XAUUSD: Gold price strategy todayGold prices (XAU/USD) have extended their correction but consolidation is likely due to light trading activity. More broadly, precious metals could continue on a positive trajectory as bets in favor of an early Federal Reserve rate cut are firming as labor market conditions ease. and a clear downward trend in core inflation. This reduces the opportunity cost of holding the yellow metal and weakens the US Dollar, on which the metal is priced.
Gold prices are expected to end 2023 with an outstanding gain of more than 13.50%. Deepening expectations of the Fed starting to cut interest rates from March 2024 will also continue to attract optimism in Gold prices going into 2024. Further action for Gold prices will be guided by the Index. US ISM Manufacturing and Nonfarm Employment PMI numbers for November.
Forex-trading
Levels discussed on 1st livestream of 2024January 2nd
DXY: Could retrace to 102.50, but looking for DXY to trade lower to 100.60 support
NZDUSD: Buy 0.6325 SL 30 TP 80
AUDUSD: Wait for reaction at 0.69 (Buy 0.6920 SL 30 TP 90)
USDJPY: Sell 140.40 SL 40 TP 150
GBPUSD: Reaction at 1.2820 (Buy 1.2830 SL 20 TP 70)
EURUSD: Sell 1.0980 SL 30 TP 80
USDCHF: Wait a bit, Sell 0.8530 SL 30 TP 60
USDCAD: Break resistance, Buy 1.3268 SL 25 TP 50
Gold: Bullish, Above 2077 could trade up to 2088
GBPUSD Trending strategies todayThe GBP/USD pair posted modest losses in early Asian trading on Tuesday. The modest recovery in the US Dollar (USD) brings some support to the major pair. At the time of writing, GBP/USD is trading near 1.2725, down 0.04% on the day.
After the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) final meeting of the year in December, Fed officials kept interest rates steady for the third straight month and signaled a series of rate cuts in 2024. when inflation falls faster than estimated. Traders are betting on sharp interest rate cuts, starting in March. According to CME Group's FedWatch tool, markets are pricing in an 88% decline in March.
Data released on Friday showed the US Chicago Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came in at 46.9 in December from 55.8 in November, weaker than estimates of 51.0. Market participants will get more cues from the US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) on Friday. This number is predicted to increase by 163K in December compared to 199K previously.
HOW TO IDENTIFY AN ASCENDING WEDGE AND A DESCENDING WEDGEThe wedge pattern is a popular chart formation that traders use to identify potential reversals in the markets. This pattern is formed from a series of higher highs and higher lows in an ascending wedge or lower highs and lower lows in a descending wedge. As the pattern narrows, the price action becomes more compressed, eventually leading to a breakout that can result in a significant move in the opposite direction. In this article, we will look at how to identify and trade this pattern.
How to identify an ascending wedge and a descending wedge
Rising wedge
An ascending wedge is a bullish pattern that forms when price is sandwiched between an uptrend line and a horizontal or slightly upward sloping resistance line.
To identify an ascending wedge:
a. Draw a trend line connecting the lower lows.
b. Draw a resistance line connecting the upper highs.
c. The wedge should look like a symmetrical or slightly expanding formation.
Downward wedge
A descending wedge is a bearish pattern that forms when price is sandwiched between a falling trend line and a horizontal or slightly downward sloping support line.
To identify a descending wedge:
a. Draw a trend line connecting the upper highs.
b. Draw a support line connecting the lower lows.
c. The wedge should look like a symmetrical or slightly expanding formation.
How to trade a wedge
Rising Wedge
When trading a rising wedge pattern:
a. Place a buy stop order above the upper resistance line, aiming for a return to or beyond the initial point of the wedge.
b. Place a stop loss below the lower trend line to minimize potential losses.
c. Exit the trade when price reaches the target or when the pattern does not move beyond it as expected.
Downward wedge
When trading a descending wedge:
a. Place a sell stop order below the lower support line, aiming for a return to or beyond the initial point of the wedge.
b. Place a stop loss above the upper trend line to minimize potential losses.
c. Exit the trade when price reaches the target or when the pattern does not break as expected.
Risk Management
Trading wedge patterns can be profitable, but it is important to manage risk effectively. Consider using a fixed percentage of your account for each trade and set strict stop loss orders to protect your capital. Also, remember that no pattern is foolproof and the market can sometimes give false breakouts.
Conclusion
When properly identified and traded, wedge patterns can provide valuable trading opportunities. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can improve your ability to identify these patterns and capitalize on them. However, always remember that trading involves risk, and a thorough understanding of market dynamics and risk management is essential for success.
SIX HABITS TO ADOPT IN 2024Trading in the financial markets can be both rewarding and challenging. However, it's essential to recognize and overcome certain bad habits that can hinder your success and well-being. In this article, we will discuss six common habits that traders should avoid and provide actionable steps to improve their mindset, performance, and overall happiness.
1. Quit Complaining – Embrace a Positive Attitude
Successful traders do not wallow in self-pity or exaggerate their problems. If you find yourself complaining about your trading issues, seek help from a mentor or support group to resolve your concerns. A positive attitude will not only improve your trading results but also create a more positive atmosphere around you.
2. Monitor Your Vices and Indulgences
Traders often resort to unhealthy habits, such as excessive alcohol consumption or overeating, as a way to cope with stress and disappointment. Be mindful of your weaknesses and replace harmful habits with healthier alternatives that promote well-being and mental clarity.
