Did They Buy the Bottom? EUR/USD Set for Another Reversal!After an explosive bounce from the 1.0800–1.0850 demand zone, EUR/USD is now in a key structural retest around 1.1300. The COT data shows a net increase in long positions by Non-Commercials, but with the Dollar still holding structural strength in its own COT report and an RSI showing bearish divergence, this area may act as a key zone for price discovery.
📊 WHAT THE DATA SAYS:
📉 Price Action: Clear rejection from the 1.1450–1.1550 supply zone. Retest at key structure near 1.1300.
📑 COT (EURO): Net long positions up by +183 (196,388 long vs 120,591 short) = bullish tone.
📑 COT (USD): Still balanced, but Non-Commercials are reducing net longs → potential weakening.
📊 Retail Sentiment (MyFXBook): 70% retail traders are short = contrarian long bias remains.
🌱 Seasonality (May): Historically negative for EUR/USD (–0.0088) = potential downside pressure ahead.
📌 Key Levels:
Resistance: 1.1450 / 1.1550 (Supply Zone)
Support: 1.1300 (Structural retest) — 1.0850 (Strong demand)
📉 BASE SCENARIO: Pullback toward 1.1100–1.1050 before renewed long accumulation.
📈 ALTERNATIVE SCENARIO: Break above 1.1450 could target 1.1600–1.1720 zone.
🔍 Watch out for May's seasonal inversion and extreme speculative positioning — fakeouts may precede real directional moves.
Fed
Gold - All eyes on Wednesday 08 May - FED🟡 Gold Traders: Nothing Matters Until Wednesday! ⏳💤
Hey traders! 👋
This week, all eyes are on Wednesday... and everything before that? Mostly noise.
Let me break it down for you. 👇
📊 Technical Outlook
Gold is chilling above a key resistance level right now.
Trendlines suggest we won’t see any major moves before Wednesday unless big news drops. 📰
🕐 Asian session is kicking things off above resistance.
If bulls show up there, we could break Trendline 1 (Image below) and head towards the $3300 🎯 target.
📉 RSI across multiple timeframes? Pretty neutral.
If Asia trades flat or slightly bearish, gold might range between $3210–$3250.
Break below $3201, and things could get shaky... but the European session might push us back above that support.
U.S. session on Monday? Likely a sideways snoozefest 😴 (unless surprise news hits).
🎯 Trade Setup (Mon–Wed)
I’m looking to play the range between:
$3261 (Trendline 2) 🔼 and $3169 (Trendline 4) 🔽
That’s a comfy $90 window I’m aiming to trade before Wednesday's fireworks. 🚀
🔮 After Wednesday – The FED Factor 💣
Here’s the real catalyst:
Wednesday, May 7 at 2:00 PM EST – FOMC Rate Decision
If the FED cuts rates (not likely, but possible under pressure), gold could tank hard. 💥
I’m talking a potential drop to $3150 or lower 🕳️📉
That’d be a -$90+ move easy.
FED has been holding the line 💪, resisting pressure (especially from Trump back in the day), but if the economy flashes red, that rate cut might come sooner than expected.
🧠 Final Thoughts
FED paused hikes, but left the door open for 3 rate cuts this year.
Until we get more clarity, no strong bullish signals on gold.
My bias stays: Bearish unless proven otherwise. 🐻💬
Stay sharp out there, and watch those sessions. Wednesday’s the real deal! 💼📉
And last but not least, look at this and let us know what you think about please:
Some would say its impossible but as we know, gold can do everything!
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This is just my personal market idea and not financial advice! 📢 Trading gold and other financial instruments carries risks – only invest what you can afford to lose. Always do your own analysis, use solid risk management, and trade responsibly.
Good luck and safe trading! 🚀📊
S&P Melt-Up, FOMC, Gold, Bitcoin - Key Levels and OutlooksHappy Saturday!!!
I just finished a live roundtable session so charts and analysis was fresh on the mind.
S&P just closed 9 consecutive days higher
S&P Futures 9 green candles
The melt-up has been slow and steady, but persistent
Markets are now "repaired" back to or above the US Liberation Day break levels
on April 2/April 3
I see some near-term resistance in the S&P with FOMC coming this week. There
are some reasonable gaps lower for some pullbacks, but the PAIN trade persists.
The "pain" trade now is higher highs because sentiment is so bearish.
The "pain" trade if we see all-time highs would be a bull trap.
FED is likely staying paused for May and June per the FED Watch Tool and the first rate
cut may start in July 2025. But I'm watching US Yields to see if they persist higher because
that may ruin the FED's plan and power and 40+ year correlations.
Eyes wide open and small risk. Short-term strategies are doing well in this environment.
I'll continue to grind.
Thanks for watching!!!
Institutions Are Loading EUR/NZDIn the current market context, EURNZD is showing a highly compelling technical and fundamental structure for both short- and medium-term opportunities. After a prolonged retracement from the March highs, the price has strongly reacted from a clearly defined weekly demand zone between 1.8712 and 1.8600.
