30,417.75 (formed Wed 11 AM) above price
- Bullish 1h FVG 29,636.00–29,656.25 (formed Tue 10 AM) below price
- New day opening gap 29,893.75–29,925.00 (the last 5 PM close to the 6 PM reopen)
Reversal areas to watch
- Short reversal area: 29,919.00 to 30,010.25, 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: 30,010.25 to 30,047.75, where the overnight high (also the Asia high) is just inside 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 | 31,289.25 | +1,448.25 |
| Overnight high | ONH | 30,010.25 | +169.25 |
| Asia high | Asia H | 30,010.25 | +169.25 |
| London high | London H | 29,919.00 | +78.00 |
| Prior day high | PDH | 29,903.50 | +62.50 |
| Prior day close | PDC | 29,893.75 | +52.75 |
| Asia low | Asia L | 29,845.75 | +4.75 |
| London low | London L | 29,736.25 | -104.75 |
| Overnight low | ONL | 29,727.50 | -113.50 |
| Equal lows | EQL | 29,653.75 | -187.25 |
| Prior day midpoint | PD EQ | 29,647.50 | -193.50 |
| Prior day low | PDL | 29,391.75 | -449.25 |
| Prior week low | PWL | 29,268.75 | -572.25 |
ES premarket analysis (ESZ6)
Daily bias: Bullish
Bias leans bullish: yesterday closed above the prior day high, near the high of its range; the overnight swept the prior day high and came back inside. The nearest draw on liquidity in that direction is 7,785.50, the Asia high.
Tuesday's session
ES opened Tuesday at 7,740.75, traded 7,704.50–7,791.50 (a 87.00 point range, narrower than the 5-day average of 108.00) and closed at 7,784.75, +45.00 on the day and 92% of the way up its range. The regular session ran 7,710.25–7,791.50.
Overnight session
The overnight has traded 7,757.00–7,793.00 and is at 7,775.75 as of 8:45 AM ET. Asia ranged 7,769.00–7,785.50 and London 7,757.25–7,779.00. The overnight swept the prior day high at 7,791.50 and came back inside.
Liquidity
Buy-side (above): 7,785.50 (Asia high), 7,793.00 (overnight high / equal highs), 7,887.00 (prior week high).
Sell-side (below): 7,757.00 (overnight low), 7,704.50 (prior day low), 7,676.00 (prior week low).
Gaps and key zones
- Bearish 1h FVG 7,813.75–7,822.25 (formed Wed 9 AM) above price
- Bearish 1h FVG 7,837.75–7,864.25 (formed Wed 8 AM) above price
- Bullish 1h FVG 7,727.75–7,743.25 (formed Tue 9 AM) below price
Reversal areas to watch
- Short reversal area: 7,793.00 to 7,813.75, where the overnight high (also the equal highs) is just under a bearish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the short setup to watch.
- Short reversal area: 7,864.25 to 7,887.00, where the prior week high is just above 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 | +111.25 |
| Overnight high | ONH | 7,793.00 | +17.25 |
| Equal highs | EQH | 7,793.00 | +17.25 |
| Prior day high | PDH | 7,791.50 | +15.75 |
| Asia high | Asia H | 7,785.50 | +9.75 |
| Prior day close | PDC | 7,784.75 | +9.00 |
| London high | London H | 7,779.00 | +3.25 |
| Asia low | Asia L | 7,769.00 | -6.75 |
| London low | London L | 7,757.25 | -18.50 |
| Overnight low | ONL | 7,757.00 | -18.75 |
| Prior day midpoint | PD EQ | 7,748.00 | -27.75 |
| Prior day low | PDL | 7,704.50 | -71.25 |
| Prior week low | PWL | 7,676.00 | -99.75 |
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 swept the prior day low and came back inside. The nearest draw on liquidity in that direction is 4,129.5, the equal lows.
Tuesday's session
Gold opened Tuesday at 4,162.4, traded 4,130.1–4,174.9 (a 44.8 point range, narrower than the 5-day average of 65.7) and closed at 4,142.5, -17.8 on the day and 28% of the way up its range. The regular session ran 4,131.0–4,174.9.
Overnight session
The overnight has traded 4,124.0–4,160.6 and is at 4,144.9 as of 8:45 AM ET. Asia ranged 4,124.0–4,143.8 and London 4,128.4–4,143.2. The overnight swept the prior day low at 4,130.1 and came back inside.
Liquidity
Buy-side (above): 4,160.6 (overnight high), 4,174.9 (prior day high), 4,242.3 (prior week high).
Sell-side (below): 4,129.5 (equal lows), 4,128.4 (London low), 4,124.0 (overnight low / Asia low), 4,095.0 (prior week low).
Gaps and key zones
- Bearish 1h FVG 4,174.9–4,178.4 (formed Mon 9 AM) above price
- Bullish 1h FVG 4,112.4–4,114.5 (formed Wed 2 PM) below price
Reversal areas to watch
- Short reversal area: 4,160.6 to 4,174.9, where the overnight high is just under a bearish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the short setup to watch.
- Short reversal area: 4,174.9 to 4,178.4, where the prior day high is just inside 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 | +97.4 |
| Prior day high | PDH | 4,174.9 | +30.0 |
| Overnight high | ONH | 4,160.6 | +15.7 |
| Prior day midpoint | PD EQ | 4,152.5 | +7.6 |
| Asia high | Asia H | 4,143.8 | -1.1 |
| London high | London H | 4,143.2 | -1.7 |
| Prior day close | PDC | 4,142.5 | -2.4 |
| Prior day low | PDL | 4,130.1 | -14.8 |
| Equal lows | EQL | 4,129.5 | -15.4 |
| London low | London L | 4,128.4 | -16.5 |
| Overnight low | ONL | 4,124.0 | -20.9 |
| Asia low | Asia L | 4,124.0 | -20.9 |
| Prior week low | PWL | 4,095.0 | -49.9 |
Get alerted when price reaches these zones
Free ICT alerts for NQ and ES: FVGs, inverse FVGs, sweeps, CISD and more, sent the moment the candle closes.
Set up free ICT alertsFAQ
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 Wednesday, October 21: 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 swept the prior day high and came back inside. Buy-side liquidity: the London high at 29,919. Sell-side: the overnight low at 29,728. Let the open pick a side. Reversal area: 29,919 to 30,010, where the London high is just under a bearish 1 hour gap. A failed sweep there is the short setup to watch. E S. Bias leans bullish: yesterday closed above the prior day high, near the high of its range; the overnight swept the prior day high and came back inside. Buy-side liquidity: the Asia high at 7,786. Sell-side: the overnight low at 7,757. Reversal area: 7,793 to 7,814, where the overnight high (also the equal highs) 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 swept the prior day low and came back inside. Buy-side liquidity: the overnight high at 4,161. Sell-side: the equal lows at 4,130. Reversal area: 4,161 to 4,175, where the overnight high is just under 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.