3. Focus on the Present Moment – Avoid Future-Tripping
Fear often stems from worrying about the future. To avoid this trap, concentrate on the tasks and decisions at hand. Focusing on the present moment will give you a sense of calm, security, and fulfillment that will ultimately improve your trading performance.
4. Continue Learning and Growing
Once you achieve success in trading, don't become complacent or stop learning. Continue developing your skills and exploring new trading strategies. Learning new techniques or refining existing ones will keep you engaged, motivated, and adaptable in an ever-changing market environment.
5. Cultivate Strong Social Connections
As a full-time trader, it's easy to become isolated and withdrawn from social interactions. Make an effort to maintain and build meaningful relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. Strong social connections will provide emotional support, reduce stress, and contribute to your overall happiness and well-being.
6. Practice Gratitude and Kindness
Traders who experience negative emotions, such as envy or resentment, can benefit from practicing gratitude and acts of kindness. By expressing gratitude, volunteering, or offering compliments, you will improve your own happiness while fostering a positive atmosphere around you.
Conclusion
By recognizing and overcoming these six common bad habits, traders can significantly improve their well-being, trading performance, and overall happiness. Embrace a positive mindset, maintain healthy habits, focus on the present moment, continue learning and growing, cultivate strong social connections, and practice gratitude and kindness. By doing so, you will be well on your way to achieving success in the financial markets and leading a fulfilling life.
In 2024, may traders who have yet to find success in the market be blessed with the wisdom to learn from their mistakes and the courage to embrace new strategies. May they cultivate a growth mindset, forging strong connections, and practicing gratitude and kindness. As the year unfolds, let their resilience and determination guide them towards a prosperous and fulfilling future in the world of trading.
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EURUSD: Structure Based Trade Explained 🇪🇺🇺🇸
EURUSD is testing a wide daily horizontal demand area.
The price is currently ranging on an hourly time frame.
A bullish breakout of the resistance of the range - an hourly candle close above
1.1085 - will be your solid bullish confirmation.
A bullish continuation will be anticipated at least to 1.1106 level then.
If the price drops lower, the setup will become invalid.
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THE ESSENCE OF WYCKOFF'S METHODRichard Demille Wyckoff is a trader whose career coincided with the famous traders of the time: Jesse Livermore, Charles Dow and JP Morgan, W. Gann and others. All of these men are widely recognized for their terrific trading books. Wyckoff became famous for his insight, his trading method. Wyckoff has been involved with the financial markets since he was a teenager, and this is what gave him an understanding of how the market works.
To become a successful trader, it is not enough to have good theoretical knowledge. Experience is the key to your success. That is why Wyckoff recommended to follow the tape for weeks to intuitively understand what is happening on the market.
THE ESSENCE OF THE WYCKOFF METHOD
The essence of Richard Wyckoff's idea is that in order to gain a large position in the market and not to move the price with large orders, a professional market maker needs to balance supply and demand. The equilibrium is observed when the price is in a narrow range of consolidation. After a position is gained, the price is pushed out of the trading range.
WYCKOFF'S THREE LAWS
The trading method is based on three laws:
Supply and Demand. Wyckoff believed that the price of each asset goes up or down only by an overabundance of one thing. For example, the price goes up if demand exceeds supply. Simply put, if a whole city decides to buy 10 tons of apple, and the apple is in limited supply from the suppliers, they will start to raise the price because of the high demand.
Cause and Effect. When an asset starts to rise in price - this is the consequence, and the previous news or a small price range this is the cause. When the price is between support and resistance zones for the X amount of time (cause), then a trend will start in the short term (effect).
Effort vs. Result. A large volume traded, for example, during one day is an effort, while a price change is a result. Example: If a large player has spent a lot of money buying up most of the sell orders, and the price is still standing, it means that the effort spent did not bring the expected results.
ACCUMULATION AND DISTRIBUTION
The basic principle of trading is to see the equilibrium of supply and demand in time. Consolidation (also called range, zone, rectangle, sidewall, etc.) is a trading range of prices where accumulation or distribution takes place. Wyckoff's method is the use of accumulation and distribution phases.
Accumulation is the formation of a trading zone where orders for further movement (price reversal) are accumulated within a certain time. Here "smart" money keeps the price at approximately the same level, where they buy up most of the market orders in order to sell (distribute) them at a higher price.
Distribution is the formation of a trading zone where orders are distributed for further movement (price reversal) within a certain time. Similarly, to accumulation, smart money sells out all its previously accumulated assets in order to benefit from it.
Consolidation is the place where the previous movement with the outweighing force of demand or supply stops and relative equilibrium finally occurs. This trading zone is a great time to make money, because it is the place where preparation for an explosive bull rally or bearish fall takes place. Consolidation can be considered as a place of refueling for a car, if not refueled, there will be nothing to drive on - it is the accumulated force, the reason that creates the subsequent movement. The longer the refueling takes place, the farther one can go. Therefore, after a long trading range, we should expect an equally long upward or downward movement.
On the way to move from one zone to the opposite zone, the price does not fall in one go, it always makes pullbacks and stops, which are called accumulation.
