What is ICT FVG ? – ICT Fair Value Gap Explained Step by Step !ICT FVG knowns as Fair Value Gap, is a three-candle formation having an un-retraced area between the high and low of 1st and 3rd candlestick.
A fair value gap is indicated by an imbalance and it acts as a level of support and resistance in the price chart.
This blog post will teach you all about the ICT FVG from their formation to identification and their use in trading.
You can jump to the section you are most interested in from below or can continue reading the whole article for better understanding.
Table of Contents
What is ICT FVG (Fair Value Gap)?
How to Identify an ICT Fair Value Gap?
Types of ICT FVG
(I) Bullish Fair Value Gap
(II) Bearish Fair Value Gap
ICT FVG Trading Strategy
Best Time Frame for ICT FVG Identification
Best Pair for ICT FVG Trading
Final Thoughts
What is ICT FVG (Fair Value Gap)?
ICT fair value gap is a three-candle structure indicating a gap between the high and low of 1st and 3rd candlestick.
The gap between three candles is created because price does not retrace in that area and leaves it open.
You can see the example of ICT FVG in the picture below :
ICT FVG acts as a magnet for price and price retrace back to the fair value gap to balance the price delivery.
After retracing to the FVG price then reverses and continues its trend .
How to Identify an ICT Fair Value Gap ?
To identify an ICT FVG, you need to look for a large candlestick with most body range.
After identifying the large candlestick, mark the high of candlestick prior to the large candle and low of the subsequent candlestick .
There will be a visible gap between the high and low of the two candlesticks which indicate the ICT fair value gap .
Types of ICT FVG
On the basis of price move the ICT FVG has two types which are explained below :
(I) Bullish Fair Value Gap
A bullish fair value gap in ICT terms appears during an uptrend with a three-candle pattern.
It happens when the middle candle has a large body , leaving a gap between the high of the first candle and the low of the third candle .
In an uptrend , a fair value gap can serve as strong support, with the price often retracing to fill the gap before moving higher .
You can see the example of bullish fair value gap in the picture below :
(II) Bearish Fair Value Gap
A bearish fair value gap appears in a downtrend within a three-candle pattern.
It forms when the middle candle has a large body, creating a gap between the low of the first candle and the high of the third candle .
In bearish trend a fair value gap can act as a good resistance and mostly price tends to fill this gap before moving lower .
You can see the example of bearish fair value gap in the picture below .
ICT FVG Trading Strategy
To trade using an ICT fair value gap, you need to go through below steps.
Step 1 – Determine Market Trend: First of all we need to identify the market trend of any asset whether it is bullish or bearish.
You can use ICT Daily Bias to anticipate the direction of price move.
In bullish trend price makes higher highs and higher lows, while in bearish trend price makes lower lows and lower highs
Step 2 – Identify Premium and Discount Zone: You would be looking for the premium fair value gap in bearish trend, while in bullish trend you would be looking for discount FVG.
Step 3 – Identify Large Candle:Once you have determined the trend, next step is to find a large candle with large body & small wicks.
If market is in bullish trend, we look for strong bullish candle with most body range while in bearish trend we look for large bearish candle with most body range.
Step 4 – Study Preceding & Proceeding Candles: Once you have identified one large candle, now study the one candle before it & the one candle after it.
Both of these candles should have such a structure that their bodies should not overlap the body of middle candle thus confirming a fair value gap between the wicks of first & third candle.
Step 4 – Mark Fair Value Gap: In bullish trend the gap between the high of first candle and the low of third candle.
While in bearish trend the gap between the low of first candle and the high of third candle will be marked as your fair value gap.
Step 6 – Execute the Trade: If the price is in bullish trend, we will wait for price to retrace and test the discount fair value gap to balance the move.
When price tests the discount fair value gap you can execute a buy trade with other technical confirmations like rejection or structure shift in lower time frame.
In the picture given below you can see price is in bullish trend making higher highs and higher lows.
It retraces back to test the fair value gaps and rejects from the fair value gaps, eventually going higher.
In a bearish trend, you would wait for the price to retrace up and test the premium fair value gap to balance the bearish price delivery.
