Behind the Curtain The Economic Pulse Behind Euro FX1. Introduction
Euro FX Futures (6E), traded on the CME, offer traders exposure to the euro-dollar exchange rate with precision, liquidity, and leverage. Whether hedging European currency risk or speculating on macro shifts, Euro FX contracts remain a vital component of global currency markets.
But what truly moves the euro? Beyond central bank meetings and headlines, the euro reacts sharply to macroeconomic data that signals growth, inflation, or risk appetite. Using a Random Forest Regressor, we explored how economic indicators correlate with Euro FX Futures returns across different timeframes.
In this article, we uncover which metrics drive the euro daily, weekly, and monthly, offering traders a structured, data-backed approach to navigating the Euro FX landscape.
2. Understanding Euro FX Futures Contracts
The CME offers two primary Euro FX Futures products:
o Standard Euro FX Futures (6E):
Contract Size: 125,000 €
Tick Size: 0.000050 per euro = $6.25 per tick per contract
Trading Hours: Nearly 24 hours, Sunday to Friday (US)
o Micro Euro FX Futures (M6E):
Contract Size: 12,500 € (1/10th the size of 6E)
Tick Size: 0.0001 per euro = $1.25 per tick per contract
Accessible to: Smaller accounts, strategy testers, and traders managing precise exposure
o Margins:
6E Initial Margin: ≈ $2,600 per contract (subject to volatility)
M6E Initial Margin: ≈ $260 per contract
Whether trading full-size or micro contracts, Euro FX Futures offer capital-efficient access to one of the most liquid currency pairs globally. Traders benefit from leverage, scalability, and transparent pricing, with the ability to hedge or speculate on Euro FX trends across timeframes.
3. Daily Timeframe: Key Economic Indicators
For day traders, short-term price action in the euro often hinges on rapidly released data that affects market sentiment and intraday flow. According to machine learning results, the top 3 daily drivers are:
Housing Starts: Surging housing starts in the U.S. can signal economic strength and pressure the euro via stronger USD flows. Conversely, weaker construction activity may weaken the dollar and support the euro.
Consumer Sentiment Index: A sentiment-driven metric that reflects household confidence. Optimistic consumers suggest robust consumption and a firm dollar, while pessimism may favor EUR strength on defensive rotation.
Housing Price Index (HPI): Rising home prices can stoke inflation fears and central bank hawkishness, affecting yield differentials between the euro and the dollar. HPI moves often spark short-term FX volatility.
4. Weekly Timeframe: Key Economic Indicators
Swing traders looking for trends spanning several sessions often lean on energy prices and labor data. Weekly insights from our Random Forest model show these three indicators as top drivers:
WTI Crude Oil Prices: Oil prices affect global inflation and trade dynamics. Rising WTI can fuel EUR strength if it leads to USD weakness via inflation concerns or reduced real yields.
Continuing Jobless Claims: An uptick in claims may suggest softening labor conditions in the U.S., potentially bullish for EUR as it implies slower Fed tightening or economic strain.
Brent Crude Oil Prices: As the global benchmark, Brent’s influence on inflation and trade flows is significant. Sustained Brent rallies could create euro tailwinds through weakening dollar momentum.
5. Monthly Timeframe: Key Economic Indicators
Position traders and institutional participants often focus on macroeconomic indicators with structural weight—those that influence monetary policy direction, capital flow, and long-term sentiment. The following three monthly indicators emerged as dominant forces shaping Euro FX Futures:
Industrial Production: A cornerstone of economic output, rising industrial production reflects strong manufacturing activity. Strong U.S. numbers can support the dollar, while a slowdown may benefit the euro. Likewise, weaker European output could undermine EUR demand.
Velocity of Money (M2): This metric reveals how quickly money is circulating in the economy. A rising M2 velocity suggests increased spending and inflationary pressures—potentially positive for the dollar and negative for the euro. Falling velocity signals stagnation and may shift flows into the euro as a lower-yield alternative.
Initial Jobless Claims: While often viewed weekly, the monthly average could reveal structural labor market resilience. A rising trend may weaken the dollar, reinforcing EUR gains as expectations for interest rate cuts grow.
6. Strategy Alignment by Trading Style
Each indicator offers unique insights depending on your approach to market participation:
Day Traders: Focus on the immediacy of daily indicators like Housing Starts, Consumer Sentiment, and Housing Price Index.
Swing Traders: Leverage weekly indicators like Crude Oil Prices and Continuing Claims to ride mid-term moves.
Position Traders: Watch longer-term data such as Industrial Production and M2 Velocity.
7. Risk Management
Currency futures provide access to high leverage and broad macro exposure. With that comes responsibility. Traders must actively manage position sizing, volatility exposure, and stop placement.
Economic indicators inform price movement probabilities—not certainties—making risk protocols just as essential as trade entries.
8. Conclusion
Euro FX Futures are shaped by a deep web of macroeconomic forces. From Consumer Sentiment and Oil Prices to Industrial Production and Money Velocity, each indicator tells part of the story behind Euro FX movement.
Thanks to machine learning, we’ve spotlighted the most impactful data across timeframes, offering traders a framework to align their approach with the heartbeat of the market.
As we continue the "Behind the Curtain" series, stay tuned for future editions uncovering the hidden economic forces behind other major futures markets.
When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com - This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies.
General Disclaimer:
The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.
Commodities
Trading Is Not Gambling: Become A Better Trader Part III'm so thankful the admins at Tradingview selected my first Trading Is Not Gambling video for their Editor's Pick section. What an honor.
I put together this video to try to teach all the new followers how to use analysis to try to plan trade actions and to attempt to minimize risks.
Within this video, I try to teach you to explore the best opportunities based on strong research/analysis skills and to learn to wait for the best opportunities for profits.
Trading is very similar to hunting or trying to hit a baseball... you have to WAIT for the best opportunity, then make a decision on how to execute for the best results.
Trust me, if trading was easy, everyone would be making millions and no one would be trying to find the best trade solutions.
In my opinion, the best solution is to learn the skills to try to develop the best consistent outcomes. And that is what I'm trying to teach you in this video.
I look forward to your comments and suggestions.
Get some.
#trading #research #investing #tradingalgos #tradingsignals #cycles #fibonacci #elliotwave #modelingsystems #stocks #bitcoin #btcusd #cryptos #spy #gold #nq #investing #trading #spytrading #spymarket #tradingmarket #stockmarket #silver
THE IMPORTANCE of Multiple Time Frame Analysis in Forex Gold
In my daily posts, I quite frequently use multiple time frame analysis.
If you want to enhance your predictions and make more accurate decisions, this is the technique you need to master.
In the today's post, we will discuss the crucial importance of multiple time frames analysis in trading the financial markets and forex gold in particular.
1️⃣ Trading on a single time frame, you may miss the important key levels that can be recognized on other time frames.
Take a look at the chart above. Analyzing a daily time frame, we can spot a confirmed bullish breakout of a key daily resistance.
That looks like a perfect buying opportunity.
However, a weekly time frame analysis changes the entire picture, just a little bit above the daily resistance, there is a solid weekly resistance.
From such a perspective, buying GBPUSD looks very risky.
2️⃣ The market trend on higher and lower time frames can be absolutely different.
In the example above, Gold is trading in a bullish trend on a 4h time frame.
It may appear for a newbie trader that buyers are dominating on the market. While a daily time frame analysis shows a completely different picture: the trend on a daily is bearish, and a bullish movement on a 4H is simply a local correctional move.
3️⃣ It may appear that the market has a big growth potential on one time frame while being heavily over-extended on other time frames.
Take a look at GBPJPY: on a weekly time frame, the market is trading in a strong bullish trend.
Checking a daily time frame, however, we can see that the bullish momentum is weakening: the double top pattern is formed and the market is consolidating.
The sentiment is even changing to a bearish once we analyze a 4H time frame. We can spot a rising wedge pattern there and its support breakout - very bearish signal.
4️⃣ Higher time frame analysis may help you to set a safe stop loss.
In the picture above, you can see that stop loss placement above a key daily resistance could help you to avoid stop hunting shorting the Dollar Index.
Analyzing the market solely on 1H time frame, stop loss would have been placed lower and the position would have closed in a loss.
Always check multiple time frame when you analyze the market.
It is highly recommendable to apply the combination of at least 2 time frames to make your trading safer and more accurate.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
Trading Is Not Gambling : Become A Better Trade Part IOver the last few weeks/months, I've tried to help hundreds of traders learn the difference between trading and gambling.
Trading is where you take measured (risk-restricted) attempts to profit from market moves.
Gambling is where you let your emotions and GREED overtake your risk management decisions - going to BIG WINS on every trade.
I think of gambling in the stock market as a person who continually looks for the big 50% to 150%++ gains on options every day. Someone who will pass up the 20%, 30%, and 40% profits and "let it ride to HERO or ZERO" on most trades.
That's not trading. That's flat-out GAMBLING.
I'm going to start a new series of training videos to try to help you understand how trading operates and how you need to learn to protect capital while taking strategic opportunities for profits and growth.
This is not going to be some dumbed-down example of how to trade. I'm going to try to explain the DOs and DO N'Ts of trading vs. gambling.
If you want to be a gambler - then get used to being broke most of the time.
I'll work on this video's subsequent parts later today and this week.
I hope this helps. At least it is a starting point for what I want to teach all of you.
Get some.
