How to do an analysis, step by step

Go from the big picture to the small one. This is called top-down analysis.

Step 1 · 7 AM

Daily

Trend? Yesterday's high and low? Big zones?

Step 2 · 7 AM

4-hour

Structure direction, last BOS, liquidity above and below

Step 3 · before 1:45 PM

1-hour

Zones and FVGs in the trend direction; the Asian range

Step 4 · in session

15-minute

Wait for a sweep, a CHoCH and an entry

Premium and discount

Take the last big swing on the 4-hour chart, from its low to its high. The top half is premium (expensive), the bottom half is discount (cheap). In an uptrend, look for buys in discount. In a downtrend, look for sells in premium.

Screenshot needed, not added yet

A full top-down analysis on real charts

Your own TradingView screenshots of one day: daily, 4-hour, 1-hour and 15-minute, with your plan written on them.

Morning checklist

Checked the news calendar for red events todayDaily and 4-hour trend written down (up, down or range)Marked yesterday's high and low, and the Asian high and lowMarked the nearest liquidity above and belowMarked the zone or FVG where I would enter, in the trend directionWrote the plan: entry, stop, target, and the time window

Key idea

If the higher timeframes disagree, or there is no clear place to enter, the correct trade is no trade. Waiting is part of the job.

Quick check

What is the correct order of a top-down analysis?

15m, 1h, 4h, dailyDaily, 4h, 1h, 15mOnly 1m

The 4-hour trend is up. Where do you look for buys?

In premium (expensive half)In discount (cheap half)Anywhere