When the price visits this gap, it can offer sell opportunities, especially when combined with additional confirmations like rejection or a shift in market structure.
In the image below, the market is in a downtrend, forming lower highs and lower lows.
It repeatedly tests bearish fair value gaps and rejects from these levels, leading to further price declines.
Best Time Frame for ICT FVG Identification
ICT FVG can serve different purpose, like it can be used as a tool to find the Daily Bias using higher timeframe like 1-Day.
But if you are using the fair value gap as a PD Array to find trade entry then you would be looking for a fair value gap in lower timeframes like 15-Minutes or lower than that.
Best Pair for ICT FVG Trading
Initially the ICT introduced the fair value gap using the index trading like Nasdaq and S&P-500 and it yielded best results in that market.
After that he demonstrated some examples of forex pairs using the FVG and it was equally good for that market too.
So, now a days ICT FVG serve as a key tool for traders in every market.
Final Thoughts
While trading using a fair value gap we should keep in mind that every fair value gap in the market is not tradeable , to trade using fair value gap, we should use it in conjugation with other strategies like demand & supply or support & resistance . At these levels fair value gaps can act as a more reliable tool to take a trade.
You can also check this article how traders use fair value gap to open the right trade.
Plus to mitigate your risks, you should always trade with stop loss in place as no strategy is foolproof in trading.
Futures market
Gold surged and then fell back to fluctuate. How to profit?
Trump said he was ready to significantly reduce the broad tariffs on Chinese goods. On the same day, Trump also said he had no intention of firing Fed Chairman Powell, who had previously asked the Fed to cut interest rates immediately. This move shocked the market and triggered warnings from business leaders.
Short-term trading of gold and US dollars on April 24: US market focuses on 3350-66 to suppress shorts, stop loss 3375, take profit 3317/3300
⭐️ Note: Labaron hopes that traders can properly manage their funds
- Choose the number of lots that matches your funds
- Profit is 4-7% of the capital account
- Stop loss is 1-3% of the capital account
Daily Analysis: 24‑04‑2025After touching the 3500 level earlier this week and setting a new all‑time high, spot gold underwent profit‑taking as optimism grew over a potential U.S.–China trade deal. A more conciliatory tone from President Trump toward Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell also helped calm markets. While Trump’s comments about easing tariffs on China boosted risk appetite, Treasury Secretary Bissennte’s remark that negotiations could drag on tempered excessive optimism.
Geopolitical developments are being watched closely, and gold is trading about 0.5 % higher this morning.
Technically, as long as the price does not break the 3365 resistance, short‑term downward pressure remains. A clear move above 3365 would open the way toward 3410. On the downside, the price may target support at 3310, followed by 3270.
Gold re-surged at $3,400. China denies tariff negotiations with International gold prices rebounded as investors bought on dips after a sharp drop in the previous trading day, while the market focus remained on U.S.-China trade tensions.
As of press time, spot gold rose 1.6% to $3,340.79, reaching a high of $3,367 in the Asian session. Gold fell more than 3% on Wednesday, the biggest one-day drop since late November last year.
In addition, the decline in the U.S. dollar index made dollar-denominated gold cheaper for overseas buyers, which also supported gold prices.
Quaid's analysis:
Although the White House has repeatedly released signals this week that relations with Beijing may ease, China said on Thursday that there are currently no ongoing negotiations with the United States on tariffs. China's strong attitude also affects the current trend of gold.
In addition, the data released by the United States today on the number of initial jobless claims in the United States for the week ending April 19 and the monthly rate of durable goods orders in March also directly guided the trend of gold.
Quaid believes that the current trend of gold is still in an upward stage; gold is still supported by many favorable factors, and the "gold bulls" may eventually break through the $3,500 mark firmly.
Quaid recommends the operation strategy:
3335 long, 3330 stop loss, and look up to 3380.
Every decisive decision is paving the way for account value-added. Every decisive decision paves the way for account appreciation. Trust your own judgment, and gold will crown you.
