Scalping 6C Futures: What Actually Works on CAD/USD
Scalping 6C futures is nothing like scalping 6J or 6E. CAD/USD moves slower, respects levels better, and reacts heavily to oil and USD flows. If you try to scalp it like a hypervolatile currency, you’ll sit through dead movement or get tagged in thin conditions. This guide gives you what actually works.
Scalp Only During High-Liquidity Windows
6C is untradeable during most of the day. Scalping only works when volume and volatility show up. The best windows:
- 8:00–11:30 AM ET — U.S. session open; 6C’s prime time
- 7:00–8:30 AM ET — Canadian data releases
- 10:30 AM ET Wednesdays — Crude oil inventories
These are the same windows discussed in the best time to trade 6C guide.
Why Scalping 6C Is Different From Other FX Futures
6C has:
- Moderate volatility
- Cleaner structure
- Fewer stop-hunts compared to 6J
- Heavy influence from oil and USD indices
This means you scalp structure—not chaos.
The Three Scalp Setups That Actually Work on 6C
1. Pullbacks Into Key Levels (The Highest Win-Rate Setup)
CAD respects levels extremely well. The best scalps come from pullbacks into:
- Prior session highs/lows
- London or NY opening ranges
- Oil-driven structure breaks
Look for rejection wicks or micro-trend continuation.
2. Oil-Led Breakout Scalps
When crude oil surges or dumps, CAD often follows within seconds. Smart scalpers watch oil first, 6C second.
- Oil breaks → enter 6C in same direction
- Oil reverses → scalp the CAD swing
It’s a cheat code if you know how to read correlation.
3. USD Momentum Scalps
When USD rips (CPI, NFP, ISM), 6C gives fast, clean scalps if you enter after the initial spike. Don’t pick tops or bottoms—ride the follow-through.
Stops and Targets for 6C Scalps
6C tick value is $10 per tick. That means your stops must be tight and deliberate.
| Style | Typical Stop | Typical Target |
|---|---|---|
| Momentum scalp | 10–15 ticks | 10–25 ticks |
| Level-based scalp | 8–12 ticks | 12–20 ticks |
| Oil-driven scalp | 12–18 ticks | 20–40 ticks |
If you need a 25+ tick stop to survive the noise, you’re not scalping—you’re swing trading.
Common Scalping Mistakes on 6C
- Trading during dead hours — 6C barely moves outside the U.S. morning.
- Ignoring oil — CAD follows crude; don’t scalp blind.
- Oversizing — a 20-tick loss is $200 per contract.
- Entering before economic news — USD shocks will wipe you out.
Final Thoughts
Scalping 6C works only when you respect its personality. Trade the active windows, let oil and USD lead the move, keep stops tight, and hit clean structure-based setups. CAD rewards precision and punishes guessing—trade accordingly.