From a technical perspective, this reaction aligns with a moderate RSI divergence and a still intact macro bullish market structure, despite the corrective nature of recent weeks.
However, what truly validates this setup goes beyond price action alone. The latest Commitment of Traders (COT) data strongly supports the long thesis. On the euro side, we observe a significant increase in commercial long positions (+14,659 contracts), signaling institutional hedging activity. At the same time, non-commercials (speculators) have been cutting their short positions, suggesting growing expectations of euro strength.
On the NZD side, the picture is even more decisive: non-commercials maintain a net short position of -40,444 contracts, with a further reduction in long positions. The speculative sentiment toward the NZD is clearly bearish and shows no signs of short-term reversal.
Adding to this, retail sentiment data currently shows that 59% of retail traders are short on EURNZD. From a contrarian perspective, this is particularly bullish — the crowd is selling while smart money is buying.
Seasonality also supports the setup: historically, the months of May and June have been positive for the euro and negative for the NZD, adding an additional statistical layer of confluence to the trade idea.
🎯 Conclusion
We may be witnessing the early stages of a new bullish leg on EURNZD. The 1.89 area represents a potential re-entry zone in the event of a retest. The medium-term target is set between 1.9300 and 1.9500.
Technical structure, institutional positioning, retail sentiment, and seasonality all align in favor of a clear bullish bias in the coming weeks.
Weekly $SPY / $SPX Scenarios for May 5–9, 2025🔮 Weekly AMEX:SPY / SP:SPX Scenarios for May 5–9, 2025 🔮
🌍 Market-Moving News 🌍
🏦 Fed Holds Rates Amid Political Pressure
The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain its benchmark interest rate at 4.25%-4.5% during its meeting on May 6–7, despite political pressure to lower it. Investors will closely monitor Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s post-decision remarks for insights into future monetary policy directions.
📊 Key Economic Indicators on Tap
This week brings several important economic data releases, including the U.S. trade balance, initial jobless claims, consumer credit, and wholesale inventories. These indicators will provide insights into the health of the economy amid ongoing trade tensions and concerns over consumer confidence.
💼 Corporate Earnings in Focus
Major companies such as Palantir ( NASDAQ:PLTR ), Advanced Micro Devices ( NASDAQ:AMD ), Uber ( NYSE:UBER ), Walt Disney ( NYSE:DIS ), and Ford ( NYSE:F ) are scheduled to report earnings this week. Investors will be watching these reports for signs of how companies are navigating the current economic landscape.
🌐 Global Events and Leadership Changes
Europe is set for significant leadership changes, with Friedrich Merz expected to be confirmed as Germany’s new chancellor. Additionally, the Vatican’s conclave to elect a new pope convenes on Wednesday. These events, along with the 80th anniversary of VE Day, may have broader implications for global markets.
📊 Key Data Releases 📊
📅 Monday, May 5:
9:45 AM ET: S&P Global Composite PMI (April Final)
10:00 AM ET: ISM Non-Manufacturing Index (April)
📅 Tuesday, May 6:
8:30 AM ET: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services (March)
📅 Wednesday, May 7:
2:00 PM ET: Federal Reserve Interest Rate Decision
2:30 PM ET: Fed Chair Jerome Powell Press Conference
📅 Thursday, May 8:
8:30 AM ET: Initial Jobless Claims
10:00 AM ET: Wholesale Inventories (March)
📅 Friday, May 9:
3:00 PM ET: Consumer Credit (March)
⚠️ Disclaimer:
This information is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. Always consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
📌 #trading #stockmarket #economy #news #trendtao #charting #technicalanalysis
Is Platinum About to Explode? Imminent Rally!Platinum (PL1!) is currently in a technically and macroeconomically compelling setup. After a prolonged consolidation between 872–921, price has reacted strongly, forming a clear accumulation pattern supported by institutional positioning and favorable seasonality.
📈 1. Technical Analysis: Accumulation and Potential Breakout
The weekly chart shows a strong demand zone that has been defended multiple times over the past year. Following a deep pullback in April, price has formed a harmonic compression structure and broke to the upside with conviction. The area between 1010 and 1040 stands out as the first major historical supply zone — previously rejected but now looking increasingly vulnerable.
📉 2. COT Report: Institutions Repositioning Long
The COT data as of April 22 shows a clear increase in long positions from commercial traders (+1,177 contracts), while non-commercials maintain a net long bias. Total open interest rose by over 1,500 contracts — a strong sign of renewed speculative interest in Platinum.
✅ Conclusion
Platinum is showing strong confluence across technicals, institutional positioning, and historical seasonal behavior. The probability of a bullish extension in Q2 2025 is high. This is a setup worth watching closely in the coming days.
Gold Trapped? Everyone’s Long… But Price is Going Down!Gold (XAU/USD) is showing signs of exhaustion after its explosive rally that pushed it beyond $3,400. We are now witnessing a pullback phase, with price directly testing a key demand zone between $3,050 and $2,980. From a technical standpoint, this is the last major defense before a potential drop toward the $2,832 area.