After his death, Wyckoff left trading methods for such zones. The principle is quite simple: Before the formation of a sideways trading range, sales peak and the accumulation phase begins. During the whole time the price is in this range, a large player buys up most of the sell orders. The price goes beyond the support and resistance zones, then reverses and the growth phase begins. At the end of the growth phase, the buying peaks. Then it is the same for the distribution phase.
ACCUMULATION
In the accumulation phase, professional traders buy up sell orders from uninformed traders. Usually it happens on the news, from all channels they say that shares of some company will fall, it is waiting for almost bankruptcy, everything is bad, etc. In Forex, various negative news on unemployment and similar. At this moment people start to get rid of long positions, and traders start to short the instrument. Wyckoff supporters realize that it is worth waiting for the price drop to stop and they should get ready to look for an entry point to buy the asset.
Phase A and phase E are trend price movements, the phases between them are the trading range, which is analyzed by the Wyckoff trading method. Horizontal lines are support (at the bottom) and resistance (at the top) of the trading range. Do not consider them as exact lines, they are approximate ranges, in which the big one turns the price back to sideways.
DISTRIBUTION
Everything is similar to buying in the accumulation phase, only now those assets bought earlier should be sold off. This is just the basis, the main rules of trading according to the Wyckoff method in trading. Richard Wyckoff himself applied it on stocks and on daily charts (although he did not use charts, only tape). But nowadays, the time of algorithms, you can trade on any timeframe and any instruments. The method works well on the minute. It should be understood that there can be many phase patterns, the trading range can be different, the culmination with large candles and small, the volume is high and not very high, tests after the exit from the zone may or may not be. It all depends on who the big player is, when the accumulation or distribution occurs, what instrument you are watching and what timeframe is on the chart.
Trading will be quite successful if you strictly follow your trading strategy according to the Wyckoff method, written on paper, competently determine the level of risk and position size. Observe the chart, find consolidations, see what happened inside and where the price went. You need to analyze every step, every movement. Big money thinks everything through, every price action on the chart is not accidental. And remember that whatever the big money does, it always leaves its traces.
Good luck in trading!
XAUUSD Strategy to analyze gold price trends todayGold prices (XAU/USD) are on a steady trend, positioned for their best year in the past three years, driven by various global economic factors and geopolitical tensions.
Although spot gold fell slightly early Wednesday, it remained near a two-week high. Gold futures prices, in turn, are rising, making them likely to post strong annual gains. This performance reflects gold's enduring appeal in uncertain times.
It broke above the 2067.00 minor resistance level, which could now act as new support. The next key resistance level is 2149.00. Staying above the key support level of 1987.00 reinforces this bullish sentiment.
XAUUSD: Gold technical analysis todayGold, the longtime safe-haven asset, experienced a notable rally, surpassing the psychological barrier of $2,060 an ounce on Tuesday. This increase is likely due to a combination of factors, with market participants closely monitoring developments in the US economy, especially with regard to inflation and possible cuts. Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.
From a technical standpoint, . The previous resistance area that limited gains at 2050-2060 has now turned into support. I recommend looking for buying opportunities on a pullback to retest the previously broken resistance level, which is also confluent with the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement and the ascending trendline acts as cross support for gold. I see resistance around 2090 as the first potential target and also a test of the all-time high
GBPUSD Bullish Breakout: A breach of the 1.2500 support could le Pound-to-dollar exchange rate faces headwinds as US dollar strengthens on inflation data in November. Report reveals consumer price index (CPI) up 0.1% and a 0.3% increase in the core CPI, has caused the market to reassess expectations for an impending rate cut. As the Federal Reserve convenes to discuss its next policy decision, analysts anticipate an effort by Chairman Powell to calm speculation and maintain a resilient economic outlook. Despite the initial rise in the Dollar, a detailed examination of the inflation report revealed underlying weakness, leading to a nuanced view of the trajectory of interest rates. Meanwhile, technical analysis points to a key moment at the 1.2500 support level, with the potential for significant volatility in either direction.
The US dollar made a comeback following the release of November inflation data, surprising markets with a monthly CPI increase of 0.1%. This increase, compared to October's steady reading and market expectations, has changed sentiment towards the greenback. Core CPI, at 0.3% m/m, further reinforces the view of rapidly increasing price pressures.
EURUSD :Analyze market strategies todayThe Euro continues to strengthen as Martins Kazaks, member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB), highlighted the need to maintain current interest rates over the long term. However, he suggested that the first interest rate cut could materialize around mid-2024. This statement strengthened the Euro's position as the commitment to maintain interest rates was seen as a maintenance measure. the power of money.
From the chart below, we can see that EUR/USD has moved away from the 200 Day Moving Average, which shows that the pair is currently trending very strongly, so it is best to focus on buying and not sold. Selling would be a higher risk counter-trend method. EUR/USD has a key resistance level at 1.05000. Personally, I think EUR/USD will head towards that price level before any pullback.
Gold will likely decrease then increase againFrom a technical standpoint, gold's recent breakout above a week-long consolidative trading range, approximately around $2,048 , signals a favorable environment for bullish traders. Notably, the occurrence of a golden cross, where the 50-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) crossed above the 200-day SMA, adds weight to the positive outlook.
This technical setup positions gold for potential further gains, with the $2,090 zone emerging as the next relevant hurdle. Should the momentum persist, there is a distinct possibility of gold reclaiming the psychologically significant $2,100 mark.
