Good morning, traders…

My family and I were supposed to be in Washington, D.C. last week…

I had the trip all lined up: hotels booked, museum passes printed, the whole “Dad of the Year” setup ready to go. 

But Mother Nature had different plans. Florida storms canceled our flight, one of the crew got sick, and suddenly our spring break plans turned into … well, a different kind of adventure.

So, what did we do instead? Naturally, we went to the water park…

My three boys? Obsessed. Me? Let’s just say I made peace with being cold and wet for 48 hours. My wife? She made it one day (introverts and water slides don’t exactly mix).

But here’s what hit me during all of that chaos: perspective. 

I was initially frustrated that the trip fell apart. But stepping back, laughing with my kids over waterslide wipeouts and sunburned shoulders, it reminded me how quickly we can lose the plot when things don’t go to plan. 

And honestly, that’s the exact kind of lesson we all need in trading — especially in this market.

This is an environment where fear and self-doubt can sneak in and hijack your big-picture view. 

Today, I want to walk you through why perspective matters, what the broader market is really telling us, and how to lean on your trading process when emotions run high…

The Market’s Déjà Vu

On March 13th, if you were feeling frustrated, defeated, or straight-up exhausted — you weren’t alone. 

We were coming off the biggest intraday market drop in months, and the sentiment was heavily negative. It felt like the floor was falling out.

But when everyone’s emotions are screaming, that’s exactly when you need to zoom out. The big picture matters more than the granular specifics. 

When I pulled up the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA: SPY) on the daily chart, what I saw was a higher low — a constructive pattern, not a collapse.

Now, here’s where perspective comes in. I took folks back to 2016, the last time we had a similar political and economic setup.

We had a strong dollar, tariff chatter, and interest rate anxiety. Sound familiar? After the 2016 election, markets dropped, consolidated, then rallied. 

History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes. We’re seeing the same setup play out now. 

The market is digesting Q4’s tightening, but business conditions are showing signs of improvement. 

Inflation is cooling (just check your local gas prices), and the dollar is softening, which opens the door for the Fed to lower rates. 

Translation: I think Q2 will be stronger than people expect.

My 4-Step Trading Process

This is where a solid trading plan keeps you sane.

We talked through the process live on Tuesday, and it boils down to this:

1. Setup: Look for a chart pattern — breakout or pullback — with clear levels.
   
2. Confirmation: Unusual options volume, relative strength, or price action that supports the trade.
   
3. Trigger: A break of key support or resistance to enter.
   
4. Plan: Define your stop, your targets, and stick to it.

When the VIX is high, you need to be nimble. 

That means smaller size, shorter-dated trades, and a tighter leash on risk management. 

This is not the time to be swinging for home runs. Singles and doubles win this market.

Trade Idea #1: Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU)

BTU came up on my high-volume options scan with unusual call activity. Here’s the breakdown:

• Setup: A “three times a lady” breakout attempt above $14.90.
  
• Trigger: The break of that level, with solid intraday support at $14.54.
  
• Trade: April $15 calls, entered at $0.12.
  
• Plan: Stop below $0.09 or on a breakdown of that $14.54 support. Risking 3 cents to potentially double.
  

Even though the trade hasn’t followed through just yet, the volume hasn’t left, which tells me the smart money might still be sticking around. I’m holding it with eyes on the close.

Trade Idea #2: Lumen Technologies Inc. (NYSE: LUMN)

A longer-dated setup that’s showing some serious accumulation:

• Setup: Sideways consolidation near support at $4.30, following a sharp move higher.
  
• Trigger: Continued hold and potential move above recent resistance.
  
• Trade: June $5 calls at $0.51.
  
• Plan: Stop at $0.36, target $0.74–$1.02. That’s a solid risk/reward for a quiet name with big open interest showing up.
  

This one doesn’t require immediate action, but it’s a “load the slingshot” setup with defined levels.

A Simple Scan to Help You Find High-Volume Options

I built a ThinkorSwim scan that flags option volume spikes where open interest is still low — signaling fresh action. 

It filters for:

• Volume > 5,000
  
• Open Interest < 2,000
  
• Bid > $0.84

That’s it. BTU and LUMN both popped on this. So did META, Wayfair (NYSE: W), and the iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (NYSEARCA: EWZ) recently. 

But remember: The scan doesn’t give you the trade — it gives you the names worth checking. 

Our process does the rest.

Spring break didn’t go as planned, but we made it work. Sometimes, you have to shift your perspective to see the positives. The same goes for how you view the markets.

That’s why I’m staying nimble, harnessing my big-picture perspective, and sticking to high-probability setups from the OMEN Scanner, such as:

💰The Biggest Smart Money Bets of the Day💰

• $3.3 million bullish bet on ARKK 04/17/2025 $50 calls @ $3.34 avg. (seen on 3/26)

• $2 million bullish bet on CVX 04/17/2025 $175 calls @ $2.59 avg. (seen on 3/26)

• $1.5 million bullish bet on KWEB 05/16/2025 $33 calls @ $3.18 avg. (seen on 3/26)

*Past performance does not indicate future results

Happy trading,

Ben Sturgill

P.S. Last earnings season, we had 100 winning trades in a row in Earnings Edge — don’t miss the next 100…

Join the great Danny Phee for LIVE EARNINGS WORKSHOPS This SUNDAY, March 30 at 7:00 p.m. EST — Click here to reserve your seat!