| name | session-clock |
| description | Reports the current trading-session state for index futures (ET-based). Returns a code and human label — PRE_MARKET, OR_FORMING, ACTIVE, LATE_MORNING, CHOP, AFTERNOON, CLOSE_RISK, POST_MARKET. Use to block entries during known low-edge windows (12:00–13:30 chop zone, 15:30–16:00 close risk, post-market). Pure deterministic; calls no LLM math. |
Session Clock
Deterministic time-of-day gate. Index futures (especially NQ) have well-documented low-edge windows where entries should be paused. This skill reports which window you're in.
Windows (America/New_York)
| Range | Code | Behavior |
|---|
| < 09:30 | PRE_MARKET | No RTH liquidity yet — wait |
| 09:30–09:45 | OR_FORMING | 15-min Opening Range building — observe, do NOT enter |
| 09:45–11:30 | ACTIVE | Highest-edge entry window |
| 11:30–12:00 | LATE_MORNING | Decay — only HIGH-confidence signals |
| 12:00–13:30 | CHOP | NO NEW ENTRIES (documented dead zone) |
| 13:30–15:30 | AFTERNOON | Second-best entry window |
| 15:30–16:00 | CLOSE_RISK | NO NEW ENTRIES — pin / squaring risk |
| ≥ 16:00 | POST_MARKET | Wait |
What to do
- Get current ET time. Compute the H:MM minute-of-day.
- Return:
{ "code": "<CODE>", "label": "<human label>", "now_et": "HH:MM ET" }
- If asked "can I take a new entry?", combine with the rule:
ACTIVE or AFTERNOON → YES (subject to other gates)LATE_MORNING → YES only if confidence is HIGH and you're already trending- everything else → NO with reason
Pairing
Always combine with news-blackout (macro-event window override) and risk-check (position / PnL / size caps) before any order. If session-clock says NO, the others don't even need to run.
