I’ve been trying to get into trading the DAX lately but man, that first hour after the market opens is absolutely wild. The price action just seems to jump all over the place with no clear direction. I’m wondering how more experienced traders approach this. Do you guys just avoid trading during the opening hour completely? Or is there a specific strategy that works well during this chaotic time? I’ve noticed the spreads get pretty wide too during the open, which doesn’t help. Any tips on timing, indicators that work well for DAX, or just general advice on how to read what’s happening during those crazy opening moves would be really helpful. Thanks in advance for any insights you can share!
I just scalp the first bounce after the 9AM spike.
First 30 minutes are brutal for DAX. I usually check overnight news then wait for volume to calm down.
The opening hour’s brutal, but that’s where the best setups are if you know what you’re doing.
I trade DAX opens differently though. Don’t try catching direction immediately - wait for that first big spike in the opening 15 minutes, then look for the quick snap back to opening range.
Key thing: use tiny position sizes. Like 0.5% risk instead of your normal 1-2%. The volatility does the work for you.
Skip it entirely on German data days. That’s when it gets absolutely mental and your stops mean nothing.
After 10 AM Frankfurt time, DAX usually chills out and becomes way more readable.
DAX opens with crazy volatility and wide spreads. I wait until 9:30 or 10 AM when things settle down and you can actually see clear patterns. You can trade the chaos if you want, but you’ll need tight risk management and smaller positions since the moves are all over the place.