Timeframes & time · Lesson 14 of 20
Sessions and quarterly theory (AMDX)
Time matters as much as price. The day splits into sessions, and every cycle (year, month, week, day, 90 minutes) splits into four quarters: Accumulation, Manipulation, Distribution, then continuation or reversal.
The four quarters
| Quarter | Phase | What price does |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | A: Accumulation | Builds a range; orders accumulate |
| Q2 | M: Manipulation | A fake move that sweeps one side of the range |
| Q3 | D: Distribution | The real move, in the opposite direction to the fake |
| Q4 | X: Continue or reverse | Extends the move or starts to turn |
The order can also start at X (XAMD): the cycle opens with the end of the previous move, then A, M, D.
| Cycle | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Jan–Mar | Apr–Jun | Jul–Sep | Oct–Dec |
| Month | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Week | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
| Day | Asia | London | New York AM | New York PM |
| Micro | 90 min | 90 min | 90 min | 90 min |
How to use it
Rules
- Mark the Asia range high and low. They are liquidity for London and New York.
- During Q2 (manipulation), watch for a sweep of one side of the range into a key level.
- Look for your lower-timeframe entry in the opposite direction of the fake move.
- Check structure first. Time only tells you when to look, not which way to trade.
Check yourself
1. In AMDX, which quarter is usually the fake move?
2. In the daily cycle, which session is Q2?