Gold Nears Key Decision Points in Short-Term TrendGold pulled back after testing the 3500 level. A reversal in rhetoric from former President Trump regarding China, along with some breathing room provided by Powell, eased market tensions. Reports indicate that meetings with executives from NYSE:TGT , NYSE:HD , and NYSE:WMT influenced Trump to reconsider his ultra-aggressive stance, as he recognized the imminent risks of inflation and potential supply chain disruptions that could begin within weeks. Additionally, rare earths could become a significant problem if a deal with China isn’t reached soon.
The 3500 level may now act as a major long-term top—provided the situation doesn't deteriorate further. Long-term topping signals for gold had already started to emerge; please refer to our earlier post for more details:
Short-Term Outlook
On the 15-minute chart, the downtrend has been broken. While geopolitical risks, particularly involving Ukraine and Russia remain elevated, gold may attempt to recover some lost ground. If the current corrective uptrend holds and 3350 is broken, a move toward slightly above 3400 could begin. However, if gold drops below 3325, there is a risk of another round of profit-taking and renewed selling pressure.
GOLD: Next Move Is Up! Long!
My dear friends,
Today we will analyse GOLD together☺️
The recent price action suggests a shift in mid-term momentum. A break above the current local range around 3,340.22 will confirm the new direction upwards with the target being the next key level of 3,370.89 and a reconvened placement of a stop-loss beyond the range.
❤️Sending you lots of Love and Hugs❤️
Long trade SoybeansWe have seasonal tendencies for Soybeans to be bullish
We have a divergence between soybeans and Wheat were Soybeans are the leader in strenght.
We have a bullish Weekly OB to go long from with stopploss at halfpoint of that OB.
This is a swing trade that I will hold until target or June were seasonality weares of.
Gold shows a bearish gapThe daily chart of gold shows a clear gap after the price peaked around $3,495/ounce. This is a warning sign of a reversal when strong selling pressure causes the opening price to be significantly lower than the closing price of the previous session. This gap often reflects distribution pressure from big players, especially in the context of gold having just experienced a hot rally.
In addition, the long red candle appearing right after the gap shows decisive selling pressure, pushing the price down to the $3,310/ounce area. Currently, although gold has slightly recovered to around $3,340, the short-term trend is leaning towards a correction as fundamental news continues to put downward pressure on prices.
President Trump's conciliatory statement on US-China trade and expectations of tariff reduction have significantly improved risk sentiment in the market. Strong money flows into stocks, causing gold to lose its safe-haven role. At the same time, the wave of profit-taking after the peak is also the main reason why gold "evaporated" tens of USD in just 24 hours.
Technically, if gold does not soon fill the GAP around the $3,390–$3,420 area, the correction trend will likely continue to expand to the EMA34 support area around the $3,200–$3,250 mark. A more positive scenario will only be triggered if gold regains the GAP and closes above $3,430.
In the current context, investors need to be cautious, prioritizing the strategy of waiting to sell when recovering to the resistance area, especially the area around the unfilled GAP.
SILVER: Target Is Down! Short!
My dear friends,
Today we will analyse SILVER together☺️
The in-trend continuation seems likely as the current long-term trend appears to be strong, and price is holding below a key level of 33.442 So a bearish continuation seems plausible, targeting the next low. We should enter on confirmation, and place a stop-loss beyond the recent swing level.
❤️Sending you lots of Love and Hugs❤️
Technical analysis of short-term gold operationsGold rebounded to $3,339 and fell back after encountering resistance. It accelerated its decline after the opening of the U.S. market. After falling to $3,260 and stabilizing, gold began to rebound, and was still suppressed by the integer of $3,300 until the closing. Gold broke upward at the opening of Thursday, rising to $3,367, and fell back to $3,314 after encountering resistance and stabilizing. It is currently trading at $3,337. Overall, gold further retreated to $3,260 to stabilize, and rebounded to $3,367 and encountered resistance, which is basically consistent with the lower space of $3,250 and the upper space of $3,385 given by us.
Gold rebounded after hitting a new low in a week on Wednesday, mainly because Bessant said that tariff negotiations will not start soon and will be conducted at the current trade level between China and the United States. Trump did not propose unilateral reductions in tariffs on Chinese imports and denied any upcoming tax cuts, which increased uncertainty and caused some safe-haven funds to flow back into the gold market.