The current bearish pressure is supported by a powerful blend of macro, positioning, and behavioral factors:
COT Report – Gold: Non-commercials (speculators) are aggressively closing long positions and opening shorts, which signals a breakdown in the short-term bullish narrative. On the other hand, commercials (hedgers), also known as the "smart money", are steadily increasing their long exposure, hinting at a potential accumulation zone forming.
COT Report – USD Index: Speculative funds are stacking long positions on the dollar, which continues to add downside pressure on gold. As long as this persists, any upside attempt on XAU/USD will likely face headwinds.
Seasonality: May tends to be historically bullish for gold, but June is seasonally weak. The strongest seasonal window opens between July and August, suggesting the possibility of a deeper pullback before the next bullish wave.
Retail Sentiment: Over 75% of retail traders are long on XAU/USD, typically a contrarian signal. This sets the stage for a classic stop-hunt scenario, where price flushes lower to trigger retail stop-losses before a potential reversal.
📌 Conclusion: In true Bridgewater fashion, we’re seeing a divergence between positioning and price action. In the short term, gold remains vulnerable to a move toward $2,832. However, if that zone holds, it could provide a compelling opportunity to accumulate for a potential summer swing rally toward all-time highs.
USDCAD | Technical Rebound or Final Stop Before the Crash?USDCAD is currently in a highly delicate phase: the price has reached a key weekly demand zone between 1.3720–1.3820, which overlaps with a strong Fibonacci retracement cluster (0.705–0.78) of the previous bullish leg. So far, the reaction has been muted, but price compression and fading volatility suggest a potential short-term rebound.
However, looking at the bigger picture, the macro and positioning signals are flashing red for the US dollar:
📊 COT Report: Non-Commercials are significantly increasing short positions on USD and reducing shorts on CAD → bearish bias on USDCAD
🧠 Retail sentiment: Most retail traders are long on USDCAD → contrarian bearish bias
🗓️ Seasonality: May is historically negative for the USD and positive for the CAD → further confirms the short thesis
Only a structural recovery above 1.4150 on the weekly close would invalidate the bearish setup. Until then, any retracement towards 1.3980–1.4050 should be seen as an opportunity to sell strength.
🎯 Key Levels:
Sell zone: 1.3980–1.4050
Invalidation: Weekly close > 1.4150
Targets: 1.3720 – 1.3550
🔔 Critical note: When everyone is long, often the only direction left is down.
Is EURUSD getting ready for another 600 pips bull run?🏆 EURUSD Market Update
📊 Technical Outlook
🔸Short-term: mixed/range
🔸Mid-term: BULLS 2000
🔸Status: accumulation in range
🔸previously x2 waves +600 pips
🔸clearly strong uptrend in progress
🔸Price Target Bears: range
🔸Price Target BULLS: 2000
🔸strategy: accumulate in range
🔸TP1 +200 TP2 +400 pips
🔸SL 60 pips / below accum range
📈 EUR/USD Bullish Drivers
🏦 ECB staying cautious on rate cuts while Fed signals easing
📉 Weak U.S. job and manufacturing data pressuring the dollar
🌍 U.S. trade policy uncertainty pushing investors toward euro
📊 Technicals show strong support, RSI confirms bullish momentum
🔮 Outlook
⏳ Short-term: Targeting 1.1500 if U.S. data stays soft
📆 Medium-term: 1.20 possible on policy divergence and EU fiscal boost
Natural Gas Ready to Explode?In recent months, Natural Gas (NG1!) has shown significant volatility, but now there are clear signals suggesting a major directional move could be imminent.
On the weekly technical chart, price has bounced from a strong demand zone between 2.50 and 2.70 USD/MMBtu, an area historically defended by institutional players. Currently, it is trading above 3.30 USD, consolidating in preparation for the next move. Key resistance zones to watch are between 3.90 and 4.20 USD, a region of high volume confluence and institutional supply.
Retail sentiment is extremely interesting: over 75% of retail traders are currently long. Historically, an excess of retail longs often leads to either corrections or accumulation/distribution phases, as large players tend to act against the majority.
Looking at the COT Report, the data supports the bullish thesis: non-commercials (speculative funds) remain net short, while commercials (physical operators) are increasing their long positions, indicating expectations of higher real demand in the medium term. This is a historically bullish signal, although it may not materialize immediately: commercials often start accumulating well before price movements occur.
Finally, seasonality favors the bulls: historically, from late April through mid-June, Natural Gas tends to perform positively, fueled by storage accumulation ahead of summer and the following winter season.
Strategically, a consolidation phase above 2.90–3.00 USD could serve as a base for larger moves towards 3.90 and eventually 4.90 USD, with the bullish scenario invalidated only below the 2.80 USD area.
EUR/USD racing towards new highs? The market sends clear signalsThe EUR/USD pair is confirming a very strong bullish structure. On the weekly chart, the price is positioned above a key supply zone between 1.1350 and 1.1450, after strongly breaking through previous resistances.
