The New Week Opening Gap (NWOG) is a concept taught by ICT (Inner Circle Trader) that shows the difference between the previous week’s closing price and the new week’s opening price.
It gives a valuable clue about the bias for the upcoming week.
This gap often acts like a magnet, meaning price tends to return to this level during the week.
1. Why is NWOG Important in ICT?
Institutional traders pay attention to where the market opens at the start of the week.
If price opens higher than the previous week’s close, it can suggest bullish sentiment.
If price opens lower, it can suggest bearish sentiment.
The NWOG is not just a reference—it becomes a key level that Smart Money may use to engineer liquidity, manipulate price, or return to rebalance.
2. How to Mark the NWOG in ICT
Follow these simple steps to mark the NWOG:
- Go to the Weekly Open (Sunday 5 PM EST or 6 PM depending on DST).
- Mark the previous week’s close.
- Mark the new week’s open.
- Draw a horizontal box or two lines showing the gap between these two prices.
This gap is your NWOG.
3. Example 1 – Bullish NWOG on EUR/USD in ICT
Let’s say:
- EUR/USD closed last week at 1.0800.
- This week, it opened at 1.0825.
This creates a bullish NWOG, meaning the market opened 25 pips higher.
Now what?
You don’t blindly buy. Instead:
- Wait for the price to come back into the NWOG (retracement).
- If it finds support and forms a bullish Order Block or Fair Value Gap, that’s a long opportunity.
The gap acts as a support zone.
4. Example 2 – Bearish NWOG on GBP/USD in ICT
Let’s say:
- GBP/USD closed last week at 1.2700.
- It opened this week at 1.2680.
That’s a bearish NWOG (price opened 20 pips lower).
Now you:
- Look for price to retrace back into the NWOG.
- If it forms bearish price action inside the gap—such as a rejection block or a bearish FVG—you can look for a short trade.
The NWOG now acts as a resistance zone.
5. How NWOG Is Used in Smart Money Concepts
- Acts as a magnet: Price often returns to it sometime during the week.
- Sets a weekly bias: Helps determine if institutions are likely to buy or sell.
- Key reaction zone: When price hits this zone, expect a strong reaction.
This makes it a useful tool for Monday and Tuesday trades, especially during London Open or New York Open sessions.
6. Things to Keep in Mind While Using ICT NWOG
- NWOG works best when aligned with higher timeframe bias (daily or weekly).
- It’s not a standalone tool. Combine it with Market Structure, Liquidity, and Order Blocks.
- Price may fill the gap partially, fully, or not at all. Watch for confirmation.
7. Final Thoughts
The ICT New Week Opening Gap (NWOG) is a powerful level that reflects institutional interest at the start of the week.
It helps you:
- Forecast price direction
- Spot high-probability setups
- Trade with confidence during key killzones
By marking the NWOG and combining it with other ICT tools, you can find smart entries with low risk and high reward.
Would you like a chart example of a real NWOG setup? I can create a custom image to help visualize it.
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