Let me ask you something…
When was the last time you anticipated a market move before it happened?
If you’re like most traders, you probably find yourself reacting to price movements rather than positioning ahead of them. That’s because you’re likely missing the most important piece of the trading puzzle: market catalysts.
Look, I’ve been trading for decades, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that understanding market catalysts is what separates consistent winners from everyone else.
What Are Market Catalysts?
Market catalysts are specific events that are likely to trigger significant price movements in stocks, sectors and/or the major indices. Think of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation report that can send markets soaring or plummeting in minutes, or a Fed meeting, or a big earnings event for a major stock like Apple (AAPL). Also consider how a single announcement about U.S.-China trade negotiations in the evening can reshape entire sectors overnight — acting as a catalyst once the market opens the next day.
These aren’t random occurrences — most of them are predictable events with predictable timing, even if the outcomes themselves aren’t always clear.
Here’s the thing: Most retail traders focus exclusively on technical indicators while institutional traders are positioning themselves ahead of these catalysts. That’s why the big money always seems to be one step ahead.
Here’s a website where you can find many upcoming catalysts like Fed reports, speakers and more!
How to Leverage Catalysts in Your Trading
The good news is once you learn how to identify upcoming catalysts, you can use them in your own trading strategy.
First, maintain an economic calendar (like the website linked above) that tracks major announcements like Fed meetings, jobs reports and earnings dates. These aren’t just dates on a calendar — they’re potential profit opportunities.
Second, pay attention to developing geopolitical situations. The markets don’t exist in a vacuum. A new trade deal, rising or softening geopolitical tensions, or policy shifts can send ripples through specific sectors or the broader market.
I’ve noticed that traders who incorporate catalyst awareness into their strategy have a distinct advantage. They know when to increase position sizes during high-probability setups, and when to reduce risk ahead of uncertain events.
Let me be clear — I’m not suggesting you abandon technical analysis. What I am saying is that combining technical setups with catalyst awareness creates a much more robust approach to the markets.
Want to see how this works in practice? I’m hosting a free workshop in my VIP Trade Room at noon ET on Tuesday, when I’ll break down exactly how I use catalysts to find high-probability setups with defined risk parameters.
Consider this: What if you could not only anticipate the next major market move but position yourself to profit from it?
That’s exactly what I’ll show you how to do.
Roger Scott
Roger Scott Trading
Follow along and join the conversation for real-time analysis, trade ideas, market insights and more!
- Telegram: https://t.me/+_vmfwkeP8fA5YWQ5
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Roger-Scott/videos
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetradingpub/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTradingPubOfficial
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rogerscott1970
Important Note: No one from The TradingPub team or Roger Scott Trading will ever message you directly on Telegram.
P.S. Will Fed Chair Powell Strengthen or Squash the Market’s Recovery on Wednesday?
At the 2025 Summer Forecast on Monday, Roger will share his predictions on the Fed Meeting and how to position for any outcome.