The current consolidation at the top of the range suggests a potential continuation to the upside, with a first target at 1.1500 and an extended target at 1.1600.
Retail market sentiment shows a clear majority of short positions on EUR/USD.
This supports a contrarian bullish view, as historically, retail tends to be positioned against the prevailing trend.
COT report data further strengthens this outlook.
The US Dollar Index (USD Index) shows an increase in short positions among institutional traders, indicating a possible phase of dollar weakness.
Conversely, the Euro FX shows a significant increase in long positions from both non-commercial and commercial traders, highlighting institutional interest in buying the euro.
From a seasonal perspective, May tends to be neutral or slightly negative for the euro, while June historically favors moderate dollar strength.
This suggests that EUR/USD could still have room to rise over the coming weeks, but it will be important to monitor for signs of bullish exhaustion towards the end of May.
In summary, the current context favors further upside on EUR/USD as long as the price remains above the 1.1300 support.
However, it will be crucial to watch for the first signs of weakness as we approach June.
XAUUSD - Gold trend reversed?!Gold is trading below the EMA200 and EMA50 on the hourly timeframe and is in the specified pattern. The continuation of gold's movement depends on the breakdown of one of the two established trend lines, and after a valid breakdown, we expect to reach the established targets.
In recent weeks, gold prices have experienced significant volatility. This precious metal, long regarded as a safe-haven asset during periods of economic uncertainty, faced a decline in Monday’s trading session. The primary reason behind this drop was signs of easing trade tensions between the United States and China, leading to decreased demand for safe assets. This decline occurred while investors awaited clarity regarding ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries.
Last week, media reports indicated that China exempted some American imports from 125% tariffs, signaling a reduction in bilateral tensions. In response, Donald Trump stated that trade talks were underway; however, this claim was rejected by China. Additionally, the U.S. Treasury Secretary announced that he was unaware of any active negotiations, further fueling market doubts.
According to a recent Federal Reserve survey, participants cited the outflow of foreign capital from U.S. assets and a decline in the dollar’s value as potential new economic shocks. Some respondents believed that increased tariffs might only cause limited market disruptions. The survey indicated that despite market turmoil in April, prices remained elevated relative to fundamental indicators.
Meanwhile, investors were closely awaiting key U.S. economic data set to be released over the coming week. While the previous week was relatively quiet in terms of economic indicators, market focus has shifted toward a series of critical U.S. employment reports. These include the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) on Tuesday, the ADP private-sector employment report on Wednesday, and weekly jobless claims on Thursday—all paving the way for the most crucial event of the week: the April Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) report, to be released Friday morning.
Beyond these reports, several major events are scheduled in the economic calendar: Canada’s federal election on Monday, the U.S. Consumer Confidence Index on Tuesday, preliminary first-quarter GDP data, pending home sales figures, and the Bank of Japan’s monetary policy decision on Wednesday, followed by the U.S. ISM Manufacturing PMI on Thursday—all of which could impact market sentiment.
On another front, the China Gold Association reported that gold consumption fell by 5.96% in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 290,492 tons. Although gold jewelry demand declined by 26.85%, investment-related gold demand surged by 29.81%, reflecting investors’ pursuit of safe assets amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
Domestic gold production in China increased by 1.49%, and assets held in gold ETFs rose sharply by 327.73%, indicating heightened financial caution among Chinese consumers in 2025.
A recent report from Goldman Sachs suggests that the downward trend of the U.S. dollar is far from over and that the currency remains significantly overvalued. Jan Hatzius, the bank’s chief economist, stated that despite the dollar’s recent 5% drop, it still stands roughly two standard deviations above its long-term real average since 1973. Historically, such levels have marked the beginning of multi-year correction cycles for the dollar.
Similar patterns occurred during the mid-1980s and early 2000s when the U.S. dollar experienced declines of around 25% to 30% following such valuations. Based on this, Goldman Sachs expects a similar scenario to unfold in the coming years.
One of the key structural factors fueling this anticipated correction is the portfolio composition of global investors. Specifically, non-U.S. investors hold about $22 trillion worth of assets in the United States, roughly one-third of their total portfolios.Half of these investments are unhedged against currency risk, which could lead to sharp fluctuations in the currency markets if investor sentiment shifts.
Goldman Sachs analysts believe that even a modest reallocation of global capital away from U.S. assets could significantly lower the dollar’s value. Therefore, they view the dollar’s gradual yet sustained decline not as a temporary fluctuation, but as a long-term structural trend.
NAS100 - Stock Market Waiting for a New Stimulus?!The index is trading above the EMA200 and EMA50 on the four-hour timeframe and is trading in its ascending channel. If the index continues to move upwards towards the specified supply zone, one can look for further Nasdaq short positions with a risk-reward ratio.
Last week, financial markets experienced a brief sigh of relief as U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to ease tensions by signaling a limited retreat in the tariff war with China, sparking hopes for reduced friction. However, this optimism quickly faded once it became clear that Trump’s retreat was neither substantial nor impactful.