XAU/USD Bullish Move Toward 3,440This chart shows a bullish breakout setup on XAU/USD (Gold), following a falling channel. The price has broken out of the bearish structure and is targeting the 3,440–3,445 resistance zone. The upward arrow and green projection zone indicate the expected bullish move. This could be a potential buy opportunity with a good risk-reward ratio, as long as price stays above the new ascending trendline.
Gold------Buy near 3310, target 3360-3387Gold market analysis:
Gold has been bought and sold back and forth in the past two days. We need to follow the trend and the rhythm to make a profit. Yesterday, the buy order of gold we arranged was hit, and then the trend changed immediately to follow it. We arranged to sell at 3323, 3326 and 3337 to make a profit. Today's gold is expected to be washed out. Buying is not continuous, and selling is not continuous. If the rhythm is not controlled well to chase the rise and fall, it will also be washed out of the market. In the short term, we need to find opportunities in the 15-minute chart and the 30-minute chart, so that it is easy to follow it. From a large cycle perspective, the long-term trend of gold is still buying, and the weekly buying pattern has not changed. If there is no accident, gold will continue to hit new highs in the later period. In the later period of these two days, we need to watch more and do less to avoid market risks.
Pay attention to the small support and cycle position near 3310 in the Asian session. If this position stabilizes above 3300, it will rise again. Buying will see the suppression of 3387. There is a technical big step back near 3387. We estimate the space of 3300-3387 in the Asian session. Find the rhythm. If it stabilizes, buy it again. If it breaks 3310 and rebounds, sell it and see a new decline. The selling target will see the previous low point near 3326.
Support 3310-3300, pressure 3362 and 3387, the strength and weakness watershed of the market 3330
Fundamental analysis:
Trump's sudden change of style has caused gold to plunge all the way, and the European and American markets have risen sharply. In the short term, it suppresses gold and in the long term, it suppresses the US dollar.
Operation suggestion:
Gold------Buy near 3310, target 3360-3387
How to break through the pressure from above?From the analysis of the four-hour line, today's support is around 3300-3310. If it falls back during the day, you can buy more once before rebounding. The upper short-term resistance is around 3340-3356, and the focus is on the suppression of 3380-90. The overall range of long and short positions is maintained in this range. In the middle position, watch more and do less, and follow orders cautiously, and wait patiently for key points to enter the market.
Gold operation strategy: short gold rebounds at 3340, and short gold rebounds at 3360, stop loss 3367, target 3300-3310, and continue to hold if it breaks;
XBRUSD is moving within the 62.55 - 67.70 range👀 Possible scenario:
Oil prices saw a slight rebound on April 24 after a 2% drop, with Brent crude rising 0.8% to $66.65 and West Texas Intermediate up 0.88% to $62.82. Investors weighed potential OPEC+ output increases against mixed U.S.-China trade signals and ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.
OPEC+ might accelerate output hikes in June, but internal disagreements, like Kazakhstan prioritizing national interests, added uncertainty. Analysts warned that the U.S.-China trade war could halve China's oil demand growth, while U.S.-Iran talks raised the possibility of easing sanctions on Iranian oil, which could pressure prices further.
✅Support and Resistance Levels
Now, the support level is located at 62.55.
Resistance levels are now located at 67.70.
: Gold (XAUUSD) 2H – Bullish Breakout from Demand Zone + COTGold is showing strong bullish structure on the 2-hour timeframe after rejecting a key demand zone around $3,296. Price has respected this area multiple times, confirming active buyer interest. Momentum is building for a potential breakout toward the $3,480 region.
Adding to the technical confluence, the latest COT report shows increased long positions by institutional traders, signaling smart money accumulation. This supports the bullish bias and adds confidence to the upward projection.
Trade Setup:
• Demand Zone: $3,280 – $3,296
• Target: $3,480
• Stop-loss: Below $3,275
• Bias: Bullish while price holds above demand zone
• Confluence: Institutional buying pressure (COT report)
Watching for a strong bullish candle to confirm continuation. Clean risk/reward and solid fundamentals behind the move.