{
  "scan_date": "2026-08-24",
  "macro_notes": "Run manually this session after this morning's 7:33am cron scan produced no output (self-referential 'already running' false-positive abort, same failure mode as 2026-08-18 and 2026-08-20 -- root cause patched in run_daily_scan.sh this session). active_mode=aggressive: all aggressive_overrides applied (RSI band 35-72, leading-sector breakout ceiling 75, T1 1:1.5/T2 1:3, 5/10-day time stops, pyramid rule, 15% cash reserve, 8% max portfolio risk). Lessons applied per Step 1a: (1) narrow_funnel -- only 1 distinct ticker (CJT) traded to date; today used all 6 screener_sources entries (SwingTradeBot, Barchart, TradingView, Trade That Swing, Globe and Mail Breakouts, Sector ETF Constituent Check) plus a Real Estate/Consumer Discretionary sector-sweep search, evaluating 16 distinct tickers across 6 sectors (Financials, Energy, Materials, Utilities, Industrials, Technology) -- clears both min_candidates_evaluated_per_scan (15) and min_sectors_represented (5). (2) unconfirmed_volume pattern -- every confirmation search explicitly requested current + average volume; a clean same-session volume ratio still could not be sourced for most names via generic web search (EIF was the one exception, with both figures found) -- this gap persists despite the 2026-08-12 query fix and is a real limitation of the search-based approach, not a prompt-following miss. (3) unconfirmed_resistance_level -- CNQ's cited resistance levels remain stale/cleared with no fresh one found; CVE's breakout level is now precise enough to set a mechanical trigger (see watchlist). No overdue_exit_not_executed, unenriched_position, or deferred_megacap_moved lessons applied -- positions.json currently has zero open positions (flat since the CJT stop-out on 2026-08-20), so Step 1b and Step 5 had nothing to act on, and no ticker was in today's deferred_megacap_moved list. Step 1c watchlist resolution (before Step 2 sourcing): TD and RY excluded -- both report Q3 earnings 2026-08-27, which is exactly 3 trading days out today, inside the no_earnings_within_trading_days exclusion window. BNS and EIF excluded for watchlist_max_carry_trading_days exceeded -- both first appeared on the 2026-08-14 watchlist and today is their 7th trading day carried (14,17,18,19,20,21,24) with their triggers ($126.87 and $136.75 respectively) still not crossed ($120.24 and $126.31 today) -- applying the carry-limit rule consistently rather than extending them further on the strength of fundamentals alone. CNQ, CVE, CU, LUN, FM remain on watchlist, notes refreshed with today's live prices and technical reads (see per-entry waiting_for). Step 2 sourcing surfaced 7 new candidates via the Globe and Mail Breakouts list, the Barchart-style 200MA screener, and direct follow-ups (none were sourced only via the Sector ETF Constituent Check, so recurring_megacap_handling did not apply to any of them): BMO (excluded -- earnings 2026-08-25, 1 trading day out), CM (excluded -- earnings 2026-08-27, 3 trading days out), ABX (excluded -- price $51.90 below its 200d EMA $53.66), CLS (excluded -- bearish technical picture, sell signals on both short- and long-term moving averages, -5.50 technical score, despite a stale 3-month MACD buy read), MDA (excluded -- price $33.90 well below its 200d EMA $56.78 despite strong Q2 fundamentals and a JPMorgan price-target raise to $50), KXS (excluded -- price below its 200d EMA of $157.47), X/TMX Group (excluded -- price below its 200d EMA per the only read found, itself somewhat stale). All 7 were hard-discarded at Step 3 before reaching Step 4 scoring, mostly on the earnings-window and below-200d-EMA mechanical filters rather than a judgment call -- zero new_buys today is a valid outcome per funnel_breadth.screener_outage_fallback's own framing, not a sign the search stopped early (2 fallback-style searches were run beyond the core 7: MDA/X technical follow-ups and a Real Estate/Consumer Discretionary sweep). Phase D commodity trigger not checked today since no surviving Energy/Materials candidate was near the PE band edge where it would matter. Step 5: no open positions to check. Step 6: no new_buys entries, so no Questrade orders were attempted today -- nothing to execute.",
