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Supply and Demand

Best Liquidity Grab / Sweep Strategy For Trading Forex & Gold Learn how to trade liquidity grab / sweep with multiple time frame analysis. Discover how to combine top-down analysis and smart money concept SMC for trading forex and gold. You will get a complete step by step trading strategy with entry, stop loss and target. 1. In order to trade liquidity grab / sweep properly, you need to find liquidity zones first. For this trading strategy, the best liquidity zones will be on a daily time frame. Check these 2 significant liquidity zones on EURAUD forex pair on a daily. The zone where the selling activity concentrate will be called a supply zone. While the zone with a strong concentration of a buying activity will be a demand zone. 2. After that, you should look for a liquidity grab / sweep. For a valid liquidity grab / sweep the daily candle should violate the liquidity zone only with the tail / wick of the candle , while the body should stay within the zone. Above is the example of a liquidity grab of a demand zone. While the daily candle closed within the underlined area, the wick went beyond that. 3. After you identified a liquidity grab/sweep, start analyzing lower time frames . For this strategy, the best time frames are 4H and 1H. On these time frames, you should look for a consolidation and a formation of a horizontal range. Here is such a range on EURAUD on a 4H. These ranges will be used for confirmation . Your bullish signal will be a breakout of the resistance of the range , it will confirm a strong buying interest after a liquidity grab. That is the example of such a confirmation. 4. After that, set a buy limit order on a retest of a broken resistance of the range. Take profit will be the closest strong resistance, stop loss will be below the support of the range. That is how we trade a liquidity grab/sweep of a demand zone. With the supply zone liquidity grab trading strategy, you should wait for a bullish liquidity sweep followed by a bearish breakout of a range on a 4H / 1H time frames. I always say to my students that a single time frame analysis is not sufficient for profitable trading SMC. A proper combination of multiple time frames is the key to consistent profits. Following this strategy, you should achieve up to 80% winning rate trading liquidity grabs / sweeps. ❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️ I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
TRADENATION:XAUUSDEducation
by VasilyTrader
2
USDJPY Case StudyHey guys! Trendline traders would be profited from this UJ trade last week or today. The market structure before the supply zone that I draw was a messy, don't you agree? I would not consider this supply zone to enter the trade. But, if you draw a trendline and the supply zone automatically aligns with the break of the trendline, it became the place where trendline traders put their sell limit to join the bearish moves. It was a beauty. As of now, my target is only 2RR for my small funded account, so yeah it is easy to achieve. The supply zone met my requirement as below: 1. Supply was left with imbalance followed by break of structure to the downside. 2. After supply zone, there was SBR level present. SBR traders would benefited from this zone. 3. Price approaching in clean structure or candles. Btw, I am not taking this trade since I draw my supply zone without try to place a trendline on the market structure before it. What is your goal this week? Mine still the same. Trade the same setup, if setup no present, I will continue watching "traders motivation videos".
Education
by josephtading
GBPJPY Bullish Continuation Case StudyTo share the GBPJPY case study, where I only took +1RR from +2RR possible return. Reason: 1. Price moved from downtrend to uptrend 2. Demand with huge bullish candle after it (imbalance above demand) not yet re-test 3. Multiple supports above demand zone 4. Price tapped to demand zone, looks aggressive but demand was strong enough to hold and price bounces from it This is textbook setup, targeting 2RR from this setup is achievable. Please do not trust me! I do not have big capital to support my statement. One thing is certain is that, if you trade one setup or strategy, and collect data and watch how it work, you can achieve a profitable trading journey.
