ICT Asian Range: 4 Steps + Detailed Step-by-Step Example

In ICT (Inner Circle Trader) concepts, the Asian Range is the price range formed during the Asian trading session, which typically runs from 12:00 AM to 5:00 AM New York time (EST).

This session is usually quiet, with lower volatility compared to London or New York.

Because of that, it often creates a tight range — also called a consolidation zone.

Smart Money uses this zone to accumulate or distribute positions before the real move happens in the London or New York session.


1. Why is the Asian Range Important in ICT?

The Asian Range sets the stage for the day.
Price often moves outside this range in the London or New York session, leading to powerful and predictable trade opportunities.

In simple terms:

“Smart Money builds the trap during Asia… then makes the move during London or New York.”


2. Key Concepts to Understand in ICT Asian Range

Before diving into the strategy, here are a few terms to know:

  • Liquidity: Clusters of stop-losses above highs or below lows
  • Buy Side Liquidity: Stops above the Asian high
  • Sell Side Liquidity: Stops below the Asian low
  • Breakout: When price moves beyond the range (often a trap first)

3. Step-by-Step: ICT Asian Range Trading Strategy

Step 1: Mark the Asian High and Low

Once the Asian session ends (around 5:00 AM EST), mark:

  • Asian High
  • Asian Low

This creates your range. It’s the zone where Smart Money has likely accumulated positions.


Step 2: Wait for a Liquidity Grab

Now watch how price behaves during the London Open (3:00 AM to 5:00 AM EST) or New York Open (8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EST).

You’ll usually see a false breakout of either the high or the low of the Asian range.

This is a liquidity sweep — price grabs stop-losses placed by retail traders just outside the range.


Step 3: Confirm the Reversal

Once the liquidity grab happens, look for confirmation:

These confirm that Smart Money has finished the sweep and is now ready to reverse price.


Step 4: Enter the Trade

Enter in the opposite direction of the breakout.

  • If price broke above the Asian range and reversed → look for sell entries
  • If price broke below the Asian range and reversed → look for buy entries

Use confirmation tools like FVG, order blocks, and BOS to refine your entry.


Step 5: Set Targets and Stop Loss

  • Stop Loss: Just above or below the false breakout wick
  • Target 1: Return to the Asian range midpoint
  • Target 2: Opposite side of the Asian range
  • Target 3: A higher timeframe liquidity pool

4. Example: EUR/USD Asian Range Trade in ICT

  1. Asian High = 1.0950
  2. Asian Low = 1.0920
  3. London session: price spikes to 1.0958 (clears buy stops), then quickly reverses
  4. Price forms a bearish order block → entry signal
  5. Entry short at 1.0950, stop at 1.0962
  6. Target 1.0920 (Asian Low) hit easily

This is a classic ICT setup — Smart Money swept liquidity and reversed direction.


5. Conclusion

The ICT Asian Range strategy helps you trade with the intention of Smart Money, not against it.

To master it:

Once you practice this setup regularly, it becomes a powerful and repeatable edge — especially when aligned with time-of-day precision like the London or New York Killzones.

Would you like a sample chart to visualize the strategy?


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