ICT macros

What it is

ICT macros are short time windows in which, by his account, the market's 'algorithm' tends to run a nearby high or low and then move away. They are shorter and more precise than killzones.

The most common list, in New York time (UK time in brackets): 02:33–03:00 (07:33–08:00), 04:03–04:30 (09:03–09:30), 08:50–09:10 (13:50–14:10), 09:50–10:10 (14:50–15:10), 10:50–11:10 (15:50–16:10), 11:50–12:10 (16:50–17:10), 13:10–13:40 (18:10–18:40) and 15:15–15:45 (20:15–20:45). Community sources date them to ICT's 2023 mentorship.

No reason for the exact minutes has been published, and some indicator vendors add extra windows of their own. Treat the list as something to test rather than a fact.

How to spot it

• Mark the windows on your chart in New York time; they move with US daylight saving.
• Note the nearest obvious high and low going into each window.

How to use it

• Look for a sweep of a nearby level inside the window, then an entry on a fair value gap after the shift.
• Use the backtester to check whether the windows add anything on the market you trade before relying on them.

Common mistakes

• Forcing a trade because the clock says it's a macro.
• Mixing up UK and New York times, especially in the weeks when the clocks change on different dates.

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