#trading #research #investing #tradingalgos #tradingsignals #cycles #fibonacci #elliotwave #modelingsystems #stocks #bitcoin #btcusd #cryptos #spy #gold #nq #investing #trading #spytrading #spymarket #tradingmarket #stockmarket #silver
Best GOLD XAUUSD Consolidation Trading Strategy Explained
In article , you will learn how to identify and trade consolidation on Gold easily.
I will share with you my consolidation trading strategy and a lot of useful XAUUSD trading tips.
1. How to Identify Consolidation
In order to trade consolidation, you should learn to recognize that.
The best and reliable way to spot consolidation is to analyse a price action.
Consolidation is the state of the market when it STOPS updating higher highs & higher lows in a bullish trend OR lower lows & lower highs in a bearish trend.
In other words, it is the situation when the market IS NOT trending.
Most of the time, during such a period, the price forms a horizontal channel.
Above is a perfect example of a consolidation on Gold chart on a daily.
We see a horizontal parallel channel with multiple equal or almost equal highs and lows inside.
For a correct trading of a consolidation, you should correctly underline its boundaries.
Following the chart above, the upper boundary - the resistance, is based on the highest high and the highest candle close.
The lowest candle close and the lowest low compose the lower boundary - the support.
2. What Consolidation Means
Spotting the consolidating market, it is important to understand its meaning and the processes that happen inside.
Consolidation signifies that the market found a fair value.
Growth and bullish impulses occur because of the excess of demand on the market, while bearish moves happen because of the excess of supply.
When supply and demand find a balance, sideways movements start .
Look at the price movements on Gold above.
First, the market was rising because of a strong buying pressure.
Finally, the excess of buying interest was curbed by the sellers.
The market started to trade with a sideways range and found the equilibrium
At some moment, demand started to exceed the supply again and the consolidation was violated . The price updated the high and continued growth.
Usually, the violation of the consolidation happens because of some fundamental event that makes the market participants reassess the value of the asset.
At the same time, the institutional traders, the smart money accumulate their trading positions within the consolidation ranges. As the accumulation completes, they push the prices higher/lower, violating the consolidation.
3. How to Trade Consolidation
Once you identified a consolidation on Gold, there are 2 strategies to trade it.
The resistance of the consolidation provides a perfect zone to sell the market from. You simply put your stop loss above the resistance and your take profit should be the upper boundary of the support.
That is the example of a long trade from support of the consolidation on Gold.
The support of the sideways movement will be a safe zone to buy Gold from. Stop loss will lie below the support zone, take profit will be the lower boundary of the resistance.
AS the price reached a take profit level and tested a resistance, that is a short trade from that.
You can follow such a strategy till the price violates the consolidation and establishes a trend.
The market may stay a very extended period of time in sideways, providing a lot of profitable trading opportunities.
What I like about Gold consolidation trading is that the strategy is very straightforward and completely appropriate for beginners.
It works on any time frame and can be used for intraday, swing trading and scalping
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
Behind the Curtain: Unveiling Gold’s Economic Catalysts1. Introduction
Gold Futures (GC, MGC and 1OZ), traded on the CME market, are one of the most widely used financial instruments for hedging against inflation, currency fluctuations, and macroeconomic uncertainty. As a safe-haven asset, gold reacts to a wide range of economic indicators, making it crucial for traders to understand the underlying forces driving price movements.
By leveraging machine learning, specifically a Random Forest Regressor, we analyze the top economic indicators influencing Gold Futures on daily, weekly, and monthly timeframes. This data-driven approach reveals the key catalysts shaping GC Futures and provides traders with actionable insights to refine their strategies.
2. Understanding Gold Futures Contracts
Gold Futures (GC) are among the most actively traded futures contracts, offering traders and investors exposure to gold price movements with a range of contract sizes to suit different trading strategies. CME Group provides three types of Gold Futures contracts to accommodate traders of all levels:
o Standard Gold Futures (GC):
Contract Size: Represents 100 troy ounces of gold.
Tick Size: Each tick is 0.10 per ounce, equating to $10 per tick per contract.
Purpose: Ideal for institutional traders and large-scale hedgers.
Margin: Approximately $12,500 per contract.
o Micro Gold Futures (MGC):
Contract Size: Represents 10 troy ounces of gold, 1/10th the size of the standard GC contract.
Tick Size: Each tick is $1 per contract.
Purpose: Allows smaller-scale traders to participate in gold markets with lower capital requirements.
Margin: Approximately $1,250 per contract.
o 1-Ounce Gold Futures (1OZ):
Contract Size: Represents 1 troy ounce of gold.
Tick Size: Each tick is 0.25 per ounce, equating to $0.25 per tick per contract.
Purpose: Provides precision trading for retail participants who want exposure to gold at a smaller contract size.
Margin: Approximately $125 per contract.
Keep in mind that margin requirements vary through time as market volatility changes.
3. Daily Timeframe: Key Economic Indicators
Gold Futures respond quickly to short-term economic fluctuations, and three key indicators play a crucial role in daily price movements:
o Velocity of Money (M2):
Measures how quickly money circulates within the economy.
A higher velocity suggests increased spending and inflationary pressure, often boosting gold prices.
A lower velocity indicates stagnation, which may reduce inflation concerns and weigh on gold.
o Unemployment Rate:
Reflects the strength of the labor market.
Rising unemployment increases economic uncertainty, often driving demand for gold as a safe-haven asset.
Declining unemployment can strengthen risk assets, potentially reducing gold’s appeal.
o Oil Import Price Index:
Represents the cost of imported crude oil, influencing inflation trends.
Higher oil prices contribute to inflationary pressures, supporting gold as a hedge.
Lower oil prices may ease inflation concerns, weakening gold demand.
4. Weekly Timeframe: Key Economic Indicators
While daily fluctuations impact short-term traders, weekly economic data provides a broader perspective on gold price movements. The top weekly indicators include:
o Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP):
Measures the number of new jobs added in the U.S. economy each month.
Strong NFP numbers typically strengthen the U.S. dollar and increase interest rate hike expectations, pressuring gold prices.
Weak NFP figures can drive economic uncertainty, increasing gold’s safe-haven appeal.
o Nonfarm Productivity:
Represents labor efficiency and economic output per hour worked.
Rising productivity suggests economic growth, potentially reducing demand for gold.
Falling productivity can signal economic weakness, increasing gold’s appeal.
o Personal Spending:
Tracks consumer spending habits, influencing economic activity and inflation expectations.
Higher spending can lead to inflation, often pushing gold prices higher.
Lower spending suggests economic slowing, which may either weaken or support gold depending on inflationary outlooks.
5. Monthly Timeframe: Key Economic Indicators
Long-term trends in Gold Futures are shaped by macroeconomic forces that impact investor sentiment, inflation expectations, and interest rates. The most influential monthly indicators include:
o China GDP Growth Rate:
China is one of the largest consumers of gold, both for investment and jewelry.
Strong GDP growth signals robust demand for gold, pushing prices higher.
Slower growth may weaken gold demand, applying downward pressure on prices.
o Corporate Bond Spread (BAA - 10Y):
Measures the risk premium between corporate bonds and U.S. Treasury bonds.
A widening spread signals economic uncertainty, increasing demand for gold as a safe-haven asset.
A narrowing spread suggests confidence in risk assets, potentially reducing gold’s appeal.
o 10-Year Treasury Yield:
Gold has an inverse relationship with bond yields since it does not generate interest.
Rising yields increase the opportunity cost of holding gold, often leading to price declines.
Falling yields make gold more attractive, leading to price appreciation.
6. Risk Management Strategies
Given gold’s volatility and sensitivity to macroeconomic changes, risk management is essential for trading GC Futures. Key risk strategies may include:
Monitoring Global Liquidity Conditions:
Keep an eye on M2 Money Supply and inflation trends to anticipate major shifts in gold pricing.
Interest Rate Sensitivity:
Since gold competes with yield-bearing assets, traders should closely track interest rate movements.
Higher 10-Year Treasury Yields can weaken gold’s value as a non-yielding asset.
Diversification and Hedging:
Traders can hedge gold positions using interest rate-sensitive assets such as bonds or inflation-linked securities.
Gold often performs well in times of equity market distress, making it a commonly used portfolio diversifier.
7. Conclusion
Gold Futures remain one of the most influential instruments in the global financial markets.
By leveraging machine learning insights and macroeconomic data, traders can better position themselves for profitable trading opportunities. Whether trading daily, weekly, or monthly trends, understanding these indicators allows market participants to align their strategies with broader economic conditions.
Stay tuned for the next "Behind the Curtain" installment, where we explore economic forces shaping another key futures market.
When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com - This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies.
General Disclaimer:
The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.
The Two-Faced Market: The Truth Behind Trend Reversals!🎭 The Two-Faced Market: The Truth Behind Trend Reversals! 📊🚀
📢 Ever entered a trade thinking you caught the perfect trend , only to get stopped out as the market reversed?
You're not alone. The market has a way of fooling traders—but if you understand its “two-faced” nature, you can stay one step ahead.
🔥 Why Trends Reverse (and How to Catch It Early!)
Most traders believe trends reverse due to "news" or "randomness." But in reality, the market gives signals long before the turn happens. Here’s what to watch for:
🔹 Momentum Divergence: The price makes a new high, but indicators like RSI/MACD don’t.
🔹 Volume Anomaly: The trend continues, but volume dries up—a sign of weakness.
🔹 Failed Breakouts: Price breaks a key level, only to fall back inside—trapping traders.
🔹 Candlestick Clues: Reversal patterns like engulfing candles or wicks rejecting key levels appear.
