As we approach the open on September 18, 2026, it's essential for automated traders to assess the overnight session's tone, key levels to monitor, and the day's economic calendar. This will help in structuring a systematic trading plan for the day ahead.

Overnight Session Tone

The overnight session has shown a bullish tone as both the Nasdaq-100 E-mini (NQ) and S&P 500 E-mini (ES) have posted significant gains. The NQ has surged to a latest price of 29,779.00, reflecting an increase of 626.75 points or 2.15% from its prior settle of 29,152.25. Likewise, the ES has climbed to 7,701.00, marking a rise of 76.00 points, or 1.00%, from its previous settle of 7,625.00. This positive momentum suggests market participants are optimistic heading into the trading day.

Key Levels to Watch

For systematic traders, identifying critical support and resistance levels is vital. Here are the key levels for both indices:

• NQ (Nasdaq-100 E-mini):
• Prior-session high: 29,966.75
• Prior-session low: 29,648.00
• 5-day range: 28,763.75 to 29,966.75
• ES (S&P 500 E-mini):
• Prior-session high: 7,739.25
• Prior-session low: 7,696.00
• 5-day range: 7,509.25 to 7,739.25

These levels will serve as benchmarks for potential breakout or reversal scenarios throughout the trading day.

Economic Calendar Events

While we do not have specific economic events to highlight, it is essential to keep an eye on the day's economic calendar. Traders should be prepared for any announcements that could impact market sentiment and volatility. These economic events can significantly affect price movements and should be integrated into your trading algorithms.

Automated Trading Strategy Considerations

As an automated trader using a TradingView to NinjaTrader setup, consider the following strategies for the session:

• Monitor key levels mentioned above for breakout opportunities.
• Set alerts in TradingView for significant price movements around the prior highs and lows.
• Integrate economic calendar data into your trading bot to adjust your trading strategy based on incoming data.
• Utilize NinjaTrader's order execution features to automate trades based on predefined criteria that respond to market conditions.

By having a clear plan and understanding the market dynamics, systematic traders can navigate today's trading session more effectively. Remember, the key is to remain adaptable and ready to adjust your strategies as market conditions evolve.