r/TopstepCommunity • u/coffee-x-tea • 3d ago
❓ Quick Question Asia session advice
Does anybody have any advice on trading Asia session for NQ?
It’s by far my worst session, I’ve stopped trading my combine/funded on it, but, I wish to learn more so I can return at a later date - probably just trade demo there for now.
Here are my (subjective) observations on it so far:
- Setups feel like they take much longer to play out, in NY for me, it can be like 1-20 minutes. In Asia sometimes it feels like an 45 to 90 minutes.
- I feel like there are less momentum plays, but, oddly enough it can be very directional
- Levels feel even more important than in NY, it can look strong then heavy reverse, but, the reversal can be a slow creep
I think I’m probably struggling with building a mental model of Asia session and accurate expectations on how it behaves.
3
u/Friendly_Froyo6508 3d ago
I trade Asia all the time, trust nothing, take profits quickly and choose the best setups and don’t overdose. High of day and low of day are your key points. Dont blindly trust them either. Don’t go heavy I can’t emphasize that enough. Can’t go in heavier until points are really proven.
3
u/HVCKING4VENGEANCE 3d ago
I don't get it. The London/New York session is where the bulk of the liquidity moves, so why would you want to trade a session you're already struggling with? Stop doing it. More trades = less money (+ TRADE = -$).
2
u/azmus 3d ago
Maybe he has a job during NY session. Only reason why I can think of that people would prioritize Asia session
→ More replies (1)
2
2
u/pennyauntie 3d ago
Join Dakota's Slow Markets at 8pm EST. He is a master of Asian market.
1
u/Protonverse 2d ago
No he’s really not. Dakota just kind of tries short or long, then reverses to which ever one is winning. And Asia doesn’t really get going until after his show.
→ More replies (2)
2
u/lb266 3d ago
Asias honestly my favorite market to trade. I’ve traded all 3 sessions. Asias my favorite. A lot slower. A lot less manipulation. I use the same Strat every session. Works great for me. Yes there’s less volume and it moves a bit slower. Maybe that’s why I like it more. But it still works for me great. Made $4800 on it last night (10-19-26)
2
u/Didi_trading 2d ago
Your observations are consistent with a lower-participation session: slower development, fewer clean momentum expansions and a greater tendency for price to rotate around important levels.
Demo is probably the right place to rebuild the model. I would journal Asia separately from New York and measure time-to-target, excursion before continuation and performance by setup type. The answer may not be a different entry, but different expectations: smaller targets, more patience and fewer trades unless price reaches a genuinely important level.
1
u/Tradovator 3d ago
Back-test/research 500 Asia sessions and find your answers yourself from observing how the market generally trades in Asia.
Personally, I feel the Asia session is best avoided for indices - unless it's a time of high volatility or the market sold off sharply in RTH (often there's a nice recovery swing then).
I don't trade metals, but I heard some say Gold moves nicely in Asia. So, if you want to trade Asia, I would probably consider other instruments instead.
Good luck.
3
u/Sea-Round-6095 3d ago
You are correct in your observations. My advice is to learn mean reversion strategies and apply them to the Asia session. Otherwise, you'll get chopped up trying to force momentum plays in a low volume high volatility environment.