Top Traders Unplugged

TTU152: Where is the Open? ft. Toby Crabel


Listen Later

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 Portfoliohere.

Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.

Send your questions to [email protected]

And 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 Capital

Follow Crabel Capital Management on LinkedIn.

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 - Markets are probabilistic and inherently uncertain

01:40 - Introduction to Toby Crabel and his career

03:01 - From tennis to trading and early market exposure

06:10 - Opening range breakout and early momentum edge

08:04 - Why momentum strategies have deteriorated over time

14:21 - The disappearance of the “open” in modern markets

17:53 - Are markets changing or just the participants

20:34 - Liquidity events and large player behavior

24:14 - The role and limits of technical analysis

32:44 - Model decay and adapting systematic strategies

39:17 - Execution as a primary source of edge

40:40 - AI, automation, and the future of trading

51:18 - Effort vs result and the meaning of volume

56:56 - 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 cover key topics that you need to know about

In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here

2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score

One of the things I’m really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here

3. Other Resources that can help you

And if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click Here

Privacy Policy

Disclaimer

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Top Traders UnpluggedBy Niels Kaastrup-Larsen

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

573 ratings


More shows like Top Traders Unplugged

View all
Chat With Traders by Ian Cox and Tessa Dao

Chat With Traders

1,982 Listeners

Macro Voices by Hedge Fund Manager Erik Townsend

Macro Voices

3,072 Listeners

The Meb Faber Show - Better Investing by The Idea Farm

The Meb Faber Show - Better Investing

943 Listeners

Hidden Forces by Demetri Kofinas

Hidden Forces

1,448 Listeners

Flirting with Models by Corey Hoffstein

Flirting with Models

229 Listeners

Alpha Exchange by Dean Curnutt

Alpha Exchange

82 Listeners

The Market Huddle by Patrick Ceresna & Kevin Muir

The Market Huddle

361 Listeners

Excess Returns by Excess Returns

Excess Returns

84 Listeners

Macro Hive Conversations With Bilal Hafeez by Bilal Hafeez

Macro Hive Conversations With Bilal Hafeez

95 Listeners

The Grant Williams Podcast by Grant Williams

The Grant Williams Podcast

1,342 Listeners

Forward Guidance by Blockworks

Forward Guidance

273 Listeners

The Macro Trading Floor by Alfonso Peccatiello & Brent Donnelly

The Macro Trading Floor

218 Listeners

Thoughtful Money with Adam Taggart by Adam Taggart | Thoughtful Money

Thoughtful Money with Adam Taggart

417 Listeners

The Julia La Roche Show by Julia La Roche

The Julia La Roche Show

86 Listeners

Monetary Matters with Jack Farley by Jack Farley

Monetary Matters with Jack Farley

155 Listeners