🚀 Mastering these signals can put you ahead of 90% of traders.
📊 Real Example: XAU/ USD Trend Reversal in Action
🔎 Breakdown of the setup:
✅ Step 1: Identify a trend (through market structure, trendline or moving average).
✅ Step 2: Look for failed breakouts against the trend
✅ Step 3: Look for trend-following setups
🎯 The Market’s Game: Recognizing The Shift
Trends don’t die suddenly—they fade before reversing. The best traders spot the early signs and position before the crowd.
💡 Have you spotted these reversal signs before? Drop a comment with your experience! 👇🔥
📚 Always follow your trading plan regarding entry, risk management, and trade management.
Good luck!
All Strategies Are Good; If Managed Properly!
~Rich
Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
Soybean Futures Surge: ZS, ZL, and ZM Align for a Bullish MoveI. Introduction
Soybean futures are showing a potentially strong upcoming bullish momentum, with ZS (Soybean Futures), ZL (Soybean Oil Futures), and ZM (Soybean Meal Futures) aligning in favor of an upward move. The recent introduction of Micro Ag Futures by CME Group has further enhanced trading opportunities by allowing traders to manage risk more effectively while engaging with longer-term setups such as weekly timeframes.
Currently, all three soybean-related markets are displaying bullish candlestick patterns, accompanied by strengthening demand indicators. With RSI confirming upward momentum without entering overbought territory, traders are eyeing potential opportunities. Among the three, ZM appears to be the one which will potentially provide the greatest strength, showing resilience in price action and a favorable technical setup for a high reward-to-risk trade.
II. Technical Analysis of Soybean Markets
A closer look at the price action in ZS, ZL, and ZM reveals a confluence of bullish factors:
o Candlestick Patterns:
All three markets have printed bullish weekly candlestick formations, signaling increased buying interest.
o RSI Trends:
RSI is in an uptrend across all three contracts, reinforcing the bullish outlook.
Importantly, none of them are currently in overbought conditions, suggesting further upside potential.
o Volume Considerations:
Higher volume on up moves and decreasing volume on down-moves adds credibility to the bullish bias.
III. Comparative Price Action Analysis
While all three soybean-related markets are trending higher, their relative strength varies. By comparing recent weekly price action:
o ZM (Soybean Meal Futures) stands out as the one which will potentially become the strongest performer.
Last week, ZM closed above its prior weekly open, marking a +1.40% weekly gain.
RSI is not only trending higher but is also above its average, a sign of potential continued strength.
o ZS and ZL confirm bullishness but lag slightly in relative strength when compared to ZM.
This comparative analysis suggests that while all three markets are bullish, ZM presents the most compelling trade setup in terms of technical confirmation and momentum.
IV. Trade Setup & Forward-Looking Trade Idea
Given the strong technical signals, the trade idea focuses on ZM (Soybean Meal Futures) as the primary candidate.
Proposed Trade Plan:
Direction: Long (Buy)
Entry: Buy above last week’s high at 307.6
Target: UFO resistance at 352.0
Stop Loss: Below entry at approximately 292.8 (for a 3:1 reward-to-risk ratio)
Reward-to-Risk Ratio: 3:1
Additionally, with the introduction of Micro Ag Futures, traders can now fine-tune position sizing, making it easier to manage risk effectively on longer-term charts like the weekly timeframe. Given the novelty of such micro contracts, here is a CME resource that could be useful to understand their characteristics such as contracts specs .
V. Risk Management & Trade Discipline
Executing a trade plan is just one part of the equation—risk management is equally critical, especially when trading larger timeframes like the weekly chart. Here are key considerations for managing risk effectively:
1. Importance of Precise Entry and Exit Levels
Entering above last week’s high (307.6) ensures confirmation of bullish momentum before taking a position.
The target at 352.0 (UFO resistance) provides a well-defined profit objective, avoiding speculation.
A stop-loss at 292.8 is strategically placed to maintain a 3:1 reward-to-risk ratio, ensuring that potential losses remain controlled.
2. The Role of Stop Loss Orders & Hedging
A stop-loss prevents excessive drawdowns in case the market moves against the position.
Traders can also hedge using Micro Ag Futures to offset exposure while maintaining a bullish bias on the broader trend.
3. Avoiding Undefined Risk Exposure
The Micro Ag Futures contracts enable traders to scale into or out of positions without significantly increasing risk.
Position sizing should be adjusted based on account risk tolerance, ensuring no single trade overly impacts capital.
4. Adjusting for Market Volatility
Monitoring volatility using ATR (Average True Range) or other risk-adjusted indicators helps in adjusting stop-loss placement.
If volatility increases, a wider stop may be needed, but it should still align with a strong reward-to-risk structure.
Proper risk management ensures that trades are executed with discipline, preventing emotional decision-making and maximizing long-term trading consistency.
VI. Conclusion & Disclaimers
Soybean futures are showing bullishness, with ZS, ZL, and ZM aligning in favor of further upside. However, among them, ZM (Soybean Meal Futures) potentially exhibits the most reliable momentum, making it the prime candidate for a high-probability trade setup.
With bullish candlestick patterns, RSI trends confirming momentum, and volume supporting the move, traders have an opportunity to capitalize on this momentum while managing risk effectively using Micro Ag Futures.
When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com - This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies.
General Disclaimer:
The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.
How to Find Best Supply and Demand Zones/Areas in Forex & Gold
In this article, I will show you the strongest supply and demand zones.
These zones are called confluence zones.
I will teach you to identify these areas properly and explain how to apply it in Forex and Gold trading.
Let's start with a short but important theory.
In technical analysis, there are 2 types of supports and resistances.
Horizontal structures are supports and resistance that are based on horizontal key levels.
Vertical structures are supports and resistance that are based on trend lines.
A confluence supply or demand zone, will be the area of the intersection between a horizontal and vertical structures.
Look at GBPJPY pair. I underlined a significant horizontal support and a rising trend line - a vertical support.
We see a clear crossing of both structures.
The trend line and a horizontal support will compose a narrow, contracting area. It will be a confluence demand zone.
Within, with a high probability, a high volume of buying orders will concentrate, and a strong bullish movement will initiate after its test.
Above is one more example of a powerful demand zone.
It was spotted on a Gold chart.
Now let's discuss the supply zone.
There are 2 strong structures on GBPNZD: a vertical resistance - a falling trend line and a horizontal resistance.
These 2 resistances will constitute a confluence supply zone.
That is a powerful resistance cluster that will concentrate the selling orders. Chances will be high to see a strong bearish movement from that.
There is a strong supply zone on CHFJPY that is based on the intersection of a wide horizontal resistance and a falling trend line.
Supply and demand zones that we discussed are very significant. Very often, strong bullish and bearish waves will initiate from these clusters.
Your ability to recognize these zones will help you to make accurate predictions and identify a safe point to open a trading position from
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
Bullish & Bearish Reversal Divergence Trading in Forex🔍 Bullish & Bearish Reversal Divergence Trading in Forex: A Detailed Overview
Divergence is a powerful concept in technical analysis — it helps spot potential trend reversals and momentum shifts. Let’s dive into the details with clear strategies and some visual flair! 🚀
🧠 What is Divergence?
Divergence happens when price action and a technical indicator (like RSI, MACD, or Stochastic) move in opposite directions. This hints that the current trend is losing strength and a possible reversal is coming.
📈 Types of Divergence
🐂 Bullish Reversal Divergence (Buy Signal)
Price: Makes lower lows ⬇️
Indicator: Makes higher lows ⬆️
Meaning: Sellers are losing momentum; buyers might take over soon.
Signal: Potential uptrend reversal ahead.
🔑 Key Confirmation Tools:
Support zone bounce 🛑
Bullish candlestick patterns (Hammer, Engulfing) 🕯️
Increased buying volume 📊
💡 Example Setup:
RSI makes a higher low while price drops lower — prepare for a long (buy) position.
🐻 Bearish Reversal Divergence (Sell Signal)
Price: Makes higher highs ⬆️
Indicator: Makes lower highs ⬇️
Meaning: Buyers are losing strength; sellers could take control.
Signal: Potential downtrend reversal ahead.
🔑 Key Confirmation Tools:
Resistance zone rejection 🚧
Bearish candlestick patterns (Shooting Star, Engulfing) 🌑
Increased selling volume 📉
💡 Example Setup:
MACD makes a lower high while price pushes higher — prepare for a short (sell) position.
🛠️ Best Indicators for Divergence Trading
RSI (Relative Strength Index) – Tracks overbought/oversold conditions. 📊
MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) – Measures momentum shifts. 💥
Stochastic Oscillator – Identifies trend strength and reversals. 🎢
🎯 Divergence Trading Strategies
1️⃣ Classic Divergence Strategy
Spot bullish or bearish divergence. 🔍
Confirm with support/resistance levels. 🧱
Wait for a reversal candlestick pattern (like a Doji, Engulfing, or Pin Bar). 🕯️
Enter trade with a tight stop loss below support (for buys) or above resistance (for sells). 🎯
2️⃣ Divergence + Trendline Break Strategy
Draw a trendline following the current trend. 📐
Spot divergence as the trend loses strength. 🚨
Wait for a trendline breakout for extra confirmation. 💥
Enter trade on the break and retest of the trendline. 💯
3️⃣ Divergence + Moving Average Strategy
Spot divergence between price and indicator. 📉
Use a moving average (MA) like the 50 EMA or 200 EMA to confirm the trend shift. 📈
Buy when price crosses above the MA after bullish divergence. 💚
Sell when price crosses below the MA after bearish divergence. ❤️
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Ignoring confirmation: Always wait for candle closes or breakouts.