From Beijing’s perspective, the trade war has transcended economic concerns, becoming an issue of national pride and sovereignty. As a result, China, the world’s second-largest economy, is not retreating as easily as Trump anticipated. This stance has evolved into a significant challenge for the White House. U.S. officials indicated that tariffs of 145% could be reduced within two to three weeks if an agreement is reached.
Nonetheless, according to Chinese authorities, negotiations have yet to even begin, raising doubts about Trump’s negotiation tactics. Additionally, other concessions, such as reducing tariffs on American automakers, remain uncertain, and Trump has even threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian car imports.
This environment not only fails to clarify U.S. trade policy but also deepens uncertainty for domestic businesses. Although the White House claims it is monitoring markets closely and Trump is eager to strike deals with key partners, these assurances have not alleviated concerns about the future of the U.S. economy.
In the upcoming week, critical economic data could either intensify or ease current worries. On Tuesday, the Consumer Confidence Index for April and the JOLTS job openings data for March will be released. The highlight, however, will be the preliminary estimate of GDP growth, scheduled for Wednesday.
The Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model forecasts a 2.2% annualized contraction in the U.S. economy for Q1 2025. Meanwhile, a Reuters survey of economists projects a modest 0.4% growth rate, a significant slowdown from Q4’s 2.4% growth.
Accompanying these reports, the ADP private-sector employment data and the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index will be published. The core PCE for March is expected to show a monthly increase of 0.1% and an annual rise of 2.5%, down from 2.8% previously. Personal spending is anticipated to maintain its 0.4% monthly growth, reflecting resilient household expenditures.
Additionally, on Wednesday, the Chicago PMI and pending home sales figures will be released. Thursday will bring the Challenger layoffs data for April, but market focus will be on the ISM manufacturing PMI, expected to drop from 49 to 47.9.
The week’s main event will be Friday’s release of the Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report. Forecasts suggest job growth will slow from 228,000 in March to 130,000 in April, while the unemployment rate is expected to remain at 4.2%. Wages are projected to rise by 0.3%.If NFP and PCE data come in weaker than expected, market expectations for a 25-basis-point rate cut by the Fed in June could intensify, although the likelihood of a cut in May will remain low. Such data would likely be bearish for the U.S. dollar but could support equity markets if recession fears do not dominate sentiment.
Some Federal Reserve officials have suggested that if economic conditions deteriorate significantly, rate cuts could start as early as June. Currently, the Fed has maintained high rates to combat inflation but may lower them to support growth and prevent a sharp rise in unemployment if necessary.
Trump’s trade wars pose a dual risk of increasing inflation while hurting employment, complicating the Fed’s monetary policy strategy. Presently, the Fed is in a “wait-and-see” mode, but several officials indicated last week that cuts could begin if economic data worsens.
Beth Hammack, President of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank, told CNBC on Thursday that the Fed might lower rates starting in June if signs of economic weakening due to Trump’s sporadic tariffs appear.
Christopher Waller, a Fed Board member, stated on Bloomberg TV that he could foresee rate cuts if the labor market collapses but does not expect such a scenario before July.
On Thursday, Waller remarked, “It would not be surprising to see an increase in layoffs and a higher unemployment rate, especially if major tariffs return. I would expect faster rate cuts once signs of severe labor market deterioration emerge.”
These comments highlight the Fed’s current dilemma as it awaits clearer evidence of significant economic fallout from Trump’s trade wars.
The Federal Reserve’s mandate is to maintain low inflation and unemployment levels. Its primary tool, the federal funds rate, influences borrowing costs across the economy. The Fed can stimulate growth by lowering rates or curb inflation by raising them.
Economists warn that Trump’s tariffs present the risk of simultaneously driving up inflation while damaging employment, forcing the Fed to prioritize which challenge to address first.
S&P500: Rebound or Bull Trap?Over the past week, the S&P500 weekly chart showed a key technical signal: the formation of a bullish engulfing.
This pattern emerged after several weeks of strong monthly bearish pressure, suggesting a potential reversal attempt or, at the very least, a technical rebound.
Analyzing the key levels, the price reacted inside a major demand area (visible on the monthly timeframe), positioned between 5,450 and 5,500 points.
The reaction from this zone reinforces the validity of the engulfing and suggests the market could now aim for the first resistance targets around 5,600 - 5,650.
Further upside targets are located at 5,837 and 6,023, previously marked as high-confluence zones.
From an institutional positioning perspective, the latest COT Report (April 22, 2025) reveals interesting developments:
Commercials (big players) increased their long contracts by +22,226 units, showing strong interest in upside protection.
Non-Commercials (speculators) also increased their longs (+8,754), but added even more to their shorts (+20,667).
The Net Positioning for Non-Commercials remains negative but has stabilized at less extreme levels compared to March, suggesting a possible phase of accumulation or preparation for a sentiment shift.
📊 The Net Positions chart shows a reduction in net short pressure — a warning sign for those still heavily short.
Summary:
The weekly engulfing is a technical signal not to underestimate.
We are trading within a strong monthly demand zone.