However, the path to glory is not without its challenges. A reversal below the aforementioned trading range resistance could lead to a retracement, with support levels at $2,026 and $2,017. A decisive break below the latter might trigger technical selling, leaving gold vulnerable to a more pronounced decline towards the psychological support at $2,000.
TRADING PSYCHOLOGY: HOW TO OVERCOME YOURSELF?Hello forex traders! How much money have you lost because of emotions? How many losing trades have you closed because they went negative and it annoyed you? And how many times did the currency immediately reversed after you recorded a loss? As we all know up to 80% of success in forex trading depends on psychology. Money management is of great importance and only then strategy. Not everyone realizes it, but this is the harsh reality. How to defeat yourself? How to remain calm in any situation? How to protect yourself from negative emotions that cloud your mind?
The Impact Of Emotions On Analysis
When you are sitting in losses, you do not pay attention to what is happening on the chart. That is, your brain rejects the signals that indicate that the price will continue to go against you. On the contrary, your brain tries to convince you that the price is about to turn around, which, of course, does not happen. If you close the position and look at the market with a clear eye, you will realize that the situation in the market is not the same as it was in your head a moment ago. This distraction in the form of a minus on the position affects your attentiveness, and you do not notice the obvious.
There is such a thing as analysis paralysis. That is, when some event literally knocks you out of the rut, after which you cannot adequately perceive the situation. This can be avoided with the help of reasonable sufficiency. That is, you stop looking for the perfect solution. Instead, you make the most correct and simple decision to close a losing position.
Also, traders are often afraid of losing profit. But then again, how many times have you held a losing trade, hoping for a reversal, and it still went against you? It is the same with profitable trades. There is a constant feeling that the price is about to turn around and all the profit will be lost. As an option, in this case you can use a trailing stop. Then you will in any case know that in case of price reversal, the profit will not be lost.
In principle, the cure for the influence of any emotions on the analysis is correct money management. That is, you just need to simply reduce your trading lot. The goal is to place such a lot, which would not cause you strong emotions.
Until you are used to being disciplined in every situation, it is better to trade at a lot that you could forget about. For example, you could open a trade on the daily chart and forget about it (accidentally or naturally). At the very initial stages this approach is justified, as no open positions will not prevent you from analyzing the situation competently. At the same time, the very fact of a negative trade will not knock you out of your game.
You Are Not Perfect
Remember, you are not perfect. There is no person who, like a robot, does not get nervous about trades, who performs absolutely perfect trading and never makes mistakes anywhere and ever. All of us make mistakes, it is normal, and it should be understood. Let's say you read that you need to reduce the lot, not to be emotional, and you still make mistakes. The thought that "I am smarter" does not leave your head. But, in general, if you read the biographies of successful people in other areas, you will learn that they also made mistakes. Often, a person needs to make all possible mistakes only in order not to make them later. So, to speak, we learn from our mistakes.
The average person believes that he is smarter than 80% of people. At the same time, there are always excuses for the question "why are you so smart, but so poor?" - something prevents you, you are too old, too young, your wife/husband prevents you, you were born in the wrong country and so on. Almost everyone thinks they are, so you don't have to worry, you are not the smartest.
The Vicious Circle Of A Beginner Trader
Searching for a system: you find a strategy that appeals to you.
Trading: as a rule, this period lasts 1-2 days, at best a week if.
First Losses: taking your first losses. It's usually down to the first few trades.
Anger: naturally, there is a feeling of being cheated as the system did not deliver the promised profits;
Blame: the system does not work; forex is a scam and the author of the system is a scammer. Someone is necessarily to blame, for example, the broker that closed the position a point later, but not the trader himself. And everything starts all over again.
Exit From The Circle:
Finding a system.
Backtesting from the beginning to the end: the strategy should be either tested manually on the history or in a tester if the strategy is automatic.
Absolute confidence in the strategy: when you have fully tested the strategy, know all the statistics, know all the pros and cons, you gain confidence in the chosen strategy.
Good money management: further, you add a good money management.
Now it is "your" trading strategy: the strategy should be completely yours. If you are not comfortable holding positions for 3-4 days, move to a smaller timeframe. Or, on the contrary, if you are too lazy to open trades often, choose a larger TF. That is, the strategy should suit your temperament and be customized for you.
In general, all these pieces of the mosaic lead to the exit from the enchanted circle. You find a system, then trade, adequately perceiving losses. Accordingly, you further work with this system, solve problems with emotions, inputs and outputs, improve, tune-up and so on.
A Little Bit About Our Brain
The fact is that our brain compared to a computer has a very large hard disk, but a very small amount of RAM. Do you know the feeling when the brain is so overloaded that absolutely no information, even seemingly simple ones, can be stored in it? Of course, we cannot expand this memory, but we can control the number of simultaneously opened applications/programs. That is, we need to fight the so-called white noise. Remove social networks Facebook, messengers, YouTube, checking mail, and so on. This is all white noise that clogs your brain and prevents you from working adequately.
There are many opponents and many supporters of meditation. Meditation is, in fact, nothing more than to lie/sit under calm music and go into a certain semi-trance state. Humans periodically need three states: being awake, sleep and a trance state. Usually after a certain mental effort, you start to get very dumb without doing any useful work. This is the brain signaling that you are lacking the trance state. 30 minutes of trance a day is quite enough.
