Weekend Research Routine

Deep dive research to prepare for the week ahead and find high-probability swing setups.

⏱️ Time: 2-3 hours (Saturday or Sunday) 💰 Risk Level: Zero (research only) 📱 Platform: iOS & Web 👤 Best for: Swing traders and active investors 🦍 Recommended Companion: Sage (research) + Maverick (setups)

What You'll Learn

  • How to conduct comprehensive weekend market research

  • How to find the best swing trade setups for next week

  • How to analyze macro trends and sector rotation

  • How to prepare your watchlist and trading plan

  • How to review your previous week's performance

Why Weekend Research Matters

The Edge of Preparation

What separates profitable traders:

  • 🎯 Prepared traders know their setups before Monday open

  • ❌ Reactive traders scramble to find trades during market hours

Weekend research gives you:

  • ✅ Clear game plan for the week

  • ✅ High-probability setups identified

  • ✅ Risk management planned

  • ✅ No emotional decisions

  • ✅ Confidence in your trades

  • ✅ More time to analyze without pressure

Markets are closed = Clear thinking

  • No price action distraction

  • No FOMO from green candles

  • No panic from red candles

  • Rational analysis only

Weekend Research Timeline

Recommended Schedule

Saturday Morning (Optional):

  • 1-2 hours: Weekly review and journaling

  • Reflect on past week

  • Calculate statistics

  • Identify what worked/didn't work

Sunday Evening (Primary):

  • 2-3 hours: Deep research and planning

  • Market overview

  • Sector analysis

  • Individual stock setups

  • Build trading plan

Why Sunday evening:

  • Fresh information from the week

  • Ready for Monday pre-market

  • Less distraction than Saturday

  • Focused mindset

Step 1: Review Previous Week (30-45 min)

Performance Analysis

Open your trading journal:

Calculate key metrics:

Ask yourself:

  • What was my win rate this week?

  • Did I follow my trading plan?

  • Were my stops too tight/wide?

  • Did I take profits too early/late?

  • Any emotional mistakes?

Trade-by-Trade Review

For each trade, analyze:

Trade #1: NVDA (Winner +5.8%)

Trade #2: TSLA (Loser -2.4%)

Ask Sage for Weekly Analysis

Sage's Analysis:

Pattern Recognition

Look for patterns in your trading:

What's working:

  • Tech breakouts (3 winners)

  • 30-45 DTE options (profitable)

  • Entries at support (better R:R)

What's not working:

  • Biotech trades (0/2 losers)

  • Trading against trend (losers)

  • News-driven entries (impulsive)

Action items:

  • ✅ Focus on tech sector

  • ✅ Stick to trend trades

  • ❌ Avoid biotech for now

  • ❌ Ignore most news

Step 2: Macro Market Overview (30 min)

Big Picture Analysis

Start with macro context:

Ask Sage:

Sage's Market Overview:

Federal Reserve & Interest Rates

Key questions:

  • Are we in a rate cutting or hiking cycle?

  • What's priced in by the market?

  • Any Fed speakers this week?

  • How are bonds reacting?

10-Year Treasury Yield:

  • Rising yields = headwind for growth stocks

  • Falling yields = tailwind for growth stocks

  • Current: 4.2% (stable)

International Markets

Check global sentiment:

  • Europe (DAX, FTSE): Leading or lagging?

  • Asia (Nikkei, Hang Seng): Risk-on or risk-off?

  • Emerging markets: Strong or weak?

Currency and Commodities:

  • Dollar strength: Headwind for US exports

  • Gold: Fear gauge (rising = uncertainty)

  • Oil: Energy sector and inflation indicator

Step 3: Sector Rotation Analysis (20 min)

Which Sectors Are Leading?

Ask Maverick:

Maverick's Sector Flow:

Relative Strength Analysis

Compare sectors to SPY:

Leaders (Outperforming SPY):

  • XLK (Tech): SPY +1.2%, XLK +2.8% → +1.6% alpha ✓

  • SMH (Semis): SPY +1.2%, SMH +3.5% → +2.3% alpha ✓

Laggards (Underperforming SPY):

  • XLE (Energy): SPY +1.2%, XLE -1.2% → -2.4% alpha ❌

  • XLU (Utilities): SPY +1.2%, XLU -0.8% → -2.0% alpha ❌

Insight: Trade with the flow, not against it. Focus on leading sectors.

