MDR: the midpoint of today's range
MDR stands for midpoint daily range: the exact middle of today's range — halfway between the highest and the lowest price of the main future, for example NQ or ES, since its trading day began. Every new high or low moves the line, so it always shows where the middle of the day lies right now. Basics draws it on futures (main, mini, micro, nano) as it is, and converts it to the right price on CFD charts and charts of the official index. This page explains what the line shows, why traders watch it and how to adjust it.
On this page
09:30 · stock market opens
123456
- 1Wednesday 18:00 — the new futures day starts at 30,141. MDR starts with it and follows every new low down through the night.
- 200:55 — the overnight bounce peaks at 29,978.25, 13 points under MDR (29,991). NQ turns lower again.
- 309:55 — the low of the day, 29,622.50. MDR is now 29,890.50: halfway between this low and the day's high of 30,158.50.
- 410:40 — NQ climbs back above MDR.
- 512:30 — the dip stops at 29,909.25, 19 points above MDR, which now works as support.
- 615:45 — a new high of the day, 30,196.75. MDR moves up with it, to 29,909.63.
Part of Basics
Free TradingView indicator with all session, week and month levels for index, futures and CFD charts.
Install Basics (free) →What MDR shows
Take the highest and the lowest price of today's futures trading day — overnight included — and draw a line exactly halfway: that is MDR. On ES or NQ the trading day starts at 18:00 New York time the evening before, on FDAX early in the morning.
The line is not fixed. When the market makes a new high or a new low, the middle shifts, and MDR moves with it. Once the day's range stops growing, the line stays flat — as in the example above from 10:00 until 15:45.
Why traders watch it
- Who has the day. Above the middle of the day's range, buyers have the upper hand; below it, sellers do. A move across MDR often marks a change in the day.
- Pullbacks stop there. After a move away from one end of the range, the first pullback often stalls around the middle — as at 12:30 in the example.
- A level that keeps up. Because MDR follows the range, it stays relevant all day, also on days that make new highs or lows late.
How Basics shows it
MDR appears on every supported chart: on futures (main, mini, micro, nano) as it is, on CFD and index charts converted with the current cash-future difference. On a micro such as MNQ you see the midpoint of NQ's range, not of the micro's own.
| Default look | Orange, solid, width 2 |
|---|---|
| On the chart | A line without a label, that moves with the day's range |
| Switched on by default | Yes |
| Value | Halfway between today's high and low of the main future, overnight included |
| Price on your chart | Futures (main, mini, micro, nano): the main future's price as it is. CFD and index charts: converted with the current cash-future difference |
| Where the line starts | At the start of the futures trading day; it starts fresh every day |
| Timeframes | Intraday charts from 1 minute, on seconds charts too, unless the level needs more history than the chart loads; not on daily or higher charts |
| Markets | Nasdaq-100, S&P 500, Dow, Russell 2000, DAX, FTSE 100 and AEX — all tickers |
The same line on other instruments
Click a chart to enlarge it.
Why don't I see the line?
- You are on a daily or higher chart, or a seconds chart.MDR is drawn on intraday charts from 1 minute. On a seconds chart, a level that needs more history than the chart loads is hidden.
- The new trading day has just started.Right at the start of the day there is no range yet; the line appears with the first prices.
- It is switched off.Check the Midpoint daily range box and the master switch Show all objects in 'Session levels' group in the indicator settings.
- Your ticker is not recognised.See the supported tickers — and if yours is missing, let me know: requests are very welcome.
What you can change
In the indicator settings (the gear icon next to Basics on your chart), under Session levels:
| Show / hide | Midpoint daily range checkbox · Session levels |
|---|---|
| Colour and width | Any colour · width 1–5 |
Charts and defaults on this page: Basics v11.72.8 · updated 22 October 2026.
Live data. MDR follows the running high and low of the main future. Without a real-time subscription for that future, TradingView delivers its prices 10–15 minutes late, and so is the line.
Frequently asked questions
What is the midpoint of the daily range?
The price exactly halfway between today's high and today's low. In Basics it is measured on the main future over its whole trading day, overnight included.
Why does MDR move during the day?
Because the day's high and low change. Every new high or low shifts the middle; when the range stops growing, the line stays flat.
Is MDR the same as VWAP?
No. VWAP is the average price of everything traded, weighted by volume; MDR is simply the middle between the high and the low. They are often close, but not the same.
Does MDR work on MNQ or MES?
Yes. On a micro you see the midpoint of the main future's range (NQ or ES), the same as on the big contract.
Does MDR work on a CFD?
Yes. On a CFD such as NAS100 or GER40 it is converted with the current cash-future difference.
Related levels
See MDR on your own chart
Basics is free on TradingView. Add it to any supported chart — for example NQ or MYM — and MDR appears without any setup.