Do Not Set Goals In Trading
When you set yourself a specific goal, for example, to make 1% every day it doesn't work. You start looking for non-existent trades again, clouding your brain. Therefore, you should not set profit targets. On the other hand, it is possible and even necessary to set loss limits!
Sometimes, there is a sudden unreasonable desire to open a trade. Although the system did not give a signal. As a way out of this situation, you can try to open two accounts, one for adequate trading, where you will open trades clearly according to the rules of the system. Another smaller one for aggressive trading, when you have an irresistible desire to open a trade. If it really "works", you will still get profit, though not so big.
Bottom Line
As you can see, strategy is often not the deciding factor in trading. Psychology is what ultimately makes you act in one way or another. It takes the right approach and practice to be unstoppable in trading. The rest comes with experience over time.
TILT IN TRADINGAs it is known, a trader on the market is under constant pressure, the market is a constant process, in fact it is a river, and a trader should dive in and out of it to earn money. It is difficult to stay on the shore, when there is an endless river of money flowing nearby, hence the constant desire, well and of course stress, because the market gives unlimited opportunities at the same risk. Everyone knows that the two worst emotions for a trader are fear and greed, although it is only fear, greed is one of the types of fear (fear of losing profit). Fear breeds many related behaviors that only bring financial pain and frustration in trading. Let's look at some of the groups of emotions that fear gives rise to.
TILT IN TRADING
What is tilt? Tilt comes to us from poker; it means the inability to perform reasonable actions while being at the mercy of emotions. Tilt is not a one-time process. First, there must be preconditions for its occurrence. Most often, it is a series of unsuccessful trades in a short period of time (scalping), after which the trader starts to lose control and, trying to recoup losses, goes all the way, forgetting both the rules of trading strategy and money management rules. The most interesting thing is that the same thing can happen during a series of profitable trades, i.e., tilt can be earned at any time; it is only necessary to let go of some emotion for some time. The worst thing (except for the loss of money, of course) is the acquisition of bad emotional habits, from which it is very difficult to get rid.
Tilt can occur even on expectations, for example, the price is about to approach the level of trade open, and suddenly it turns around. Your finger froze over the buy/sell button and then it's over! And waiting for the next approach turns into a tilt. Market factors also provoke tilt in a trader, for example, increase of volatility during news, the price flies back and forth like crazy and pushes the trader to open a trade.
SO HOW DO YOU AVOID TILT?
The answer to this question is always right under our noses. It is discipline, and only discipline. The rules of the trading system and the rules of money management, and as few emotions as possible. Do not trade in an agitated, tired, and painful state; wait it out; the market will not run away from you.
With the emergence of the crypto market, new concepts have appeared, but they already relate to the psychological manipulation of traders, and although they are based on the same fear, we will try to describe them separately. Besides, these concepts have always been there and apply to all kinds of markets, not just the cryptocurrency market.
FOMO & FUD cycle
FOMO (Fear of missing out) information throwing in the bright prospects of some crypto coin or crypto market as a whole, in order to provoke the purchase, often and densely along with Pump of a particular crypto coin.
FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) is a negative information dump to provoke sales. All the same, only sales and DUMP (sharp sale of crypto-asset), the purpose is to reset the price of the crypto asset, again, to make it attractive to the investor. No, what a concern for potential investors! Both pump and dump are reverse actions, and the goal is the same attractiveness for investing! The only difference is the timing.
The topic of psychology in trading is big; we covered only a couple of psychological aspects: one is the trader's problem, and the other is the trader's provocation by the market and information space. In general, psychology accounts for 80% of all trading. You can memorize techniques, but it is very difficult to understand and change yourself in terms of psychology. To understand how the "crowd" acts, what will be the reaction of "big money"? All this is what you should strive for in your search for profit. Therefore, the trader's "holy grail" is patience, self-discipline, and as few emotions as possible. If you feel that you are about to lose it, just leave the terminal and go to your family, to the gym, or to nature. Do not sit at the terminal on an emotional tilt. Work on your emotions and you will be profitable.
XAUUSD Today's gold strategy I predictGold prices yesterday during the Asian session mainly fluctuated in a narrow range. At the start of the US market, gold prices quickly surged amid a weakening dollar index and after a close until 2047. However, under pressure from hawkish theory and strong economic data strong, gold prices fell slightly, eventually closing. a small white body. Gold prices are currently at the upper edge of the volatility range over the past 2 weeks, where temporary resistance has been encountered. Back to technical analysis, the daily uptrend is still clear and the weakness is that the MACD signal is at high levels; The 1-hour candle stands above the 60-day moving average, but due to the lack of a key intraday chart, it will be aligned to the 60-day moving average. The following focus is on support for 2028 and further focus on support for 2015; Today's trading range may still be called 2015-2048, you can still buy low and sell high within the range, and progressives may refer to the smaller range 2028-2040.
XAUUSD D1 - Long SignalIn accordance with the aforementioned analysis of the dollar index, we are poised for an impending descent, targeting the elusive $2000 per ounce mark—a significant psychological threshold that has remained elusive for substantial trading conviction thus far. Our objective is to bridge the gap and reach the lofty heights of the $2150 per ounce level observed on December 4th.
Nevertheless, it is imperative that we exercise prudence as we navigate through the holiday season. The voluminous wick that materialised on the 4th of December could resurface over the next couple of weeks, warranting a cautious approach in our trading endeavours.