🚫 Forcing divergence: Only trade when divergence is clear.
🚫 Skipping risk management: Use a stop loss and position sizing.
🚫 Overtrading small timeframes: Higher timeframes (4H, Daily) offer more reliable signals.
Best Strategies to Identify a Bearish Reversal in Gold Trading
In this article, I will explain to you 4 efficient strategies to identify a bearish reversal with technical analysis in Gold trading.
You will learn price action, SMC and technical indicator strong bearish signals.
First, let me remind you that different bearish signals may indicate a different magnitude and a degree of a potential reversal.
While some signals will be reliable for predicting short term reversals, some will be more accurate in projecting long-term ones.
One more thing to note is that one of the best time frames for bearish reversal confirmations on Gold is the daily. So, all the cases that will be explained will be on a daily time frame strictly.
XAUUSD Bearish Reversal Signal 1 - Bearish Price Action Pattern.
One of the perfect indicators of the overbought state of a bullish trend on Gold is bearish price action patterns.
I am talking about classic horizontal neckline based patterns like head & shoulders, inverted cup & handle, double/triple top and descending triangle.
Typically, these patterns leave early bearish clues and help to predict a coming downturn movement.
A strong bearish signal is a breakout of a horizontal neckline of the pattern and a candle close below.
The price may continue falling at least to the next key support then.
Above is the example of a head and shoulders pattern on Gold, on a daily. Its formation was the evidence of the overheated market. Bearish breakout of its neckline confirmed that, and the price continued falling.
Bearish Reversal Signal 2 - Rising Channel Breakout.
When the market is trading in a healthy bullish trend, it usually starts moving with the boundaries of a rising channel.
It can be the expanding, parallel or contracting channel.
Its support will represent a strong vertical structure , from where new bullish waves will initiate after corrections .
Its breakout will quite accurately indicate a change of a market sentiment and a highly probable bearish reversal.
Look at this rising parallel channel on Gold chart on a daily. The market was respecting its boundaries for more than 3 months.
A bearish violation of its support was an accurate bearish signal that triggered a strong bearish movement.
Bearish Reversal Signal 3 - Change of Character & Bearish Price Action.
One of the main characteristics of a bullish trend is the tendency of the market to set new higher highs and higher lows. Each final high of each bullish impulse is always higher than the previous. Each final low of each bearish movement is also higher than the previous.
In such a price action, the level of the l ast higher low is a very significant point.
The violation of that and a formation of a new low is an important event that is called Change of Character CHoCH.
It signifies the violation of a current bullish trend.
After that, one should pay attention to a consequent price action, because CHoCH can easily turn into just an extended correctional movement.
If the market sets a lower high and a new lower low then, it will confirm the start of a new bearish trend.
That is the example of a confirmed Change of Character on Gold on a daily. To validate the start of a new bearish trend, we should let the price set a lower high and a form a bearish impulse with a new lower low.
Bearish Reversal Signal 4 - Death Cross.
Death cross is a strong long-term bearish reversal signal that is based on a crossover of 2 moving averages.
On a daily time frame, it is usually based on a combination of 2 Simple Moving Averages: one with 50 length and one with 200 length.
The signal is considered to be confirmed when a 50 length SMA crosses below 200 length SMA.
It is commonly believed that it signifies that the market enters a long-term bearish trend.
On the chart, I plotted 2 Moving Averages. When the blue one crosses below the orange one, a global bearish trend on Gold will be confirmed
The 4 bearish signals that we discussed will be useful for predicting short term, mid term and long term bearish reversals on Gold.
While price action patterns will indicate local bearish movements, Death Cross will confirm a global trend change.
Learn to recognize all the signals that we discussed to make more accurate trading and investing decisions.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
The Main Elements of Profitable Trading Strategy (Forex, Gold)
There are hundreds of different trading strategies based on fundamental and technical analysis.
These strategies combine different tools and trading techniques.
And even though, they are so different, they all have a very similar structure.
In this educational article, we will discuss 4 important elements and components every GOLD, Forex trading strategy should have.
What Do You Trade
1️⃣ The first component of a trading strategy is the list of the instruments that you trade.
You should know in advance what assets should be in your watch list.
For example, if you are a forex trader, your strategy should define the currency pairs that you are trading among the dozens that are available.
How Do You Trade
2️⃣ The second element of any trading strategy is the entry reasons.
Entry reasons define the exact set of market conditions that you look for to execute the trade.
For example, trading key levels with confirmation, you should wait for a test of a key level first and then look for some kind of confirmation like a formation of price action pattern before you open a trade.
Above, is the example how the same Gold XAUUSD chart can be perceived differently with different trading strategies.
3️⃣ The third component of a trading strategy is the position size of your trades.
Your trading strategy should define in advance the rules for calculating the lot of size of your trades.
For example, with my trading strategy, I risk 1% of my trading account per trade. When I am planning the trading position, I calculate a lot size accordingly.
Position Management
4️⃣ The fourth element of any trading strategy is trade management rules.
By trade management, I mean the exact conditions for closing the trade in a loss, taking the profit and trailing stop loss.
Trade management defines your actions when the trading position becomes active.
Make sure that your trading strategy includes these 4 elements.
Of course, your strategy might be more sophisticated and involve more components, but these 4 elements are the core, the foundation of any strategy.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
Sharing a strategyFor my scalping or Intraday trade, I created this pine script combining various indicator (namely the famous Alphatrend by @KivancOzbilgic, Previous Day Close and 52WeeksHigh/Low) into one indicator.
If price goes above the PDC and Alphatrend is a buy then I will make quick long trade. If price goes below the PDC and Alphatrend is a sell then I will make quick short trade. I added a percentage based on PDC to give me where I need to put my stoploss. Not really important as I always have proper risk reward ratio but it comes handy most of the time.
How Can You Trade Energy Commodities?How Can You Trade Energy Commodities?
Energy trading connects global markets to the vital resources that power economies—oil and natural gas. These commodities aren’t just essential for industries and homes; they’re also dynamic assets for traders, influenced by geopolitics, supply, and demand.
Whether you’re exploring benchmarks like Brent Crude and WTI or understanding natural gas markets, this article unpacks the essentials of energy commodities and how to trade them.
What Is Energy Trading?
Energy trading involves buying and selling energy resources that power industries and households worldwide. These commodities are essential for modern life and are traded in global markets both as physical products and financial instruments.
Energy commodities include resources like oil, natural gas, gasoline, coal, ethanol, uranium, and more. In this article, we’ll focus on the two that traders interact with the most: oil and natural gas.
Oil is often divided into benchmarks like Brent Crude and WTI, which set global and regional pricing standards. These benchmarks represent crude oil that varies in quality and origin, impacting its trade and refining applications.
Natural gas, on the other hand, plays a critical role in electricity generation, heating, and industrial processes. It’s traded in various forms, including pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), offering flexibility in transportation and supply.
What makes energy commodities unique is their global demand and sensitivity to external factors. Weather patterns, geopolitical developments, and economic activity all heavily influence their prices. For traders, this creates a dynamic market with potential opportunities to take advantage of price movements.
Additionally, energy commodities can act as economic indicators. A surge in oil prices, for example, might reflect growing demand from expanding industries, while a drop could indicate reduced consumption. Understanding these resources isn’t just about their practical use—it’s about grasping their role in shaping global markets and financial systems.
Oil: Brent Crude vs WTI
Brent Crude and WTI (West Texas Intermediate) are the world’s two leading oil benchmarks, shaping prices for a resource critical to industries and economies. Despite both being types of crude oil, they differ significantly in origin, quality, and market influence.
Brent Crude
Brent Crude is a globally recognised benchmark for oil pricing, primarily sourced from fields in the North Sea. Its importance lies in its role as a pricing reference for about two-thirds of the world’s oil supply. What makes Brent unique is its lighter and sweeter quality, meaning it has lower sulphur content and is easier to refine into fuels like petrol and diesel.
This benchmark is particularly significant in European, African, and Asian markets, where it serves as a key indicator of global oil prices. Its value is heavily influenced by international demand, geopolitical events, and production levels in major exporting countries. For traders, Brent offers a window into global supply and demand trends, making it a critical component of energy markets.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI)
WTI, or West Texas Intermediate, is the benchmark for oil produced in the United States. Extracted primarily from Texas and surrounding regions, WTI is even lighter and sweeter than Brent, making it suitable for refining into high-value products like petrol.
WTI’s pricing is heavily tied to North American markets, with its hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, a key point for storage and distribution. Localised factors, like US production rates and storage capacity, often create price differentials between WTI and Brent, with Brent typically trading at a premium. For example, logistical bottlenecks in the US can drive WTI prices lower.
The main distinction between the two lies in their geographical focus: while Brent captures the international market’s pulse, WTI provides insights into North American energy dynamics. Together, they form the foundation of global oil pricing.
Natural Gas: A Growing Energy Commodity
Natural gas is a cornerstone of the global energy market, valued for its versatility and role in powering economies. It’s used extensively for electricity generation, heating, and industrial processes, with demand continuing to rise as countries seek cleaner alternatives to coal and oil.
This energy commodity comes in two primary forms for trade: pipeline natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Pipeline gas is delivered directly via extensive networks, making it dominant in regions like North America and Europe.
LNG, on the other hand, is supercooled to a liquid state for transportation across oceans, opening up markets that lack pipeline infrastructure. LNG trade has grown rapidly in recent years, with key suppliers like Qatar, Australia, and the US meeting surging demand in Asia.