COT data suggests a decrease in bearish pressure, although not yet a full sentiment reversal.
However, caution is necessary: a firm break below 5,450 would invalidate the bullish signal and reopen the path toward corrections at 5,200 and 5,000.
Current Strategy:
Slight bullish bias above 5,500.
Short-term target: 5,600 → 5,650.
Next targets: 5,837 and 6,023.
Invalidation level: weekly close below 5,450.
Watching the price action around key resistance levels will be crucial: the market will decide whether this rebound consolidates or becomes just a trap for new buyers.
Nasdaq on Thin Ice? Smart Money is Bearish!📊 COT Analysis – NASDAQ E-MINI Futures
Asset Managers → Consistently net long, but without accumulation: showing little conviction on new lows.
Leveraged Money → Confirmed aggressive shorts, a clear sign that smart money doesn't believe in the bounce.
✅ COT Conclusion:
Smart money is not buying the dip → fundamental bias = bearish.
🧠 Technical Breakdown + My Long Trade
📉 Structure:
Strong rejection from the 16,700–17,300 zone, with a long weekly wick = signs of accumulation.
Price formed a double bottom + weekly engulfing candle, right on the demand zone → confirming strong buyer pressure.
🎯 My Long Trade (LIVE SETUP):
Entry: After confirmation of bullish price action on the blue demand zone
Target: Supply zone 20,400–21,000
Exit: Closed just before the drop → perfect trade management, respecting structure and weekly resistance
📈 Post-trade context:
Price then rejected violently from that zone → we’re now back around 18,400, and if 18,000 breaks, the door opens toward 16,700.
🧭 What’s Next?
🔹 If price pulls back to 19,200–19,500, I’ll look for a short setup
🔹 If it breaks below 18,000 → clean path toward 16,700–16,500
✅ Trade Summary
🔥 Long from structural demand zone → exit at weekly supply
🧠 Setup based on price action + RSI and structural confluence
🐻 Now the bias shifts back to bearish: watch the 18k level closely
GBP/JPY at the Edge! Bounce or Breakdown? The weekly chart of GBP/JPY reveals a highly volatile scenario, with a recent bearish expansion pushing the price back toward a key support zone between 185.00 and 188.30 — an area that has been defended multiple times in the past. After an attempted recovery toward the supply zone between 194.00 and 195.00, the pair encountered heavy selling pressure, failing to break out and sharply reversing.
From a technical perspective, the move suggests a possible swing failure above local highs, with the current weekly candle confirming a return below resistance. Price action is now within a critical area: if the current support holds, we could see a technical rebound with interim targets at 191.40 and potentially back toward 194.00. However, a breakdown below 185.00 would open the door to deeper correction, with possible extensions toward 182.00 and 180.00 — both zones marked by previous accumulation.
The RSI, after dipping into oversold territory, is now attempting a reaction, indicating that buyers are trying to regain control, though the structure remains fragile. Strategically, this phase demands caution: aggressive longs may seek confirmation of reversal above current lows, while bearish traders should closely watch for a confirmed breakdown below support. The 188.30 to 191.40 price range will be key to monitoring the next directional move.
GBP/NZD Breakdown Imminent? Smart Money and Seasonality Say YES!🧠 1. Price Action & Technical Structure
Price was firmly rejected from the monthly supply zone between 2.33 – 2.35, marked by strong bearish candles.
A bounce occurred at the weekly demand between 2.20 – 2.22, where accumulation and a short-term reversal formed (dashed white arrow).
Currently, price is trading near the lower bound of a compression range (2.22 – 2.26), sitting below a key intermediate resistance (dark teal zone).
RSI is in the neutral-to-low zone, with no major divergence, leaving room for further downside.
Technical Bias: Neutral to Bearish unless we get a weekly close above 2.26–2.27.
📊 2. COT Data
GBP
Asset Managers remain net short, though improving since January.
Leveraged Money sharply reducing long exposure since early April → Institutional bullish sentiment weakening.
NZD
Asset Managers have been heavily short for over a year, but shorts are being reduced since February → slight sentiment recovery.
Leveraged Money flat, with no clear long build-up yet.
➡️ Combined COT Outlook: The GBP's advantage over NZD is fading. This supports a sideways to slightly bearish outlook on GBP/NZD.
📅 3. Seasonality
April: Historically bearish for GBP/NZD (–0.2971 avg.), aligning with current downward move.
May: Also typically bearish (–0.2964 avg.) → suggesting potential continued weakness.
➡️ Seasonal Bias: Bearish through mid-to-late May.
🧠 4. Retail Sentiment
Around 70% of retail traders are long GBP/NZD → classic contrarian bearish signal.
Average long entry: 2.1800, current price: 2.2246 → many longs in profit.
Potential for profit taking or breakeven pullback adds to bearish pressure.