BROADENING PATTERNSBroadening patterns are very unstable from a technical point of view. They are usually formed after the trend has already gained strength. It looks as if the battle between buyers and sellers is out of control, as the price starts to move in a wider and wider range. The situation is exactly the opposite of triangles, where the price shrinks to an extremely balanced state before the breakout.
Broadening patterns are formed when three or more price waves expand so much that their highs and lows can be connected by two expanding trend lines. Just as there are two types of triangles, there are two types of broadening patterns. They are called the conventional (classic) pattern and the rectangular pattern. The last one can also be called an expanding pattern with a flat top or flat bottom.
Conventional Broadening Patterns
It consists of three trends where each high is higher than the previous high. The highs are separated by two lows, where the second is lower than the first. These patterns are more likely to indicate the completion of a rising market, rather than a breakout higher. The conventional broadening top is sometimes called an inverse triangle, because that is exactly what they are. In general, some patterns are just perfect for trading, as they mark by default the places where to place stops with low risks. A rectangular triangle broken close to the top is just a good example.
But conventional broadening tops, however, alas, do not have this feature. Such patterns are extremely difficult to detect before the final top is formed. Besides, there is no obvious support line, the breakdown of which would serve as a convenient tool for us. The furious, emotional reaction of price and volumes reflects chaos and complicates the work with such patterns.
Of course, it is not easy to determine the breakout in such conditions, but if the pattern is more or less symmetrical, there are options. It is a decisive movement under the descending trend line, which connects both lows or even a movement below the second low, which will serve as a warning of a future decline. Targets are not easy to determine either, however, the volatile price reaction during the extension indicates that the distribution phase is almost complete. Successful completion of such a pattern is usually followed by a proportional fall in price. But the rectangular expanding patterns, which we will talk about next, are another example.
Rectangular Broadening Patterns
Most simply defined broadening patterns with a flat top or bottom are the easiest to identify. This is called a rectangular broadening pattern. Since the very concept of wild price movements implies an extreme degree of emotional involvement, it is difficult to add volume here. At market tops, though, volume is usually quite significant.These patterns also resemble a head and shoulders pattern, except that the "head" in an broadening pattern is the last element of the pattern. In this case, the bearish signal is activated with a decisive downward breakdown of the pattern.
A broadening pattern with a flat top is an accumulation pattern, and it is important that the volumes grow on the breakdown. They are essentially head and shoulders in a situation so bearish (or bullish) that price simply does not have time to form a right shoulder.
Psychological Perspective Of The Broadening Patterns
From a psychological perspective, expanding patterns can be seen as a reflection of the changing attitudes and beliefs of market participants. As the pattern widens, it suggests that there is increasing disagreement among traders about the direction of the market. This can lead to greater volatility and larger price swings as different groups of traders try to push the market in their preferred direction.
At the same time, broadening patterns can also be seen as a sign of indecision and uncertainty. Traders may be hesitant to commit to a particular direction, leading to a widening range of prices as buyers and sellers struggle to gain control. This can create a sense of tension and anxiety among traders as they try to navigate an increasingly complex and unpredictable market.
Target Points
To determine where the price can reach, you need to take the distance from the maximum (minimum) of the pattern and its horizontal line. Then the same distance is set aside in the direction of the breakout. Rectangular expanding patterns often show pullbacks like any other patterns. Since these patterns are very emotional and unstable, these pullbacks can be sharp and volatile. Fortunately, they don't live very long. In this case, the downside price target was reached on a downside breakout. Generally, a subsequent sharp reversal is a rare thing, as the price usually goes much farther than the price target.
Failed Broadening Patterns
Occasionally, such patterns fail to produce the expected result. Unfortunately, there is no super-reliable way to recognize that the pattern has failed. This will only become obvious when a small bottom or price top is formed after the breakout. However, we can protect ourselves from such situations by using the 50% rule, in which we measure half of the final price reaction in a pattern for a rise or fall.
Which is shown by the dotted line, once reached, the pattern is considered a failure. Of course, sometimes there are patterns that work even after breaking through the 50% zone with a subsequent pullback. However, breaking such a line with a strong trend in most cases indicates that the pattern has failed. In any case, carefully use the patterns that predict the price movement in the direction of the trend that was previously the main one.
In Summary
Broadening patterns are a trading range after a trend, between two extended trend lines. At least two touches are needed. It will take imagination to draw, as the touches are not always accurate. However, this is true for many other patterns as well. The maximum depth of the pattern is put off in the direction of the breakout. Since these are very dynamic and volatile patterns, pullbacks are usually short but very fast. False breakout is difficult to detect: the signal can be a price rise above the previous low/maximum or a pullback of more than 50% against the breakout. Overall, broadening patterns can be a useful tool for traders looking to understand the psychology of the market. By analyzing these patterns and the underlying factors that are driving them, we can gain valuable insights into the attitudes and beliefs of other market participants. This can help to make more informed trading decisions and better manage their risk in a rapidly changing market environment.
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TIMING IS EVERYTHINGWhat is timing in simple words? Timing is the time when you SHOULD trade the market. It is very desirable to trade on the market when the market is active, i.e. there is increased volatility, which in turn is associated with any time factors affecting the activity of traders.
Timing must be taken into account by almost any trading system, starting from scalping and ending with positional trading, meaning that timing is not the main period of displaying your chart, but the most effective for trading time that you spend in front of the screen. Even if you trade on a weekly chart, your timing will be Friday evening which is the closing time of the weekly candle.