Pricing for natural gas varies regionally, with hubs like Henry Hub in the US and the National Balancing Point (NBP) in the UK serving as benchmarks. These hubs reflect regional dynamics, such as weather conditions, storage levels, and local supply disruptions.
Natural gas prices are also closely tied to broader geopolitical and economic factors. For example, harsh winters often drive up heating demand, while conflicts or sanctions affecting major producers can create supply constraints. This volatility makes natural gas an active and highly watched market for traders, offering potential opportunities tied to shifting global conditions.
Price Factors of Energy Commodities
Energy commodity prices are influenced by a mix of global events, market fundamentals, and local factors. Here’s a breakdown of key elements driving oil and gas trading prices:
- Supply and Production Levels: Output from major producers like OPEC nations, the US, and Russia has a direct impact on prices. Supply cuts or surges can quickly move markets.
- Geopolitical Events: Conflicts, sanctions, or political instability in oil and gas-rich regions often disrupt supply chains, creating volatility.
- Weather and Seasonal Demand: Cold winters boost natural gas demand for heating, while summer driving seasons often increase oil consumption. Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, can also damage infrastructure and reduce supply.
- Economic Growth: Expanding economies typically consume more energy, driving demand and prices higher. Conversely, a slowdown or recession can weaken demand.
- Storage Levels: Inventories act as a cushion against supply disruptions. Low storage levels often signal tighter markets, pushing prices up.
- Transportation Costs: The cost of shipping oil or LNG across regions impacts pricing, particularly for seaborne commodities like Brent Crude and LNG.
- Exchange Rates: Energy commodities are usually priced in dollars, meaning currency fluctuations can affect affordability in non-dollar markets.
- Market Sentiment: Traders’ expectations, shaped by reports like US inventory data or OPEC forecasts, can influence short-term price movements.
How to Trade Energy Commodities
Trading energy commodities like oil and natural gas involves navigating dynamic markets with the right tools, strategies, and risk awareness. Here’s a breakdown of how traders typically approach energy commodity trading:
Instruments for Energy Trading
Energy commodities can be traded through various instruments, typically through an oil and gas trading platform. For instance, FXOpen provides access to oil and gas CFDs alongside 700+ other markets, including currency pairs, stocks, ETFs, and more.
- CFDs (Contracts for Difference): Popular among retail traders because they allow access to global energy markets without owning the physical assets. They offer leverage and provide flexibility to take advantage of both rising and falling prices. Additionally, CFDs have lower entry costs, no expiration dates, and eliminate concerns like storage or delivery logistics. Please remember that leverage trading increases risks.
- Futures: These are contracts to buy or sell commodities at a future date. While they provide leverage and flexibility, trading energy derivatives like futures is often unnecessarily complex for the average retail trader.
- ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds): Energy ETFs diversify exposure to energy commodities or related sectors.
- Energy Stocks: Shares in oil and gas companies provide indirect exposure to commodity price changes.
Analysis: Fundamental and Technical
Energy traders rely on two primary types of analysis:
- Fundamental Analysis: Examines supply and demand factors like OPEC decisions, weather patterns, geopolitical tensions, and economic indicators such as GDP growth or industrial output.
- Technical Analysis: Focuses on price charts, identifying patterns, trends, and important levels to anticipate potential market movements.
Combining these approaches can offer a broader perspective, helping traders refine their strategies.
Taking a Position and Managing Risk
Once traders identify potential opportunities, they decide on position size and duration based on their analysis. Risk management is critical to help traders potentially mitigate losses in these volatile markets. Strategies often include:
- Diversifying positions to reduce exposure to a single commodity.
- Setting limits on position sizes to align with overall portfolio risk.
- Monitoring leverage carefully, as it can amplify both potential returns and losses.
Risk Factors in Energy Commodities Trading
Trading energy commodities like oil and natural gas offer potential opportunities, but it also comes with significant risks due to the market's volatility and global nature.
- Price Volatility: Energy markets are highly sensitive to geopolitical events, economic shifts, and supply disruptions. This can lead to rapid price swings, particularly if the event is unexpected.
- Leverage Risks: Many instruments, like CFDs and futures, allow traders to use leverage, amplifying both potential returns and losses. Mismanaging leverage can lead to significant setbacks.
- Geopolitical Uncertainty: Events like conflicts in oil-producing regions or trade sanctions can disrupt supply chains and sharply impact prices.
- Market Sentiment: Energy prices can react strongly to reports like inventory data, OPEC announcements, or unexpected news, creating rapid shifts in sentiment and price direction.
- Overexposure: Focusing too heavily on a single energy commodity can magnify losses if the market moves against the position.
- Economic Factors: Slowing industrial activity or recession fears can reduce demand for energy, putting downward pressure on prices.
The Bottom Line
Energy commodities trading offers potential opportunities, driven by global demand and supply. Whether focusing on oil, natural gas, or other energy assets, understanding the fundamentals and risks is key to navigating this complex market. Ready to explore oil and gas commodity trading via CFDs? Open an FXOpen account to access advanced tools, competitive spreads, low commissions, and four trading platforms designed to support your journey.
FAQ
What Are Energy Commodities?
Energy commodities are natural resources used to power industries, homes, and transportation. Key examples include crude oil, natural gas, and coal. These commodities are traded globally as physical assets or through financial instruments like futures and CFDs.
Can I Make Money Trading Commodities?
Trading commodities offers potential opportunities to take advantage of price movements, but it also involves significant risks. The effectiveness of your trades depends on understanding of market dynamics, analyses of supply and demand, and risk management. While some traders achieve returns, losses are also common, especially in volatile markets like energy.
How Do I Start Investing in Energy?
Investing in energy typically begins with choosing an instrument like ETFs or stocks, depending on your goals and risk tolerance. Researching market fundamentals, monitoring geopolitical and economic factors, and practising sound risk management are essential steps for new investors.
What Is an Energy Trading Platform?
An energy trading platform, or power trading platform, is software that enables traders to buy and sell energy commodities. These energy trading solutions provide access to pricing data, charting tools, and news feeds, helping traders analyse markets and execute trades efficiently.
Trade on TradingView with FXOpen. Consider opening an account and access over 700 markets with tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions from $1.50 per lot.
This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
How to Get Funded and Become a Forex Prop Trader in 2025?How to Get Funded and Become a Forex Prop Trader in 2025: A Step-by-Step Action Plan
With prop trading firms offering funding to skilled traders, 2025 presents an excellent opportunity to trade with significant capital while limiting your personal risk. Here’s a detailed roadmap to getting funded and becoming a successful prop trader in the forex market.
________________________________________
📌 Step 1: Build a Profitable Trading Strategy
Before applying to a prop firm, you need a tested and profitable strategy that aligns with prop firm risk rules. Here’s what to focus on:
✅ Choose a Trading Style
• Scalping – Quick, small trades (requires low spreads and fast execution).
• Day Trading – Intraday trades with clear setups (most prop firms allow).
• Swing Trading – Holding trades for days/weeks (lower stress, fits many prop firm rules).
• Algorithmic Trading – Using bots or EAs (some firms allow automation).
✅ Develop a High-Probability Edge
• Top-Down Technical Analysis (Identify trends using multiple timeframes).
• Price Action & Market Structure (Support/resistance, breakouts, trendlines).
• Risk-Reward Ratios (Aim for at least 1:2 RR on trades).
• News & Fundamentals (FOMC, NFP, CPI, interest rate decisions).
✅ Backtest & Optimize Your Strategy
• Use Forex Tester 5 or TradingView’s replay mode to test past market conditions.
• Run at least 100-200 trades in a demo account.
• Maintain a win rate above 50% with an R:R of 1:2 or higher.
________________________________________
📌 Step 2: Master Risk & Money Management
Most prop firms fail traders due to poor risk management. Here’s how to avoid that:
✅ Follow Strict Drawdown Rules
• Daily Drawdown: Most firms allow 5% max daily loss.
• Overall Drawdown: 8-10% max loss before account termination.
• Solution: Risk only 0.5% - 1% per trade.
✅ Position Sizing
• Lot Size Calculator: Always use a calculator to match risk per trade.
• Adjust for Volatility: Trade smaller lots on high-impact news days.
✅ Risk-Adjusted Growth
• Withdraw profits monthly to secure earnings.
• Scale up gradually instead of over-leveraging.
________________________________________
📌 Step 3: Get Funded by a Prop Firm
🚀 Top Prop Firms in 2025 for Forex Traders
• FTMO – Up to $400,000 funding, 90% profit share.
• My Forex Funds (MFF) – Up to $600,000 funding, 85% profit split.
• The Funded Trader – 80-90% profit split, offers aggressive scaling.
• Fidelcrest – Allows scalping, news trading, and EAs.
• E8 Funding – Low drawdown rules, 80% split.
📈 How to Pass a Prop Firm Challenge
Most firms require a two-phase evaluation:
1. Phase 1: Profit target (8-10%) within 30 days without exceeding the daily/overall drawdown.
2. Phase 2: Lower profit target (4-5%) within 60 days with the same risk rules.
3. Funded Stage: Trade firm capital with a profit split (usually 75-90% to the trader).
🛠️ Pro Tips to Pass a Prop Firm Challenge
✅ Risk only 0.5% per trade (low risk = higher success rate).
✅ Trade high-probability setups only (2-3 trades per day max).
✅ Avoid trading the first & last 15 minutes of sessions (high spreads).