📌 Trade Plan Summary
Weekly Bias: → Bearish / Range-bound
📉 Short Zones of Interest:
2.26 – 2.27 → key resistance zone
Stop above 2.2850 (H4/H1 close above invalidates setup)
🎯 Targets:
2.2050 → recent demand re-test
2.1850 / 2.1650 → deeper demand zones visible on chart
🧠 Invalidation Level:
Daily close above 2.2850 → structure turns bullish
April 24, 2025 - Not getting fired (yet)Hello everyone, it’s April 24, 2025, welcome back to another wild episode of “Trumponomics: The Market Edition.” For the second day in a row, global markets are on the rise, and yes, it’s all thanks to the Trump playbook: slap tariffs everywhere, terrify the market, escalate tensions, then toss out a gesture of peace and voilà — rally mode engaged.
The key word this morning? Relief. Relief that Trump might chill out on China, and Powell isn’t getting fired (yet). But let’s not pop the champagne too soon — anyone betting against a weekend plot twist from Trump hasn’t been paying attention.
In the US, the Fed’s Beige Book (a.k.a. the economy’s mood diary) painted a picture that’s… let’s say “limp but not lifeless.” Only 5 of the 12 Fed districts saw growth, and even that was more “walker with tennis balls” than Olympic sprint. Inflation? Creeping in slowly, with companies sharpening their price-hike pencils just in case Trump cranks up the tariff heat again. Employment? Not awful, but nothing to brag about. And uncertainty? It was mentioned 80 times in the report. That’s not a joke.
Meanwhile, auto sales are up — not because the economy’s booming, but because Americans are panic-buying ahead of expected price surges from more tariffs. Business travel is tanking, and tourism’s taking a nosedive. Welcome to the “Not-quite-a-crisis-but-definitely-not-fine” States of America.
As for OANDA:XAUUSD , after a brief flirtation with $3,500, it’s cooled down to $3,337. BLACKBULL:WTI is holding at $62.86. And INDEX:BTCUSD ? It’s back in the spotlight at $92,000 and climbing — yes, people are talking about it again, which should tell you something about the vibe out there.
On the politics front, Trump hinted that the tariff moratorium could be revoked for some countries, and he’s back to pestering Powell to cut rates. Classic. Meanwhile, Wall Street is just trying not to get whiplash. NYSE:BA numbers came in better than feared, and NASDAQ:NVDA supply chain via INX looks solid despite wild swings.
Today’s economic calendar includes durable goods data and jobless claims in the CME_MINI:ES1! are down 0.2% — looks like investors are just bracing for the next Trump curveball.
TL;DR: Markets are riding the Trump-coaster, gold cooled off, crypto’s surging, and America’s economy is wobbling but still upright — for now. Keep your helmets on.
USDCAD at Risk? COT Turns Bearish📊 COT Overview – CAD & USD Futures
🇨🇦 Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Asset Managers: Still net short, but recovering fast → from -150K to nearly -50K.
Leveraged Money: Strong bullish reversal from -100K to -30K and climbing.
✅ Interpretation: Institutions are flipping bullish on CAD → Bearish pressure on USDCAD.
🇺🇸 US Dollar (USD)
Asset Managers: Cutting long exposure since March.
Leveraged Money: Losing conviction → neutral to slightly long.
⚠️ Interpretation: USD is structurally weakening → adding to the USDCAD bearish bias.
🧠 Technical Analysis
Price has returned to the key demand zone (1.3700–1.3850) for the third test.
Candles are compressing → signal of upcoming volatility.
RSI remains weak, no bullish divergence → no clear reversal yet.
📌 Key Levels:
Support: 1.3700 → A confirmed break opens space toward 1.3550–1.3480.
Resistance: 1.3950–1.4100
🎯 Trade Scenarios
🔻 Breakdown trade below 1.3700 → Target: 1.3480
🔁 Pullback short on rejection from 1.3950–1.4000 → SL above 1.4100
🔼 Long only with a bullish engulfing weekly close + RSI divergence
✅ Summary
COT Bias: Bearish USDCAD → CAD strengthening, USD weakening
Technical Structure: Support under pressure, breakout likely
Preferred Play: Short continuation on breakdown or pullback rejection
EUR/USD Explosion or Trap?EUR Futures
Asset Managers: Strongly net long and continuously increasing since December 2024 → a clear sign of institutional confidence in the euro.
Leveraged Money: Also rising, moving from net short to net long → sentiment reversal even from speculators.
✅ Interpretation: Both institutional categories are bullish on the euro, suggesting potential upward support for EUR/USD.
USD Index Futures
Asset Managers: Decreasing since the end of February → reducing long exposure on the dollar.
Leveraged Money: Recovering from net short, but still uncertain → mixed sentiment.
⚠️ Interpretation: The dollar is structurally weakening. This reinforces the bullish bias on EUR/USD.
🧠 Technical Analysis – EUR/USD Weekly Chart
Current price: 1.13150, right in the middle of a weekly/monthly supply zone, marked by upper wicks → clear seller presence.
Price has made a strong rally from 1.03600, breaking through all intermediate supply zones.
RSI: Slightly declining after previously reaching overbought territory.
