Why Daily Bias is Holding You Back | ICT Concepts for Futures Traders

Many traders rely on daily bias to determine their trades, believing it offers a directional edge. However, this dependence can often be more of a hindrance than a benefit. Michael J. Huddleston, also known as The Inner Circle Trader (ICT), teaches that daily bias can limit a trader’s ability to adapt to market conditions. This article explores why daily bias may be holding traders back, how ICT concepts challenge this reliance, and what strategies traders can implement to improve their performance.

The Pitfalls of Relying on Daily Bias

1. Market Conditions Are Dynamic

The market is not static; it constantly shifts due to economic news, institutional orders, and liquidity grabs. A strong directional bias can lead traders to ignore these factors, causing them to hold onto trades longer than they should or enter positions prematurely.

2. False Confidence and Overtrading

A fixed daily bias may give traders a false sense of confidence. If the market moves against their expectations, they might double down on their trades instead of adapting, leading to increased losses and overtrading.

3. Liquidity Pools and Stop Hunts

ICT emphasizes liquidity and stop hunts as key market behaviors. Markets often move in the opposite direction first before reaching the expected target. If traders rely solely on daily bias, they may be caught in stop hunts or fail to capitalize on liquidity sweeps.

4. Failure to Recognize Intraday Reversals

Daily bias does not account for intraday reversals, which frequently occur due to institutional order flow. This is why many traders struggle with consistency, they rely on one directional assumption rather than reading price action dynamically.

ICT’s Alternative Approach: Smart Money Concepts

1. Focus on Liquidity and Order Blocks

Instead of assuming a directional bias, ICT traders analyze liquidity pools, order blocks, and displacement to determine where price is likely to move next. This enables traders to anticipate reversals and key trade setups.

2. Understanding Market Structure Shifts

ICT teaches traders to recognize when market structure is changing rather than forcing trades based on a predefined bias. By identifying shifts in order flow, traders can enter at more optimal locations.

3. Using Time and Price Theory

Time and price delivery patterns play a critical role in ICT concepts. Instead of just following a daily bias, traders should focus on the time of day when smart money executes trades. ICT traders look for high-probability setups around key liquidity zones during the NY session, London session, and Asia session shifts.

How to Apply This in Futures Prop Trading

1. Trade Without a Rigid Bias

Adopting a flexible approach allows traders to take advantage of both trending and ranging conditions. Rather than expecting the market to move in a predetermined direction, traders should observe price action and liquidity dynamics.

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3. Improve Your Execution with ICT-Based Strategy

Instead of relying on a daily bias, traders should:

  • Identify liquidity pools where price is likely to react.
  • Wait for a market structure shift before entering a trade.
  • Use time-based confluences (e.g., NY open, London close) for higher probability setups.

Conclusion

Daily bias can trap traders into making poor decisions based on assumptions rather than market structure and liquidity. ICT concepts teach a more dynamic approach, focusing on liquidity, order blocks, and time-based price delivery. By adapting these principles and using a structured evaluation process, traders can significantly improve their consistency and profitability.

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