✅ Use a prop firm challenge simulator before applying.
________________________________________
📌 Step 4: Optimize & Scale Your Trading Career
🔹 Get Multiple Funded Accounts
• Many firms allow traders to manage multiple accounts.
• Use copy trading software (e.g., Trade Copier, FXBlue) to replicate trades across accounts.
• Some firms have a combined max funding of over $2 million.
🔹 Transition to a Full-Time Forex Trader
1. Withdraw Profits Monthly – Secure earnings and reinvest.
2. Diversify Income Streams – Consider trading signals, coaching, or selling EAs.
3. Trade with Institutional Mindset – Focus on consistency over big wins.
________________________________________
📌 Step 5: Use Trading Tools & AI Bots for an Edge
🔹 Best Forex Trading Tools in 2025
📊 TradingView & MT5 – Best for charting & analysis.
📉 AutoRisk Calculator – Automates lot sizing based on risk %.
🤖 AI & Algo Bots – AI-powered news sentiment analysis & high-frequency trading.
📅 Forex Factory & Myfxbook – Economic calendar & trade tracking.
________________________________________
📌 Step 6: Stay Ahead in the Forex Market
🚀 Follow Pro Traders – Learn from institutions & hedge funds.
📊 Analyze Market Cycles – 2025 will be affected by interest rates & global policies.
📉 Avoid Overtrading – Focus on quality over quantity.
📈 Invest in Continuous Learning – Join trading communities & courses.
________________________________________
🎯 Final Thoughts: The Fastest Way to Become a Forex Prop Trader in 2025
✅ Develop a tested, profitable strategy.
✅ Master risk & money management.
✅ Apply to top prop firms & pass the evaluation.
✅ Scale with multiple funded accounts.
✅ Stay disciplined, patient, and focused on long-term success.
Ichimoku Theories - Complicated? Keep it SimpleNYMEX:CL1!
The Ichimoku Strategy is a technical analysis method using the Ichimoku Kinko Hyo indicator, which helps traders identify trends, support/resistance levels, and potential trade signals. It consists of five key components:
Ichimoku Indicator Components:
1. Tenkan-sen (Conversion Line): (9-period moving average)
• Short-term trend indicator.
• A sharp slope suggests strong momentum.
2. Kijun-sen (Base Line): (26-period moving average)
• Medium-term trend indicator.
• Acts as a support/resistance level.
3. Senkou Span A (Leading Span A): ((Tenkan-sen + Kijun-sen) / 2, plotted 26 periods ahead)
• Forms one edge of the Kumo (Cloud).
• A rising Span A suggests an uptrend.
4. Senkou Span B (Leading Span B): (52-period moving average, plotted 26 periods ahead)
• The second edge of the Kumo (Cloud).
• When Span A is above Span B, the cloud is bullish (green); when Span A is below Span B, it’s bearish (red).
5. Chikou Span (Lagging Span): (Closing price plotted 26 periods behind)
• Confirms trend direction.
• If Chikou Span is above past prices, it signals bullish momentum.
Trading Strategies Using Ichimoku
1. Kumo Breakout Strategy
• Buy when the price breaks above the Kumo (Cloud).
• Sell when the price breaks below the Kumo.
2. Tenkan-Kijun Cross Strategy
• Bullish signal: Tenkan-sen crosses above Kijun-sen.
• Bearish signal: Tenkan-sen crosses below Kijun-sen.
3. Chikou Span Confirmation
• Buy when Chikou Span is above past price action.
• Sell when Chikou Span is below past price action.
4. Kumo Twist
• When Senkou Span A crosses above Senkou Span B, it signals a potential bullish reversal.
• When Senkou Span A crosses below Senkou Span B, it suggests a bearish reversal.
5. Trend Confirmation
• Price above the cloud = bullish trend.
• Price inside the cloud = consolidation.
• Price below the cloud = bearish trend.
Advantages of Ichimoku Strategy
✅ Provides a comprehensive market view (trend, momentum, support/resistance).
✅ Works well in trending markets.
✅ Offers clear entry and exit signals.
Limitations
❌ Less effective in ranging or choppy markets.
❌ Can be complex for beginners.
❌ Requires confirmation with other indicators (e.g., RSI, MACD).
Trade Smart - Trade Safe 🚀
Leap Ahead with a Regression Breakout on Crude OilThe Leap Trading Competition: Your Chance to Shine
TradingView’s “The Leap” Trading Competition presents a unique opportunity for traders to put their futures trading skills to the test. This competition allows participants to trade select CME Group futures contracts, including Crude Oil (CL) and Micro Crude Oil (MCL), giving traders access to one of the most actively traded commodities in the world.
Register and compete in "The Leap" here: TradingView Competition Registration .
This article breaks down a structured trade idea using linear regression breakouts, Fibonacci retracements, and UnFilled Orders (UFOs) to identify a long setup in Crude Oil Futures. Hopefully, this structured approach aligns with the competition’s requirements and gives traders a strong trade plan to consider. Best of luck to all participants.
Spotting the Opportunity: A Regression Breakout in CL Futures
Trend reversals often present strong trading opportunities. One way to detect these shifts is by analyzing linear regression channels—a statistical tool that identifies the general price trend over a set period.
In this case, a 4-hour CL chart shows that price has violated the upper boundary of a downward-sloping regression channel, suggesting the potential start of an uptrend. When such a breakout aligns with key Fibonacci retracement levels and existing UnFilled Orders (UFOs), traders may gain a potential extra edge in executing a structured trade plan.
The Trade Setup: Combining Fibonacci and a Regression Channel
This trade plan incorporates multiple factors to define an entry, stop loss, and target:
o Entry Zone:
An entry or pullback to the 50%-61.8% Fibonacci retracement area, between 74.60 and 73.14, provides a reasonable long entry.
o Stop Loss:
Placed below 73.14 to ensure a minimum 3:1 reward-to-risk ratio.
o Profit-Taking Strategy:
First target at 76.05 (38.2% Fibonacci level)
Second target at 77.86 (23.6% Fibonacci level)
Final target at 78.71, aligning with a key UFO resistance level
This approach locks in profits along the way while allowing traders to capitalize on an extended move toward the final resistance zone.
Contract Specifications and Margin Considerations
Understanding contract specifications and margin requirements is essential when trading futures. Below are the key details for CL and MCL:
o Crude Oil Futures (CL) Contract Details
Full contract specs: CL Contract Specifications – CME Group
Tick size: 0.01 per barrel ($10 per tick)
Margin requirements vary based on market conditions and broker requirements. Currently set around $5,800.
o Micro WTI Crude Oil Futures (MCL) Contract Details
Full contract specs: MCL Contract Specifications – CME Group
Tick size: 0.01 per barrel ($1 per tick)
Lower margin requirements for more flexible risk control. Currently set around $580.
Choosing between CL and MCL depends on risk tolerance and account size. MCL provides more flexibility for smaller accounts, while CL offers higher liquidity and contract value.
Execution and Market Conditions
To maximize trade efficiency, conservative traders could wait for a proper price action into the entry zone and confirm the setup using momentum indicators and/or volume trends.
Key Considerations Before Entering
Ensure price reaches the 50%-61.8% Fibonacci retracement zone before executing the trade
Look for confirmation signals such as increased volume, candlestick formations, or additional support zones
Be patient—forcing a trade without confirmation increases risk exposure
Final Thoughts
This Crude Oil Futures trade setup integrates multiple confluences—a regression breakout, Fibonacci retracements, and UFO resistance—to create a structured trade plan with defined risk management.
For traders participating in The Leap Trading Competition, this approach emphasizes disciplined execution, dynamic risk management, and a structured scaling-out strategy, all essential components for long-term success.
When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com - This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies.
General Disclaimer:
The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.
Learn Supply and Demand Basics in Gold XAAUSD Trading
In this article, we will discuss the basic principles of Smart Money Concepts in Gold trading.
I will explain to you how Gold price relates to supply and demand on the market. What is a fair value and how to identify it.
We will discuss a relation between a fair value and supply and demand and why is it so important to learn to recognize the imbalance.
Gold Price
First, let's briefly discuss how the price of Gold is valued .
Gold price is determined by the basic economic principles of supply and demand.
Supply is defined by the actions of the sellers and selling volumes.
While a demand is defined by the activity of buyers and the volumes they wish to purchase.
When supply exceeds demand, it leads to a decline in prices.
Increased selling pressure leads to lower prices as sellers compete to attract buyers.
Above, you can see how the excess of demand pushes Gold prices up rapidly.
When demand exceeds supply, we see an increase in the price of the financial asset.
In the example above, you can see how the excess of supply leads to a depreciation of a Gold price.
Imbalance & Fair Value
The excess of supply or demand on the market is also called an imbalance in Smart Money Concept trading SMC.
The imbalance causes strong bullish or bearish movement on the market.
However, such moves do not last forever.
At some moment, reaching a particular price level, the market will stop growing or falling, and the market will find the equilibrium in supply and demand.
Such an equilibrium is also called a fair value in SMC trading.
On the chart above, Gold was growing rapidly. After reaching some price level, the growth stopped and the market found a fair value.
Supply finally absorbed the excess of demand.
Sideways Movement & Range
When the market finds a fair value, it usually starts trading in sideways . The sideways movement forms a horizontal range - a horizontal parallel channel.
Such ranges signify that the market participants agree about a current price of an asset.
Above, you can see that after a strong up movement, Gold found a fair value and a consolidation within a horizontal range started.
