MapleStax CBC (Candle by Candle) for NQ and MNQ

The MapleStax CBC (Candle by Candle) indicator provides a comprehensive price-action workflow designed specifically for intraday futures traders on NQ and MNQ to track market control and institutional context. It utilizes a core Candle-by-Candle engine to identify shifts in momentum while layering high-timeframe alignment and key reference levels to filter for high-probability setups.

Usage

The Usage section describes how the script can be used to navigate NQ/MNQ markets. The primary workflow involves identifying a state change on the execution timeframe and qualifying it with higher-timeframe data.

• Execution (LTF): Traders typically use a 3-minute chart to identify CBC flips. A bullish flip occurs when a candle closes above the high of the prior candle, while a bearish flip occurs when it closes below the prior low.
• Context (HTF): A secondary timeframe (recommended 10-minute) is monitored. Signals are considered higher probability when the LTF flip aligns with the HTF CBC state and the HTF EMA cloud direction.
• Location Filtering: Use the built-in Opening Range (ORB) levels, Yesterday’s High/Low (YDH/YDL), and Premarket levels (PMH/PML) to ensure signals occur at meaningful structural points rather than in the middle of a range.
• Trend Confirmation: The script includes VWAP and a 200-period EMA to determine if the price is on the "strong" or "weak" side of the daily mean.

Details

The script is built on a structured decision-process: Control Change → Location → Alignment → Confirmation.

• CBC Engine: This is a persistence-based state machine. Once a flip occurs, the state remains active until a strict break of the opposite extreme (prior bar's high or low) is achieved.
• Institutional Levels: The script uses America/New_York session timing for all reference levels. This ensures that YDH, YDL, and Opening Ranges are accurately calculated based on the Regular Trading Hours (RTH) of the New York session.
• BRSG Zone: The "Buy Red Sell Green" zone visualizes a retracement area on the last closed candle. For example, if a bearish CBC signal is active, a move into the BRSG zone of a green retracement candle can highlight a potential short entry.
• EMA Cloud: Uses a 9/20 EMA crossover logic to provide a visual representation of short-term trend structure.

Settings

• LTF Signals: Includes toggles for CBC Reversal highlights, BRSG Zone parameters, and touch dots for EMA20, VWAP, and EMA200.
• HTF Signals: Configures the secondary timeframe (e.g., 10m), HTF CBC labels, and the HTF EMA cloud visibility.
• Pivots: Settings for both LTF and HTF pivot lines, including "N" (lookback bars), line colors, and styles.
• Opening Range (Sessions): Individual toggles for New York, London, and Asian sessions, including a "Minutes" input to define the range duration (default 30m).
• Reference Levels: Customizable inputs for YDH (Yesterday’s High), YDL (Yesterday’s Low), YDC (Yesterday’s Close), PMH, and PML. Each allows for specific color, width (1–4), and style (Solid/Dashed/Dotted) adjustments.
• Bill Breaker: A set of five ratcheting structural levels used for additional support/resistance tracking.
• Visuals: Options for "CBC agreement bar colors" which overlay solid candles when the LTF and HTF timeframes are in directional sync.

FAQ

How do I interpret the CBC flip-level dashes? The small dashes appearing at the prior bar's high or low represent the exact price level required to invalidate the current CBC state. A close beyond these dashes triggers a state flip.

Why is my chart not showing the HTF labels? Ensure the "HTF Enabled" box is checked and that your current chart timeframe is lower than the HTF setting (e.g., viewing a 3m chart with a 10m HTF setting).

How do I get access to the MapleStax CBC indicator? You can get access on the LuxAlgo Library for charting platforms like TradingView, MetaTrader (MT4/MT5), and NinjaTrader for free.