Introduction
The Asian Session Isn’t Quiet, It’s a Liquidity Trap
Every London session begins the same way, with a hunt.
Before the real move begins, Smart Money engineers liquidity by trapping retail traders on one side of the market.
This pattern forms the basis of the ICT Asian Range Sweep Setup, a simple yet powerful framework that repeats across Forex, Indices, and Gold almost every trading day.
It’s a mechanical play built around timing, liquidity, and confirmation, giving intraday traders a consistent structure to anticipate market direction, not react to it.
The Concept
Liquidity Before Delivery
The Asian session (roughly 11 PM – 6 AM UK time) is known for slow, range-bound price action.
During this period, Smart Money accumulates orders and builds liquidity above and below the range, perfect fuel for the London Open (7 AM – 9 AM UK time).
When London begins, volatility spikes.
Price sweeps one side of the Asian range, triggering retail stops or breakout traders, and then reverses sharply in the real direction.
This is liquidity engineering 101, collect stops, confirm structure shift, and deliver price to the opposite side.
Why It Works
The Asian range is a liquidity magnet.
Because price trades sideways for hours, retail traders place their stops just outside the range above highs or below lows.
When London opens, Smart Money:
- Sweeps one side (collecting stops)
- Confirms direction through displacement and CHoCH (Change of Character)
- Delivers price toward the opposite side of the range
By identifying this pattern, traders can anticipate manipulation before it happens and position themselves after liquidity has been taken.
Step-by-Step: How to Trade the ICT Asian Range Sweep
Step 1
Mark the Asian Range
Before London opens, mark the high and low of the Asian session.
This defines your liquidity boundaries.
Asian range guidelines:
- Time window: roughly 00:00 – 06:00 UK time
- Keep it clean, one high, one low, and the equilibrium line (50%)
This range acts as your trap zone, where Smart Money builds liquidity before the hunt.
Step 2
Wait for the Sweep at London Open
As the London session begins (7:00–8:00 AM UK time):
- Watch for price to run one side of the Asian range, either above the high or below the low.
- This move triggers stops and invites breakout traders, the classic manipulation
⚠️ Do not enter during the sweep. This is where retail gets trapped.
Step 3
Drop to the 1-Minute Chart for Confirmation
After the sweep, shift down to the 1-minute timeframe and wait for confirmation of reversal:
- CHoCH (Change of Character), structure shift showing displacement back inside the range.
- FVG or OB formation, institutional imbalance that defines your value zone.
This confirms that Smart Money has collected liquidity and is now delivering price in the opposite direction.
Step 4
Execute the Trade
Once confirmation appears:
- Enter on the retracement into the 1m FVG or OB.
- Place your stop loss just beyond the sweep wick.
- Target the opposite side of the Asian range (or 1:3 RR minimum).
This provides a mechanical entry with tight risk and strong directional conviction.
Example
Let’s say you’re trading GBP/USD:
- Asian session consolidates between 1.2710 and 1.2740.
- At London open, price dips below 1.2710, sweeping sell-side liquidity.
- On the 1-minute chart, a CHoCH forms, showing displacement upward.
- A small bullish FVG appears; price retraces into it.
- You enter long, stop below the sweep low, target the Asian high.
By mid-London session, price rallies to 1.2740, completing the delivery cycle.
Why Traders Love This Setup
✅ Repeats Daily: Nearly every London session begins with a sweep
✅ Clear Timing: Defined windows (Asia → London Open)
✅ Mechanical Rules: Range → Sweep → Confirmation → Entry
✅ Smart Money Logic: You trade after manipulation, not during it
This setup eliminates emotion, replacing “guesswork” with timing, structure, and liquidity logic
Trading Style
Best For: Intraday Traders (London Session)
Works On: Forex • Indices • Gold
Confluences: CHoCH, Fair Value Gaps (FVGs), Order Blocks (OBs), Session Timing
Key Takeaways
✅ Mark the Asian range before London open
✅ Wait for the London sweep, not the breakout
✅ Confirm direction with CHoCH and FVG
✅ Target the opposite side of the range
Final Thoughts
The ICT Asian Range Sweep Setup is one of the cleanest, most consistent plays in Smart Money trading.
It gives traders clarity, timing, and confidence, turning what looks like chaos at the London open into a structured, repeatable opportunity.
Next time you’re on the chart before London, ask yourself: “Has liquidity been collected… or is it about to be?”
Once the sweep is complete, structure confirms, and timing aligns, that’s your moment to strike.
Overview
The Asian Session Isn’t Quiet, It’s a Liquidity Trap
Every London session begins with a liquidity hunt.
The ICT Asian Range Sweep Setup captures that move, a clean, mechanical pattern that repeats almost daily.
During Asia, price consolidates and builds liquidity.
When London opens, it sweeps one side of that range, confirms direction, and delivers to the other side.
The Core Framework
1. Mark the Asian Range
Highlight the high and low from 00:00 – 06:00 UK time.
This defines your liquidity pool.
2. Wait for the London Sweep
As London opens (07:00 – 09:00 UK), price will run above or below that range, this is the liquidity grab.
3. Confirm the Shift
Look for a CHoCH or BOS in the opposite direction of the sweep.
That confirms Smart Money’s intent.
Target the opposite side of the Asian range or next liquidity zone.
4. Execute After Confirmation
Enter on the retrace into a FVG or Order Block within the displacement leg.
Stop just beyond the sweep wick.
Execution Tips
✅ Works best when aligned with higher-timeframe bias.
✅ Don’t fade the first breakout, that’s the trap.
✅ Structure shift = green light for execution.
Summary
- Mark the Asian range.
- Wait for the London sweep.
- Confirm reversal with structure.
- Trade the delivery to the opposite side.
Simple, repeatable, and time-based.
Institutional Context
The Asian Range Sweep is the foundation of Smart Money session logic.
Asia builds liquidity; London collects it.
The sweep provides entry liquidity for institutional positioning before the session’s true delivery.
The objective: exploit the imbalance created once stops are taken and structure flips.
Execution Logic
- Define Context: Asian session range marked on HTF (M15/H1).
- Sweep: London open triggers run on one side of the range.
- Shift: Immediate BOS or CHoCH confirms accumulation/distribution.
- Entry: Execute on retrace into the 1m–5m FVG/OB within displacement.
- Management: Partial at equilibrium, hold remainder to opposite side of range.
Precision Notes
- Ideal when the sweep aligns with higher-timeframe discount/premium zones.
- Avoid counter-session setups, bias must align with daily delivery.
- SMT divergence between correlated pairs can refine confidence.
Principle
The London open doesn’t create direction, it reveals it through the sweep.