Fair Value Range
When you spotted the range, you should remember that the market may stay within that for a very long period of time.
The trigger that will make the market reassess the fair value is typically a some important fundamental factor, the surprising geopolitical or economic event that will create a new imbalance on the market.
A strong signal that the market strives to find a new fair value is the breakout of one of the boundaries of the range. It is a signal of a violation of a current fair value.
You can see that Gold found a fair value and was stuck for quite a long period within a wide horizontal range. Then, because of the release of significant US fundamental news, an imbalance occurred. Fair value range was violated, and the price found a new fair value higher.
Trading Tips
When the imbalance on the market occurs and it violates the fair value, the price tends to find a new fair value around significant liquidity zones.
That is why it is so critical to pay attention to them.
Also, the laws of supply and demand, imbalance and fair value work on any time frame and can be applied for any trading style.
Learn to perceive a price chart from a Supply and Demand perspective in order to master Smart Money Concept trading strategy.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
Behind the Curtain: Economic Forces Fueling Crude Oil Futures1. Introduction
Crude Oil Futures (CL), traded on the CME, are a cornerstone of global energy markets. Representing a vital benchmark for the energy sector, these futures reflect shifts in supply, demand, and macroeconomic sentiment. As both a speculative and hedging instrument, CL Futures are closely tied to economic forces shaping the global economy.
In this article, we leverage machine learning insights from a Random Forest Regressor to uncover the top economic indicators influencing Crude Oil Futures across daily, weekly, and monthly timeframes. By identifying these drivers, traders can gain a data-driven perspective to navigate the dynamic crude oil market effectively.
2. Understanding Crude Oil Futures
o Contract Specifications:
Standard Contract: Represents 1,000 barrels of crude oil.
Tick Size: Each tick is 0.01 per barrel, equating to $10 per tick per contract.
Trading Hours: Nearly 24 hours, ensuring global access and liquidity.
o Micro Crude Oil Contracts (MCL):
Contract Size: Represents 100 barrels of crude oil, 1/10th the size of the standard CL contract.
Tick Size: Each tick is 0.01 per barrel, equating to $1 per tick per contract.
Purpose: Offers smaller-scale traders’ access to the crude oil market with lower capital requirements, making it ideal for those looking to hedge or test strategies.
o Margins:
Standard CL Contract Margin: Approximately $6,000 per contract (subject to market volatility).
Micro MCL Contract Margin: Approximately $600 per contract.
The combination of high liquidity, leverage, and the flexibility offered by Micro Crude Oil contracts makes CL Futures a versatile choice for a broad range of participants, from institutional investors to retail traders exploring smaller-scale strategies.
3. Daily Timeframe: Key Economic Indicators
Machine learning insights reveal that the following daily indicators play a crucial role in shaping Crude Oil Futures' movements:
U.S. Trade Balance: Measures the difference between exports and imports. A narrowing trade deficit signals improved economic health and potential upward pressure on oil demand, while a widening deficit may indicate weakened economic sentiment, weighing on crude prices.
Unemployment Rate: Reflects labor market conditions and overall economic health. A declining unemployment rate often correlates with increased energy consumption due to stronger economic activity, boosting crude oil prices.
Building Permits: Tracks new residential construction permits issued. Rising permits reflect economic confidence and can signal increased energy demand for construction activity, providing upward momentum for crude prices.
4. Weekly Timeframe: Key Economic Indicators
Weekly indicators provide medium-term insights into crude oil market dynamics. The top drivers include:
Corporate Bond Spread (BAA - 10Y): Reflects the difference between corporate bond yields and Treasury yields. Widening spreads signal economic uncertainty, potentially reducing crude oil demand. Narrowing spreads suggest stability, supporting higher crude prices.
U.S. Trade Balance (again): At the weekly level, trade balance trends highlight the interplay between global trade and crude oil demand, influencing market sentiment over several days.
Housing Price Index: Indicates trends in real estate values, reflecting consumer confidence and economic stability. Rising housing prices often signal strong economic conditions, indirectly bolstering crude oil demand.
5. Monthly Timeframe: Key Economic Indicators
Monthly indicators provide a long-term perspective on Crude Oil Futures trends, highlighting macroeconomic forces at play. The top monthly drivers are:
Natural Gas Prices: As a competing energy source, fluctuations in natural gas prices can impact crude oil demand. Rising natural gas prices often lead to increased crude consumption, while declining prices may pressure oil demand downward.
U.S. Trade Balance (again): Over a monthly timeframe, the trade balance reflects sustained shifts in international trade dynamics. Persistent trade deficits may signal weaker global economic activity, affecting crude oil prices negatively, whereas trade surpluses may support demand.
Net Exports: A critical measure of a country’s export-import balance, net exports reveal global demand for domestic products, including crude oil. Surpluses suggest robust international demand, often leading to upward pressure on oil prices, while deficits indicate weaker sentiment.
6. Applications for Different Trading Styles
Economic indicators provide actionable insights tailored to specific trading styles:
Day Traders: Focus on daily indicators such as U.S. Trade Balance, Unemployment Rate, and Building Permits to anticipate intraday volatility. For example, an unexpected improvement in building permits might signal stronger economic activity, potentially boosting crude oil prices intraday.
Swing Traders: Weekly indicators like Corporate Bond Spread (BAA - 10Y) and Housing Price Index offer insights into intermediate trends. For instance, narrowing bond spreads often reflect economic stability, aligning with medium-term bullish positions in Crude Oil Futures.
Position Traders: Monthly indicators such as Natural Gas Prices and Net Exports are essential for capturing long-term macroeconomic shifts. Sustained increases in natural gas prices, for example, might support prolonged bullish sentiment in crude oil markets.
7. Risk Management Strategies
Risk management is crucial when trading Crude Oil Futures due to the inherent volatility of energy markets. Key strategies include:
Hedging Volatility: Utilize correlated assets, such as natural gas or refined product futures, to hedge against price swings.
Monitoring Leverage: Adjust position sizes based on volatility and margin requirements to minimize risk exposure during periods of heightened uncertainty.
Timeframe Diversification: Incorporate insights from daily, weekly, and monthly indicators to create a balanced trading approach. For example, while daily indicators may signal short-term volatility, monthly metrics provide stability for longer-term trades.
8. Conclusion
Crude Oil Futures are deeply influenced by economic indicators across varying timeframes. From the U.S. Trade Balance and Building Permits driving daily fluctuations to Natural Gas Prices and Net Exports shaping long-term trends, understanding these relationships is critical for navigating the energy market.
By leveraging data-driven insights from machine learning models, traders can align their strategies with market dynamics and improve decision-making. Whether you're a day trader, swing trader, or position trader, these economic forces offer a framework for more informed and strategic trading.
Stay tuned for the next installment in the "Behind the Curtain" series, where we unveil the economic forces shaping another critical futures market.
When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com - This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies.
General Disclaimer:
The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.
How to Trade Commodities? Five Popular StrategiesHow to Trade Commodities? Five Popular Strategies
Whether you're a seasoned trader or new to the world of commodities, understanding the various available strategies can play an important role in building an effective trading plan. In this article, we’ll explain five commodity trading strategies that you can get started with today.
Commodity Trading Explained
Commodity trading refers to the buying and selling of raw materials and industrial components in the financial markets. While forex trading deals with currencies, commodities trading primarily deals with physical goods. Typically, commodities fall into four broad categories: energy, metals, agricultural, and environmental.
There are many reasons why people buy and sell commodities. Some trade them as a way of hedging against inflation, particularly precious metals. Others might use them to take advantage of a booming economy, as demand for energy, metal, and food usually increases in times of economic growth.
Commodity trading is a practice that dates back thousands of years. In the past, early civilisations had to physically buy and store these goods, but nowadays, there are many types of commodity trading available.
If you’re speculating on commodities in the 21st century, you’re much more likely to be trading contracts for difference (CFDs), the same as we offer at FXOpen. Additionally, you can gain exposure to commodities through stock and exchange-traded fund CFDs, which you’ll also find on our platform.
Understanding CFD Trading in Commodities
Commodity Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are financial derivatives that allow traders to speculate on the price movements of commodities, such as oil, gold, or wheat. They offer traders a way to engage with the commodity market without the need to physically own the underlying assets.
When trading commodity CFDs, traders are essentially entering into an agreement with a broker to exchange the difference in price of a commodity from the time the contract is opened to when it is closed. This method offers the flexibility to take advantage of price movements in both rising and falling markets.
Likewise, CFDs offer leveraged commodities trading. However, it's crucial to note that while leverage is a double-edged sword: it can magnify both potential returns and losses.
How to Create a Commodity Trading Strategy
Creating effective commodity trading strategies requires a deep understanding of the specific market dynamics and fundamental factors influencing commodity prices. Insightful commodity traders scrutinise supply and demand trends, monitor geopolitical events that could impact global trade, and pay close attention to agricultural reports or energy production data.
For instance, weather patterns play a pivotal role in agricultural commodities, affecting crop yields and, consequently, prices. Similarly, political instability in oil-rich regions can lead to fluctuations in oil prices. Understanding these fundamental aspects can help traders anticipate market movements.
Moreover, economic indicators such as inflation rates, currency strength, and GDP growth must be considered, as these can indirectly influence commodity prices. For example, copper is a key component in housing. It’s estimated that around 30% of the global copper supply is used in house construction in China; therefore, Chinese housing data can significantly impact copper trading strategies.
By integrating this knowledge with technical analysis, traders can identify potential entry and exit points. Technical-based strategies, like those below, can complement fundamental analysis and offer a well-rounded approach to commodity markets.
