In the world of retail trading, the phrase "Buy Low, Sell High" is preached endlessly. Yet, statistics show that over 90% of retail traders lose money. Why? Because they are playing a game where the rules are hidden. The reality is that markets are not random; they are manipulated by institutional investors—Banks, Hedge Funds, and Market Makers—collectively known as the .
The is a modern trading framework that interprets market movements as the result of institutional manipulation rather than random retail patterns. Originating from the teachings of Michael J. Huddleston (The Inner Circle Trader or ICT ), SMC focuses on identifying the "footprints" left by banks and hedge funds through specific price action behaviors. Core Pillars of Smart Money Concepts pdf smart money concept top
In retail analysis, a top is simply the highest price in a given period. In SMC, a top is a characterized by: In the world of retail trading, the phrase
Institutions often return price to these blocks to "mitigate" or close out remaining portions of their orders. This return to the OB provides high-probability entry points for retail SMC traders. 4. Fair Value Gaps (FVG) and Imbalances Because they are playing a game where the rules are hidden