🕕 TYPES OF TIMINGS
So, the basic timings:
• Intraday
• By type of trading instrument
• News
• On days of the week
• Periods (month / quarter / season)
📊 INTRADAY TIMINGS
Intraday timings on Forex are related to the inclusion of the work of exchanges (sessions) in different parts of the world due to time zones. So-called European session, American and Asian, so in the language of traders denotes trading during the work of exchanges located in different time zones.
European: from 07:00 - 16:00 (GMT).
American: from 13:00 - 21:00 (GMT).
Pacific: from 20:00 - 05:00(GMT).
Asian: 00:00 -09:00(GMT).
Although there are 4 sessions, but only 3 of them are taken into account, as the Pacific Exchange has a very small influence on the market due to small volumes. The most active are Europe and America, often going in opposition to each other, so intraday traders should take into account the time of inclusion of America, as it can confuse all the cards and turn intraday trends. Well, at night the harsh Japanese samurai come and make their own contribution and confusion. A lot of intraday systems are built precisely on turning on or off this or that stock exchange in the work, picking up the nuances of their influence. Intraday timings are also present on stock markets, the calmest time is the so-called evening session. But the mass introduction of trading bots even here can try to shake up the market and lure many traders into it.
📊 BY TYPE OF TRADING INSTRUMENT
There are timings by type of trading instruments. For example, gold and oil are better to trade on the American session, and the main volatile pairs EURUSD and GBPUSD are better to trade in the European session. Of course, it is all rather conditional, but nevertheless, it is necessary to take into account.
📰 NEWS TIMINGS
Everything is simple here. If it is scalping or intraday trading, then hands off the keyboard because the market shakes during the release of important news. But if you like to trade specifically on the news, then it's time, the most timing.
📅 TIMING BY DAYS OF THE WEEK
It has long been noted that the market is volatile differently on different days of the week:
Monday is sluggish and unclear, often markets open with gaps.
Tuesday all are awake, pumped up and the market goes and runs.
Wednesday and Thursday are active too, but on Thursday there are bank reports and, you can say, the banks, having made money, start to aim somewhere.
Friday is the day of losing trades. Very often unpredictable in terms of the previous week's movement, on Friday short-term traders close their positions, which also brings its own turmoil.
📆 TIMING THAT OCCURS DURING A SPECIFIC PERIOD OF THE MONTH
For example, this overlaps with news timing, non-farm peyrols (NFP), the economic news released every first Friday of the month. It is the second most important news after GDP. Be sure to watch the economic news release calendar. The impact of this news may well be spread out over the long term.
💼 QUARTERLY TIMINGS
Directly related to the quarterly closings of futures contracts in stock markets such as the CME. Futures and currency pairs with the same name are considered to influence each other. This can also include the release of quarterly reports of various companies that have their shares on stock exchanges.
🍂 SEASONAL TIMINGS
This is, for example, the New Year and Christmas. Also, the financial new year in Japan, which for some reason occurs in March, and in the U.S. in October. And futures on the same coffee, cotton and sugar should be considered taking into account the time of the year.
In general, timing is one of the most important factors that must be taken into account in your trading system, starting from the stage of its development. When tracking trading statistics, be sure to look at what time your trading system is most effective and whether it is possible, for example, to increase risk at that time or not to trade at other ineffective times at all.
EURJPY: Bearish Forecast Explained 🇪🇺🇯🇵
After a test of a confluence zone based on a daily horizontal resistance and 318 retracement of the major bearish impulse, EURJPY dropped and violated a support line of a rising wedge pattern on an hourly time frame.
It is an important bearish confirmation.
We may see a bearish movement to 156.2 / 155.5 soon.
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GBPCHF: Bearish Rally Continues 🇬🇧🇨🇭
Update for GBPCHF.
We spotted a confirmed bearish breakout of a support of a horizontal range on a daily.
After a deep retest of a broken structure, we see a strong bearish reaction.
The fall will most likely continue, at least to 1.094
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HOW TO TRADE GAPSA gap is a seemingly simple thing. It is such a period when the price minimum in a certain trading period is higher than the maximum in the previous period or vice versa - the maximum is lower than the minimum from the previous period. Gaps are not displayed on line charts or charts with closing prices, so they can only be seen on charts with bars or Japanese candlesticks. There they will look like an empty vertical space between trading periods, and this is the zone of extremely heightened emotions.
They are usually formed after the trading session, during the overnight period, when the market is digesting fresh negative or positive news. On daily charts gaps are much more common than on weekly charts, because on a weekly chart a gap can appear only between Fridays. Monthly gaps are rare and such gaps on the chart can be formed only between monthly price ranges. The easiest way to find a gap on an intraday chart is to open a trading session.
Gaps are an important emotional zone
Where gaps form on a chart is an important, potential reversal zone because emotions are running high. As charts are a reflection of the psychological state of market participants. Consequently, when price returns to the area of the previous gap, its upper and lower points become important support and resistance zones where short-term trends can briefly reverse.
Why most gaps close from a psychological perspective
A gap close is filled when price reverses and rolls back to the full range of the gap, thus "closing" it. On a daily chart it sometimes takes several days, sometimes it takes weeks or even months. And in some rare cases this process may not be completed at all.
