The First Trading Week of 2026: Volatility, Wide Ranges, and How Traders Can Prepare

As the final week of 2025 wraps up, traders are shifting their focus to the new year. Historically, the first trading week of January is one of the most active periods on the calendar, defined by sharp volatility, wide daily ranges, and decisive intraday trends.

Micro E-Mini & Micro Nasdaq Futures Trading Using Price Action

Monday’s futures session provided a clear example of how price action can guide profitable short-term trades in Micro E-mini futures. From the opening minutes, both the Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES) and Micro E-mini Nasdaq (MNQ) showed strong downside momentum, offering multiple short-side opportunities.