Step 4: Individual Stock Screening (45-60 min)

Setup Criteria for Swing Trades

What you're looking for:

Technical Requirements:

  • Clear trend (uptrend for longs)

  • Volume confirmation

  • Breakout setup or pullback to support

  • Risk/reward minimum 2:1

  • Liquid (1M+ shares/day)

Fundamental Requirements (optional):

  • Positive earnings

  • Revenue growth

  • Strong sector

  • Upcoming catalyst

Timeframe:

  • 3-7 day hold target

  • Not day trades

  • Not months-long holds

Use Ape AI for Screening

Ask Maverick:

Maverick's Top Setups:

Deep Dive on Top 3 Setups

For your highest conviction plays:

Tap each ticker in Maverick's list:

  1. Read "Why It Could Pop or Drop"

  2. Check "Pricey or Cheap" valuation

  3. Review "Bagholder Risks"

  4. Look at chart and technical setup

  5. Confirm your thesis

Example Deep Dive: NVDA

Ask Sage:

Sage's Valuation Check:

Build Your Watchlist

Add top setups to watchlist:

In Ape AI:

  1. Go to Watchlist tab

  2. Add top 10-15 setups

  3. Organize by priority

  4. Set price alerts

Watchlist Organization:

Set Price Alerts:

  • NVDA: Alert at $735 (entry)

  • MSFT: Alert at $410, $408 (entry zone)

  • AAPL: Alert at $172 (support test)

Step 5: Earnings Calendar Review (15 min)

Upcoming Earnings This Week

Check the calendar:

Ask Maverick:

Maverick's Earnings Calendar:

Earnings Strategy

Rules for swing trading earnings:

Option 1: Avoid Entirely (Safest)

  • Don't hold through earnings

  • Too much volatility

  • 50/50 outcome usually

  • Better setups exist

Option 2: Play Post-Earnings (Recommended)

  • Wait for earnings release

  • Let volatility settle

  • Enter on clear direction

  • Better risk/reward

Option 3: Trade the Setup (Advanced)

  • Enter before earnings if A+ setup

  • Size smaller (50% normal)

  • Willing to accept binary outcome

  • Have plan for both scenarios

For beginners: Avoid or wait until after.

Step 6: Create Your Trading Plan (30 min)

Monday Game Plan

Write out your plan for the week:

Prepare Entry Orders

For each setup, pre-plan:

NVDA:

MSFT:

Step 7: Review and Reflect (15 min)

Final Checklist

Before closing your research session:

✅ Performance reviewed (last week analyzed)

✅ Macro outlook (bullish, bearish, or neutral)

✅ Sector rotation (which sectors to focus on)

✅ Top setups identified (10-15 on watchlist)

✅ Earnings checked (aware of reports this week)

✅ Trading plan written (clear game plan for Monday)

✅ Alerts set (won't miss entries)

✅ Risk calculated (position sizes determined)

Mental Preparation

Ask yourself:

  • Am I prepared for the week?

  • Do I have 3-5 high-quality setups?

  • Is my risk managed?

  • Am I emotionally ready?

  • Can I follow my plan?

If yes to all: You're ready! ✓

If no to any: Spend more time preparing.

Sunday Night Wind-Down

After research:

  • 📝 Close laptop

  • 🧘 Do something relaxing

  • 💤 Get good sleep

  • 🎯 Wake up Monday ready to execute

Don't:

  • ❌ Keep researching all night

  • ❌ Second-guess your plan

  • ❌ Look at Sunday night futures

  • ❌ Stress about Monday

Your job is done. Trust your preparation.

Advanced Weekend Research

For Experienced Traders

Additional analysis:

1. Options Flow Analysis

  • Unusual options activity

  • Dark pool prints

  • Large block trades

  • Institutional positioning

2. Sentiment Analysis

3. Insider Trading

  • Recent insider buys (bullish)

  • Recent insider sells (bearish)

  • Cluster of activity (signal)

4. Short Interest

  • High short interest = squeeze potential

  • Decreasing SI = shorts covering (bullish)

  • Increasing SI = shorts piling on (bearish)

5. Technical Patterns

  • Cup and handle

  • Bull/bear flags

  • Ascending/descending triangles

  • Head and shoulders

Tools and Resources

Research Tools

Market Data:

  • Ape AI (primary)

  • Finviz (free screener)

  • TradingView (charting)

  • Barchart (unusual activity)

News & Analysis:

  • Seeking Alpha

  • Benzinga

  • Bloomberg

  • CNBC

Economic Calendar:

  • Investing.com

  • Forex Factory

  • Trading Economics

Earnings:

  • Earnings Whispers

  • Yahoo Finance

  • Your broker's calendar

Ape AI Features for Research

Chat with Sage:

  • Macro analysis

  • Valuation research

  • Fundamental deep dives

  • Economic impact analysis

Chat with Maverick:

  • Swing setups

  • Technical analysis

  • Momentum scans

  • Entry/exit timing

Ticker Pages:

  • "Pricey or Cheap" analysis

  • "Bagholder Risks" assessment

  • "Why Pop or Drop" catalysts

  • "How It Makes Money" business model

What's Next?

Monday Morning Execution

After your weekend research:

Improve Your Research

Related Skills:

Ask Sage or Maverick

Success Checklist

✅ I spend 2-3 hours researching every weekend

✅ I review my previous week's trades

✅ I analyze macro market conditions

✅ I identify sector rotation

✅ I find 10-15 high-quality setups

✅ I check the earnings calendar

✅ I write a detailed trading plan

✅ I set price alerts before Monday

✅ I prepare my entry orders

✅ I feel confident and ready for the week

Remember: The best trades come from preparation, not improvisation. Spend your weekend doing the work so that Monday-Friday you simply execute your plan. Markets reward the prepared. 📊

Do the work when markets are closed. Execute when markets are open.

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