  "candidates_evaluated_count": 16,
  "sectors_evaluated": ["Financials", "Energy", "Materials", "Utilities", "Industrials", "Technology"],
  "lessons_applied": [
    "narrow_funnel: used all 6 screener_sources entries plus a Real Estate/Consumer Discretionary sector sweep; evaluated 16 distinct tickers across 6 sectors, clearing min_candidates_evaluated_per_scan (15) and min_sectors_represented (5)",
    "unconfirmed_volume pattern: explicitly requested current + average volume in every confirmation search per the 2026-08-12 query fix; same-session ratio still largely unobtainable via generic web search (EIF was the exception) -- flagged as a standing search-method limitation",
    "unconfirmed_resistance_level pattern: CVE now has a precise, mechanically-checkable breakout trigger ($45.94, above) instead of an unresolved resistance description"
  ],
  "signals": {
    "new_buys": [],
    "holds": [],
    "exits": [],
    "watchlist": [
      {
        "ticker": "CNQ",
        "waiting_for": "Canadian Natural Resources: live_prices.json shows $70.51 today (-0.42%), holding near its recent range. RSI conflict persists -- one source reads 73.35 (above the 72 aggressive ceiling), another reads 49.86 (neutral); per the RSI-conflict rule this is not grounds for exclusion since only 1 source flags overbought, so it stays carried forward. MACD is now also conflicting (0.636 buy as of Aug 20 vs -0.12 sell, undated) -- treated as unresolved rather than a pass or red flag. Still no fresh, today-dated resistance/breakout level found, and same-session volume ratio remains unconfirmed. 4th trading day on watchlist (since 2026-08-19), 3 days under the 7-day carry limit. Re-check tomorrow specifically for a current resistance reference, a clean MACD read, and volume.",
        "trigger_price_cad": null,
        "trigger_direction": null
      },
      {
        "ticker": "CVE",
        "waiting_for": "Cenovus Energy: live_prices.json shows $44.87 today (-1.15%), pulling back slightly from its 2026-08-20 all-time high of $45.94. Above its 200-day MA ($33.87). RSI 50.95 (neutral, within band), MACD 0.44 buy. Setup_B breakout still missing 2+ confirmed prior touches at the $44.60-45.94 level and a same-session breakout-volume ratio (>1.2x avg) -- both still needed for new_buy eligibility. 4th trading day on watchlist (since 2026-08-19), 3 days under the 7-day carry limit. Trigger set to a clean close back above the $45.94 ATH; re-check tomorrow for that level plus volume confirmation.",
        "trigger_price_cad": 45.94,
        "trigger_direction": "above"
      },
      {
        "ticker": "CU",
        "waiting_for": "Canadian Utilities: live_prices.json shows $52.23 today (+1.03%), still ~8.2% below its Jul 31 all-time high / trigger of $56.90. RSI ~58 (within band, not overbought), MACD 0.65 buy per last read. Same-session volume ratio still not found in any today-dated source. Next earnings Oct 22, no near-term risk. 4th trading day on watchlist (since 2026-08-19), 3 days under the 7-day carry limit. Re-check tomorrow with a more targeted RSI/MACD/volume query.",
        "trigger_price_cad": 56.9,
        "trigger_direction": "above"
      },
      {
        "ticker": "LUN",
