Fed Wednesday D-Day: Nothing Changed, Everything Waiting | SPX Market Briefing | 17 Sep 2025

Fed Wednesday D-Day has arrived, and here’s the systematic reality: very little has changed since yesterday’s briefing, and I’m not planning on doing anything until after the news fallout settles.

This might be the shortest briefing in newsletter history, but it’s also potentially the most valuable. Sometimes the best trading plan is admitting you don’t have a plan until the market shows its cards clearly.

The charts look remarkably similar to yesterday. The systematic positioning remains unchanged. The Russian Doll inside bars are still coiled and waiting. SPX continues its bullish grind while everyone holds their breath for 2:00 PM ET.

The beauty of systematic trading? It doesn’t require constant action. It requires patient precision.

Keep scrolling for the art of tactical waiting…

Most Trade SPX Blind. You’ll Trade It Like You Designed It.

Pulse bars flip the lights on. You see it. Trade it. Bank it.

SPX Market Briefing:

Today’s briefing celebrates the underrated skill of systematic patience during high-volatility news events.

Current Systematic Status:

• SPX: Bullish positioning maintained, no changes from yesterday

• RUT: Russian Doll inside bars still compressed, awaiting catalyst

• Fed Decision: 2:00 PM ET – but real moves happen after initial reaction

• Systematic Plan: Absolutely nothing until fallout clarity emerges

The Art of Tactical Waiting:

Professional traders understand that Fed days require a different mindset. The announcement at 2:00 PM is pure theatre. The presser at 2:30 PM starts the real show. But the actual tradeable moves often don’t emerge until hours later when institutional positioning adjusts to the new reality.

This is where systematic discipline separates amateurs from professionals. Amateurs feel compelled to have opinions and positions before major announcements. Professionals wait for the dust to settle and trade the actual price action rather than their predictions.

Why Nothing Has Changed:

Yesterday’s analysis remains perfectly valid. The technical levels are identical. The systematic signals haven’t shifted. The only thing that’s changed is everyone’s anxiety level about something that hasn’t happened yet.

The Russian Doll setup in RUT remains compressed. SPX’s bullish grind continues unchanged, although we do now have an official range/pinch point to play with.

Today’s Systematic Plan:

• Pre-Announcement: Absolutely nothing except observation

• During Announcement: Continue doing absolutely nothing

• Post-Announcement: Wait for initial volatility to settle

• Post-Presser: Assess actual price action vs systematic levels

The Patience Paradox:

The market rewards those patient enough to wait for clear signals while punishing those who act on anxiety and speculation. Fed Wednesday tests this principle more than any other trading day.

Fun Fact

When the Fed cuts interest rates within 2% of stock market all-time highs, the S&P 500 has gone on to finish higher over the next 12 months 20 out of 20 times (100% hit rate)

Trade well,
T2 Markets

PS. Need help? Book a call with our team!