📌 Key levels:
Major support: 1.1000–1.1080
Structural resistance: 1.1350–1.1450 (current zone)
🧠 Technical Scenario:
If price holds above 1.1250, we could see an extension toward 1.1500.
If it breaks below 1.1200, a pullback toward 1.1080–1.1000 is likely.
✅ Trade Summary:
COT bias: Bullish EUR/USD → strong EUR, weakening USD
Technical: Watch price behavior in the 1.1350 zone → if rejection continues, expect a technical retracement before potential continuation.
🎯 Potential Setups:
Long on pullback toward 1.1080
Breakout long above 1.1450 → targeting 1.1600
Short-term short if bearish price action appears in the current zone
Trump vs. Powell: 4d Gold Price Roller Coaster📊 Summary of Recent 4 Trading Days
During the ongoing US-China trade war, President Trump has ramped up his public criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Though he lacks the authority to remove Powell directly it seems, Trump's frustration with the Fed’s independent policy direction has led to an apparent institutional power struggle.
This conflict hasn’t gone unnoticed by the markets. Just the mention of removing Powell caused the gold price to spike, as stock market money got squeezed out, amplified by tensions in the trade war. The Federal Reserve’s credibility is high, so such remarks naturally trigger significant volatility.
After Trump's initial outburst, gold surged $216. But when he softened his tone, the price reversed just as dramatically—falling about $240 (with the trading day still ongoing at the time). Hopes for progress in trade negotiations also played a role in this sharp reversal.
⚠️ Warning Signs of Market Distortion
Statements from the US President now function almost like market-moving events in addition to normal news. For gold traders, this creates an unstable environment where typical technical setups may fail.
The past days showed signs of manipulated or artificial movements—with potential insider activity. One notable example: Gold looked set to break higher after a 1-hour candle closed above the EMA 20 line. But a sudden $12 bearish candle in the last 30 seconds erased the setup. It felt orchestrated—possibly by institutional players defending key levels.
💡 Trader’s Takeaway
Don’t blindly trust technical signals in this environment.
Watch for political noise—it’s louder than usual.
Prefer quieter markets if you’re risk-averse.
Expect $100+ daily ranges and frequent price whipsaws.
🗣 What’s your take?
Is Trump really influencing the gold market on purpose—or just creating chaos? Let’s discuss below. 👇
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This is just my personal market idea and not financial advice! 📢 Trading gold and other financial instruments carries risks – only invest what you can afford to lose. Always do your own analysis, use solid risk management, and trade responsibly.
Good luck and safe trading! 🚀📊
GOLD heading to $3,450 or a bull trap ahead?XAUUSD has shown a strong bullish reversal from the key zone at $2,832, with a series of high-volatility, full-bodied weekly candles that completely absorbed the supply in the $3,050–3,140 area. The breakout of previous weekly and monthly highs confirmed a bullish structural shift, with a natural technical target around $3,450—its recent all-time high. Price reacted precisely to previously tested demand blocks, suggesting that buy-side pressure may still have room to expand.
However, a deeper look at COT data reveals a more complex picture: Money Managers’ net positions on GOLD have been declining sharply for months, diverging from price action. This may indicate a rally driven more by retail flows or ETFs than by institutional strength, making it potentially unstable. Additionally, the COT report on the Dollar Index shows growing net long positions among leveraged traders, signaling USD strength—historically a headwind for gold.
In summary, gold remains technically bullish with room to climb to $3,450, but COT data raises a red flag: if institutional positions don’t realign with the move, this rally could turn out to be a bull trap. From a trading perspective, there’s room for aggressive longs, but only with tight risk management.
USD/JPY in Free Fall: What’s Behind the Break Below 140?🔍 Technical Analysis – USD/JPY
The weekly chart shows a sharp rejection in the macro zone between 155–158, where strong supply is present (highlighted in red). After brushing historical highs, USD/JPY experienced a vertical drop down to 140, decisively breaking through the key zone at 148–146.
Price has now broken the weekly structure and is approaching an area that previously triggered significant rallies (blue zone between 138–141). Monthly support is in danger, with the RSI deeply in oversold territory, but no clear reversal signals just yet.
📊 COT Report – USD Index
Asset Managers: Slight recovery on long positions, but still in neutral territory.
Leverage Money: Increasing net shorts, indicating speculative bets against the dollar.
The divergence between the falling USD Index and speculative positions confirms a growing lack of confidence in the greenback.
📊 COT Report – JPY Futures
Asset Managers: Strong increase in long positions on the yen since December 2024.
Leverage Money: Reinforcing long bias since February 2025.
This confirms that institutional players are accumulating yen, possibly anticipating BoJ interventions or a broader flight-to-safety.
💥 Trade Outlook
USD/JPY is in full bearish breakout mode. If the 140 level breaks decisively, the next technical targets are:
137.00 → historical mid-level support
134.00 → base of the 2023 structure
Keep an eye on the RSI: a bullish divergence with strong volume could trigger a technical rebound. But as long as the overall sentiment remains strongly risk-off, every rally is a selling opportunity.