        "waiting_for": "Lundin Mining (Materials): live_prices.json shows $38.22 today (+0.39%). RSI 56.15 (within the 35-60 pullback band), MACD 0.212 positive, price above both its 20d EMA ($19.61 -- note this earlier EMA read looks stale/inconsistent with the current $38 price level, needs a fresh same-day EMA read) and 50d EMA. Currently reads as extended above its short-term EMAs rather than sitting in a genuine pullback, so setup_A doesn't cleanly fit yet; no confirmed breakout level for setup_B either. 2nd trading day on watchlist (since 2026-08-21). Re-check tomorrow with a fresh, consistent EMA read and a same-session volume figure before scoring.",
        "trigger_price_cad": null,
        "trigger_direction": null
      },
      {
        "ticker": "FM",
        "waiting_for": "First Quantum Minerals (Materials): live_prices.json shows $47.64 today (+0.27%). Technical picture still mixed -- one source's daily rating reads Sell while its own 1-week/1-month trend rating reads Buy -- and no clean, unambiguous MACD or RSI figure was found today (repeat of the 2026-08-21 blocker). Price crossed above its 200d MA around 2026-08-20 per a separate source. 2nd trading day on watchlist (since 2026-08-21). Re-check tomorrow specifically for one consistent RSI/MACD/200MA read plus volume.",
        "trigger_price_cad": null,
        "trigger_direction": null
      }
    ]
  },
  "excluded": [
    { "ticker": "TD", "reason": "Earnings 2026-08-27 is 3 trading days out today (08-25, 08-26, 08-27) -- inside the no_earnings_within_trading_days exclusion window. Also RSI reads 80.88 from one source (above ceiling, but single-source so not independently disqualifying) -- moot given the earnings exclusion.", "price_cad": null },
    { "ticker": "RY", "reason": "Earnings 2026-08-27 is 3 trading days out today -- inside the no_earnings_within_trading_days exclusion window, despite an otherwise constructive technical picture (RSI 38, MACD buy, above 200d MA).", "price_cad": null },
    { "ticker": "BNS", "reason": "watchlist_max_carry_trading_days exceeded -- first appeared 2026-08-14, today is its 7th trading day carried with the $126.87 resistance-reclaim trigger still not crossed (currently $120.24).", "price_cad": null },
    { "ticker": "EIF", "reason": "watchlist_max_carry_trading_days exceeded -- first appeared 2026-08-14, today is its 7th trading day carried with the $136.75 52-week-high trigger still not crossed (currently $126.31), despite strong underlying fundamentals (Q2 guidance raise).", "price_cad": null },
    { "ticker": "BMO", "reason": "Earnings 2026-08-25 is 1 trading day out today -- inside the no_earnings_within_trading_days exclusion window. Also below its MA-20/MA-50 with MACD turned negative on 08-19.", "price_cad": null },
    { "ticker": "CM", "reason": "Earnings 2026-08-27 is 3 trading days out today -- inside the no_earnings_within_trading_days exclusion window, despite an otherwise constructive technical picture (RSI 68.9, MACD buy, near its 08-14 ATH).", "price_cad": null },
    { "ticker": "ABX", "reason": "Price ($51.90) below its 200d EMA ($53.66) -- immediate Step 3 discard. MACD also negative (-1.22).", "price_cad": null },
    { "ticker": "CLS", "reason": "Bearish technical picture -- sell signals from both short- and long-term moving averages, -5.50 technical score, despite a stale 3-month MACD buy read. Does not clear entry criteria today.", "price_cad": null },
    { "ticker": "MDA", "reason": "Price ($33.90) well below its 200d EMA ($56.78) -- immediate Step 3 discard, despite strong Q2 fundamentals (+34% YoY revenue, beat estimates) and a JPMorgan price-target raise to $50.", "price_cad": null },
    { "ticker": "KXS", "reason": "Price below its 200d EMA ($157.47) -- immediate Step 3 discard, despite in-band RSI (57) and positive MACD.", "price_cad": null },
    { "ticker": "X", "reason": "Price below its 200d EMA per the only read found today -- immediate Step 3 discard. Read is somewhat stale; worth a fresh look on a future scan.", "price_cad": null }
  ]
}