"The market does not tolerate a void"
In other words, gaps are filled, sooner or later, almost always. Of course, there are exceptions, but they are quite rare. The psychology of this process is quite simple. It can take months and sometimes years to fill the gap in the market. That is why you should not create a trading system only on the assumption that the gap will be filled tomorrow. In most cases, the market will try to close the gap, but it often ends up with a partial closing attempt.
Why do gaps close at all?
Simply, like any emotional phenomenon, they reflect the psychology of market participants: excessive fear or greed, for example, depending on the direction of the trend. The decision to buy or sell at any price by itself is not objective or rational. Consequently, when the market cools down, people will begin to retroactively reconsider their decisions. Which will lead to either closing the gap or trying to close it at least partially.
Gaps should be treated with respect, but do not overestimate their importance. If a gap appeared on the formation of a price pattern, it is a general or gap zone. They close quickly and are not particularly important from the technical point of view. Therefore, we are much more interested in three other types of gaps, strong ones, which we will consider:
Breakout gaps
Continuation gaps
Exhaustion gaps
Breakout Gaps
A breakout gap is created when price breaks a price pattern or any other trading range. In general, if a gap appears, it emphasizes the bearish or bullish nature of the breakout, depending on its direction. Nevertheless, it is highly desirable that an upward breakout be accompanied by higher volumes. However, if the gap breaks down, it usually does not require high volumes.
Not every gap on a breakout is important, because as we know there is no such thing as a "sure thing" in technical analysis. However, a gap that is formed on a breakout is more important than one that appears by itself somewhere on the chart. There is a danger of buying on a breakout gap because you will get right into the epicenter of the market storm. The desire to buy at any price will in most cases end in disappointment when the price inevitably rolls back down after the emotions have subsided.
Breakout gaps that are formed in the early stages of a major bullish trend are much more reliable than those that are formed after a long rise in price. If a breakout gap is formed at the end of a bull market, the chances of emotional burnout increase. Bulls sell out everything and do not buy back the asset on pullbacks, they are not interested in a low price anymore.
Continuation gaps
Continuation gaps occur when the price is falling or rising in a straight line, when the price is flying fast and emotions are running high. Sometimes such gaps are closed very quickly, literally within a day. Sometimes they are open much longer and do not close until the market shows a strong or intermediate reversal in the opposite direction from the main trend. The same trend that created such a gap. Such a gap is usually formed between the previous breakout, in the middle of the price movement that follows it.
That is why such gaps are also called measuring gaps. It is not uncommon for one trend to have several such gaps at once. Continuation gaps are much more common in weak stocks or markets than in active and strong ones. The reason for this is that the window of opportunity is quite narrow and if everyone tries to get into it at the same time, only a few participants will get what they are looking for at the desired price. In the end, the demand to buy or sell will only be met by a much higher or lower price.
Exhaustion Gaps
If you see several continuation gaps in a trend, it means that the trend is being influenced by powerful forces. A second or third gap will also hint to a good technical analyst that the trend is stabilizing quickly. Therefore, there is a chance that the second or third continuation gap will be the last one. Accordingly, an exhaustion gap is the final stage of a rapid rise or fall in price, which will be the last of the continuation gaps. And there are cases when the exhaustion gap can develop after a long and extended trend.
In the end we have a breakout gap, this is the beginning of the price movement. A continuation/measurement gap is usually in the middle of a new move. And the exhaustion gap is the final gap in a price movement.
Therefore, exhaustion gaps are associated with rapid and prolonged price movement. They indicate that buyers gradually give up and stop believing in a new buying opportunity in the form of a pullback. In a downtrend, the opposite is true - sellers are losing at the top into a pullback higher for downside purchases.
Intraday Gaps
Generally, there are two types of opening gaps on intraday charts. The first one is formed after the price opens below the trading prices of the previous session. The second, much more widespread type of gap is formed exclusively on intraday charts, where the opening price of a new day jumps far away from the closing candle of the previous trading session.
Intraday traders should avoid trades when the market opens sharply up or down. In the stock market, this happens due to extreme imbalances, where liquidity providers are forced to open down positions to meet the demand from open orders.
Therefore, the ideal situation for them is when the price bounces slightly at the opening and then declines, allowing the liquidity providers to close all or part of the down positions. This process will be exactly the opposite if the price opens with a fall. Therefore, it is critical to observe what happens to the price after the opening range. As a rule, if after a gap up, the price goes further and opens a new trading range, it sets the sentiment for the whole market for at least a few hours, and sometimes even longer.
Island reversals
An island reversal is a small trading range that is formed at the end of a long price movement and is separated from the previous price by an exhaustion gap and a breakout gap.
Remember that islands do not occur very often on charts, and when they do, they do not last long. However, they are a frequent guest at the end of an intermediate or even major trend and are formed as part of a price pattern. Such as the top/bottom of a head and shoulders (or inverse head and shoulders). In addition, islands are often a one-day phenomenon.
Summary
Gap on the chart that was formed due to excessive emotions in the market. Gaps are closed almost always. They also act as potential support and resistance zones. The high volume on the gap confirms its importance. A breakout gap is formed at the beginning of the price movement, continuation gaps in the middle of the movement, and exhaustion gaps at the end of the trend. An island reversal is a small price pattern on a 1-day chart, isolated from the main price by two gaps. They often indicate the end of an intermediate trend.
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