TTU152: Where is the Open? ft. Toby Crabel

Markets are not stable systems. They evolve, adapt, and quietly erode the edges traders rely on. In this episode, Toby Crabel reflects on decades of experience navigating that reality, from the early days of Opening Range Breakout strategies to today’s fragmented and highly competitive landscape. He explains why momentum behaves differently now, how liquidity has shifted across sessions, and why execution has become a defining edge. The conversation also explores the limits of AI, the persistence of technical principles, and the importance of adapting without overfitting. At its core, this is a discussion about humility, uncertainty, and staying relevant as markets change.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT’s TRUE ? – most CIO’s read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Alan on Twitter.Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.Find out more about DUNN CapitalFollow Crabel Capital Management on LinkedIn.Episode Timestamps:00:00 - Markets are probabilistic and inherently uncertain01:40 - Introduction to Toby Crabel and his career03:01 - From tennis to trading and early market exposure06:10 - Opening range breakout and early momentum edge08:04 - Why momentum strategies have deteriorated over time14:21 - The disappearance of the “open” in modern markets17:53 - Are markets changing or just the participants20:34 - Liquidity events and large player behavior24:14 - The role and limits of technical analysis32:44 - Model decay and adapting systematic strategies39:17 - Execution as a primary source of edge40:40 - AI, automation, and the future of trading51:18 - Effort vs result and the meaning of volume56:56 - Are we entering a 1970s style macro regime?Copyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that