Trading Recap Focus Video
GOOG: A Small Loss—and an Important Order-Flow Lesson
Our GOOG plan called for a short as the price moved from the central pivot toward the lower volatility bands. Instead, the stock opened sharply below the pivot and immediately reversed, producing a powerful rally of roughly $12 from its opening low.
After GOOG retraced and began consolidating beneath the central pivot, we attempted the planned short with a deliberately tight stop. The trade failed, resulting in a loss of approximately $1 per share—but the limited risk was appropriate given what Bookmap was revealing.
Nearly 2 million shares traded near the pivot, with no meaningful sell-side liquidity appearing on the order book. Price seemed temporarily contained by algorithmic activity rather than genuine overhead supply. Above the pivot, the liquidity map showed large open spaces with very little resistance, while a substantial buy order remained below the market.
The message was clear: if GOOG broke above the pivot and the remaining sell liquidity began to pull, price would have an easy path higher. That is exactly why the trade required a tight stop. Although the short did not work, recognizing the lack of overhead liquidity kept the loss manageable and prevented it from running through the entire volatility-band range.
Market Highlights
Today's Trading Recap
U.S. stocks are finishing Friday modestly lower after a much stronger-than-expected August jobs report pushed Treasury yields higher and revived expectations for a possible Fed rate hike later this month. Payrolls increased by 162,000, well above forecasts, while unemployment held at 4.1%.
The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq were each down roughly 0.5% in afternoon trading. Consumer discretionary names were among the weaker groups, while semiconductors showed relative strength. Lululemon was a notable loser after cutting its outlook, and Adobe also traded lower following its leadership announcement.
The bigger story heading into the long weekend is the rapid shift in rate expectations: Thursday’s rally was driven by more dovish Fed expectations, but today’s jobs number swung the pendulum back toward tighter policy. With markets closed Monday for Labor Day, traders will return Tuesday focused heavily on inflation data and the Fed’s September 16 decision.
Bottom line: a resilient labor market is good economic news, but for stocks today it translated into higher yields, higher rate expectations, and some profit-taking into the holiday weekend.
Today's War Room Opportunities
September 4, 2026
| Time | Date | Symbol | Pattern | Position | Entry | Stop | Target | Exit | Opportunity | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| open | 9/4/2026 | LULU | Manz Gapz | L | 101.45 | 100.8 | 102.6 | 102.6 | 1.15 | |||
| open | 9/4/2026 | OXM | Manz Gapz | L | 29.52 | 28.7 | 30.05 | 31 | 1.48 | |||
| open | 9/4/2026 | JCI | Manz Planz ATH | L | 142.89 | 142.15 | 143.86 | 143.86 | 0.97 | |||
| open | 9/4/2026 | BBY | Manz Planz ATH | L | 88.38 | 87.68 | 89.82 | 89.82 | 1.44 | |||
| open | 9/4/2026 | RDDT | Manz Planz STW | S | 154.53 | 155.45 | 153.15 | 153.15 | 1.38 | |||
| open | 9/4/2026 | UNM | Manz Planz ATH | L | 96.68 | 95.87 | 97.65 | 95.87 | -0.81 | |||
| open | 9/4/2026 | AMBA | Manz Planz XRV | S | 62.99 | 63.99 | 61.99 | 61.99 | 1 | |||
| open | 9/4/2026 | TDW | Manz Planz STW | S | 93.74 | 94.83 | 92.1 | 93.74 | 0 | |||
| open | 9/4/2026 | JCI | Manz Planz ATH | L | 142.89 | 142.15 | 143.86 | 143.86 | 0.97 | |||
| Total Per Share Traded | 7.58 | |||||||||||
Join Our Trading Community
Experience the power of our War Room – free for two weeks, no credit card required! As a first-time subscriber, you’ll gain exclusive access to:
- Opening Bell Trade Ideas: Start each day with expert insights and trade setups.
- 2SD Opening Gap Scanner: Identify high-potential market moves right from the start.
- Around the Horn Trading Plan: Proven strategies tailored to maximize consistency.
- Nasdaq Volatility Band Trading Plan: Navigate volatility with precision.
- Fast Ball XRV Trading Plan: Capitalize on high-probability trades backed by a proprietary algorithm.
Join us Tuesday through Friday each week and experience hands-on trading education with real-time guidance from our experts. See firsthand how our approach can put you in front of profit opportunities – and free up time to enjoy what matters most!
