The Quarterly Theory Indicator (ICT) integrates the Inner Circle Trader session cycle framework into cTrader charts by dividing each 24-hour trading day into four color-coded 6-hour zones: Q1 Accumulation (18:00–00:00 NY), Q2 Manipulation (00:00–06:00 NY), Q3 Expansion (06:00–12:00 NY), and Q4 Distribution (12:00–18:00 NY). Each zone is visually distinguished with customizable background colors, opacity, and borders that update dynamically with chart navigation.
The indicator provides four smart entry signals directly on the chart as directional arrows: Q2 Stop-Hunt (detects false breakouts within Q1 highs/lows), Q3 Expansion Entry (signals breakout from Q2 range), Q3 Pullback Entry (identifies retests of breakout levels), and Q4 Distribution (alerts on price crossing back through expansion levels). These signals include real-time alerts with sound and on-screen messages when conditions occur on live bars.
Additional features include a configurable "Days to Show" parameter to limit historical data display for performance optimization and support for both EST and EDT time offsets to align session zones accurately with New York time. The indicator is tagged with market structure concepts such as Fair Value Gap, Break of Structure, and Liquidity Sweep, and outputs visualizations, signals, and filters based on bar data.