5 Examples of Commodity Trading Strategies
Below, we’ll discuss five technical-based commodity trading techniques.
Trading Breakouts: Stop Orders
A breakout refers to the rapid price movements seen after an area of support or resistance is broken. However, trading it is harder than it seems. Often, a “fakeout” - a move beyond a support or resistance level that quickly reverses - can trap traders and put them in the red. Therefore, traders prefer to wait for confirmation and enter with a stop-limit order.
- Entry: Once an area of support or resistance has formed (A), traders wait for the price to break through and create a swing high or low (1). When the price returns to the level, they then wait for an opposing high or low to form (2). Then, they can set a stop-limit order at the previous high or low (1) to catch the confirmed breakout.
- Stop Loss: Traders may set a stop above the swing high or low that creates the retest.
- Take Profit: Traders may take profit at a level that gives them a 1:2 risk/reward ratio. Some prefer to trail their stop, while others might move it to breakeven and manually take profits at the closest areas of support and resistance.
Trading Breakouts: Keltner Channels and Bollinger Bands
However, breakouts can also be captured using two well-known indicators, Keltner Channels and Bollinger Bands, both set with a multiplier of 2. A key signal for traders occurs when Bollinger Bands, an indicator of market volatility, contract within the broader Keltner Channels, suggesting a looming phase of high volatility following a period of consolidation.
- Indicators: Keltner Channels (20, 2) and Bollinger Bands (20, 2).
- Entry: Traders often monitor for a scenario where the Bollinger Bands narrow inside the Keltner Channels, indicating low volatility. A decisive close above or below the Bollinger Band, accompanied by high trading volume and a strong bullish or bearish candle, suggests the initiation of a breakout. An additional confirmation is seen if the price also closes outside the Keltner Channel, reinforcing the breakout's validity.
- Stop Loss: A common approach is to set a stop loss beyond the opposite band or channel line, offering a potential safeguard against reversals.
- Take Profit: Traders might consider taking returns when a reverse setup occurs, e.g., if in a long trade, closing when the price closes below the Bollinger Band after a period of low volatility. Alternatively, employing a trailing stop above or below the band/channel may allow traders to secure the majority of the trend's movement.
Trading Trends: RSI and EMA
Trend-following strategies can work especially well with commodities, given that their trends can last weeks and even months. This specific strategy uses moving averages to confirm the direction of the trend with additional confluence from the Relative Strength Index (RSI).
- Indicators: RSI (14), Exponential Moving Averages (EMA) of 21 (grey) and 50 (orange).
- Entry: When EMA 21 crosses above EMA 50 and RSI is above 50 (showing bullishness), the first retest of EMA 21 may be considered a long entry point (2). When EMA 21 crosses below EMA 50 and RSI is below 50 (showing bearishness), the first retest of EMA 21 may be considered a short entry point (1).
- Stop Loss: For longs, you could set a stop just below EMA 50 and trail it as the moving average moves up. For shorts, you could set a stop just above EMA 50 and trail it as the moving average moves down.
- Take Profit: Traders may start taking profits at a level that gives them a 1:2 risk/reward ratio. Alternatively, they might take profits when RSI dips below 50 for a long trade or rises above 50 for a short trade.
Trading Trends: Donchian Channels and EMA
Commodity trading strategies that leverage both trend identification and momentum are highly valued for their potential to capture significant movements. One such strategy incorporates Donchian Channels alongside an EMA to discern the trend's direction and strength. Donchian Channels simply plot the highest high and lowest low over x periods, 20 candles in this case.
The EMA's slope is a trend indicator: an upward slope suggests a bullish trend, while a downward slope indicates bearish conditions. Conversely, a flat EMA means traders remain on the sidelines and await clearer signals.
- Indicators: Donchian Channels (20), EMA (100).
- Entry: Traders often look for the commodity's price to close beyond the last high or low of the Donchian Channel, aligned with the trend indicated by the EMA. A strong close beyond the high or low reflects that the commodity is making a new high or low compared to the past 20 candles, potentially signalling a continuation of the trend.
- Stop Loss: You may place a stop loss beyond the opposite side of the channel to protect against sudden reversals. Another option may be to place it beyond a midpoint line or a nearby swing high or low for a tighter risk management strategy.
- Take Profit: Traders typically consider taking returns when the price touches the opposing band of the Donchian Channel. This touch could indicate that the trend might be losing momentum or reversing, prompting a strategic exit.
Trading Ranges: Bollinger Bands and ADX
While commodities can be exceptionally volatile, like other assets, they also experience ranges. Using volatility-based indicators, like Bollinger Bands, alongside an indicator that tells you whether the price is trending or ranging, like the Average Directional Index (ADX), may help you effectively trade ranges in commodities.
- Indicators: Bollinger Bands (20, 2) and ADX (14, 14).
- Entry: The theory says a trader goes long when ADX is below 20 and the price touches the lower Bollinger Band and goes short when ADX is below 20, but the price touches the upper band.
- Stop Loss: There are a couple of ways to set a stop loss here. One way might be to use a set number of pips. Alternatively, a trader could set a standard deviation of the Bollinger Bands to 3 and use the newly-formed bands as a stop.
- Take Profit: Since this is a range trading strategy, positions could be closed on touching the opposing band, but a trader may choose to leave some in and move their stop at breakeven to potentially be involved when the range breaks out.
Ready to Start Your Commodities Trading Journey?
Now that you have five potential strategies under your belt, it’s time to start thinking about your next steps. If you’re considering testing these strategies in a live market, why not open an FXOpen account? You’ll gain access to a wealth of trading tools in our TickTrader platform, low-cost trading, and lightning-fast execution speeds.
FAQ
How to Trade Commodities?
Trading commodities involves buying and selling raw materials like oil, gold, or wheat on exchanges or through derivatives like futures and CFDs. Traders analyse market trends, supply-demand dynamics, and global economic indicators to make informed decisions. It's crucial to understand the specific factors that influence commodity prices, including geopolitical events, weather patterns, and policy changes.
How to Start Commodity Trading?
To begin trading commodities, it’s best to start by educating yourself about the commodity markets and the factors that influence prices. Opening an account with a broker that offers commodity trading, like FXOpen, and potentially practising with a demo account can provide the ideal environment to practise commodity trading strategies. Lastly, commodity traders continuously monitor market news and analysis to stay informed.
Trade on TradingView with FXOpen. Consider opening an account and access over 700 markets with tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions from $1.50 per lot.
This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
Learn High Impact Fundamental News in GOLD XAUUSD Trading
Before you open any trade on Gold, always check the economic calendar first.
In this article, you will learn the best free economic calendar and high impact fundamental news that can influence Gold prices.
I will teach the important actions to take and a trading strategy to follow both before and after news releases to improve your Gold trading strategy.
Free Economic Calendar
The economic calendar that I use for Gold trading is on Tradingview.
The news that influence Gold prices are high impact US news.
To display only such news, you should set the filters .
You should click "Only High Importance" and in the list of countries choose only the United States.
All 3 star US news may influence Gold prices dramatically.
Real Impact
In Gold trading, the release of high impact fundamental news is one of the major causes of trading positions being closed in a loss . Because such news may make the market completely irrational, increasing the volatility.
Look how strongly Gold prices dropped, immediately after US personal spending news were posted.
Remember, though, that there is no guarantee that Gold will react to this news. Quite often, the market will not be affected at all.
The release of US GDP did not influence Gold at all and the market continued consolidating.
Beware of False Signals
In order to protect your trading account from unexpected losses,
I recommend not opening any trading position 3 hours ahead of the news.
Usually, during that period, the markets start slowing down , preparing for the news.
Most of the breakouts, signals that you will see in such a period will be false .
3 hours before the US Durable Orders fundamental news, Gold broke and closed below a key daily horizontal support. From a technical analysis standpoint, it was a strong bearish signal.
However, that signal was false, and the price went up rapidly after the news.
Safest Strategy
If you have an active trade, 10 minutes ahead of the release of the fundamentals, protect your position.
Simply take a stop loss and move it to entry level.
If the price rapidly reverses after a news release, you will close the position with a 0 loss.
Here is a long trade on Gold that we took with my trading academy members.
10 minutes ahead of US unemployment data, we moved stop loss to entry level.
Fundamental news made the market bearish, and the price went down.
Our decision to protect a trading position helped us to avoid losses.
Alternatively, you can close your active trade 10 minutes ahead of the news.
Be Patient
After the release of the news, I suggest waiting for the close of an hourly candle before you take any trade.
With the first hourly candle close after the news, you will see how the market participants price in its impact, letting you make a better decision.
That is how Gold reacted to US Inflation data. Any trade should be opened at least after the hourly candle close to let the market price in its real effect.
These 3 simple rules will help you to cut losses cause by the fundamental news.
Integrate them in your trading strategy to increase your profits.
Never forget to monitor the economic calendar and good luck in your trading.
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
3 Must-Know Chart Patterns to Spot Winning Trades!Morning Trading Family
Understanding chart patterns is super important for trading success! In this video, I’ll walk you through the top 3 patterns every trader should know: Head and Shoulders, Double Top/Bottom, and Bullish/Bearish Flags. I’ll show you how to spot them, when to jump into a trade, and how to manage your risk. Whether you’re trading stocks, forex, or crypto, these patterns can make a big difference. We’ll even look at live charts together to keep it simple. Let me know in the comments which pattern is your favorite!
Kris/Mindbloome Exchange
Trade What You See