Education
by josephtading
EUR/USD- Elliott Wave + Smart Money Concepts (SMC)SMC Insight Supply Zone Marked: Between 1.1500 – 1.2000. Price is heading toward the supply zone. On the right visual, schematic shows: Liquidity build-up below equal highs. Possible liquidity grab just above the supply zone. Expect reaction or reversal around that supply. --- Trade Bias Short-term: Bullish (momentum and structure are up). Long-term: Watch for reaction at the 1.1500–1.2000 zone. This could be a major sell zone if price shows rejection/mitigation signs
Education
by Greenfireforex
Why Support and Resistance are Made to Be Broken ?Hello fellow traders! Hope you're navigating the markets smoothly. As we go through the daily dance of price action, one thing becomes clear support and resistance are just moments, not walls. They're temporary. Momentum and trend strength? Now that’s where the real story lies. This publication dives into how these so-called key levels break and more importantly, how to position yourself smartly when they do. Stay flexible, trade with confidence, and let the market lead. Let’s get into it. Why Support and Resistance Levels Break Support and resistance are some of the most talked-about tools in technical analysis. But here's the truth they’re not meant to last forever. No matter how strong a level may appear on your chart, it eventually gets tested, challenged, and often broken. Why? Because the market is dynamic. The real edge for a trader lies not in hoping a level holds, but in reading when it’s about to fail and being ready for it. No Resistance in a Bull, No Support in a Bear Ever seen a strong bull market pause just because of a resistance line? It doesn’t. Price keeps pushing higher as buyers keep stepping in. Same goes for a strong bear market support levels collapse as fear takes over and selling snowballs. Instead of clinging to lines on a chart, think bigger: Where is the momentum? What’s the trend saying? That’s where your trading decisions should come from. Support and Resistance: Not Fixed, Always Shifting Yes, these levels matter but only as zones, not exact prices. They’re areas where price has reacted in the past, where traders might expect something to happen again. But they’re not magic numbers. When traders treat these levels as absolute, they fall into traps false confidence, poor entries, tighter than-needed stop losses. Always remember: market sentiment, liquidity, and institutional activity are constantly changing. So should your interpretation of the chart. The Temporary Nature of These Levels Markets move on supply and demand. A level that acted as resistance last week could easily become support next week. Or break completely. Take the classic example support turning into resistance. When support breaks, former buyers might now be sellers, trying to get out on a bounce. That flip happens because behavior and sentiment have shifted. And as traders, that’s the real pattern we need to track not just price levels, but the psychology behind them. “Strong” Support? It’s Mostly an Illusion We all love the idea of a strong level something we can lean on. But large players? They don’t think like that. Institutions don’t place massive orders at a single price point. They spread across a zone building positions slowly without moving the market too much. What looks like a strong level to us might just be an accumulation or distribution range for them. Always think beyond what’s visible on the surface. How to Spot Breakouts Before They Hit Here’s what separates seasoned traders from the rest the ability to spot potential breakouts before they explode. 🔹 Volume Confirmation: If a resistance level is tested repeatedly on rising volume, that’s a big clue buyers are serious. 🔹 Structure Shifts: Higher highs in an uptrend or lower lows in a downtrend signal that the old levels are being challenged. 🔹 Liquidity Traps: Watch out for fakeouts. These are designed to trap impatient traders just before the real move. 🔹 News & Events: Never ignore macro triggers. Earnings, economic data, or geopolitical surprises can fuel breakouts that crush technical levels. 🔹 Break & Retest: A solid strategy — wait for the level to break, then get in on the retest. 🔹 Momentum Tools: Indicators like RSI, MACD, or even EMAs can offer extra confidence that a move has legs. 3 Practical Trading Setups 1. Breakout Trading Mark key levels on daily or weekly charts. Watch for volume and momentum confirmation. Enter after a clear breakout or retest. Stop-loss: Just below resistance (for longs) or above support (for shorts). 2. Range Trading If price is stuck between support and resistance, trade the range. Look for price rejection (wicks, pin bars, etc.). Use RSI or Stochastics to time entries. 3. Trend Following Identify the dominant trend using moving averages or price structure. Avoid going against the trend unless reversal signs are very clear. Let profits run use trailing stops instead of fixed targets. Mind Over Market: Psychology of S&R One of the biggest traps in trading? Overtrusting support and resistance. We get emotionally attached. We want the support to hold or the resistance to reject. And that bias clouds our judgment. How many times have you seen price break a level — and you freeze because it “wasn’t supposed to”? To break free of that: ✅ Trade with a plan. ✅ Set your risk before the trade, not after. ✅ Don’t treat any level as sacred. ✅ Stay open to what the market is telling you not what you want it to say. Final Thoughts Support and resistance are great tools but they’re just one part of the puzzle. The real power lies in reading price action, watching volume, and understanding market sentiment. Don’t ask, “Will this level hold?” Ask instead, “What happens if it breaks?” That shift in thinking? It can make all the difference. Stay sharp, stay adaptive, and keep evolving with the market. Wishing you green trades and growing accounts! Best Regards- Amit Rajan.
NASDAQ:TSLAEducation
by AMIT-RAJAN
1
How to Find Best Supply and Demand Zones/Areas in Forex & Gold In this article, I will show you the strongest supply and demand zones. These zones are called confluence zones. I will teach you to identify these areas properly and explain how to apply it in Forex and Gold trading. Let's start with a short but important theory. In technical analysis, there are 2 types of supports and resistances. Horizontal structures are supports and resistance that are based on horizontal key levels. Vertical structures are supports and resistance that are based on trend lines. A confluence supply or demand zone, will be the area of the intersection between a horizontal and vertical structures. Look at GBPJPY pair. I underlined a significant horizontal support and a rising trend line - a vertical support. We see a clear crossing of both structures. The trend line and a horizontal support will compose a narrow, contracting area. It will be a confluence demand zone. Within, with a high probability, a high volume of buying orders will concentrate, and a strong bullish movement will initiate after its test. Above is one more example of a powerful demand zone. It was spotted on a Gold chart. Now let's discuss the supply zone. There are 2 strong structures on GBPNZD: a vertical resistance - a falling trend line and a horizontal resistance. These 2 resistances will constitute a confluence supply zone. That is a powerful resistance cluster that will concentrate the selling orders. Chances will be high to see a strong bearish movement from that. There is a strong supply zone on CHFJPY that is based on the intersection of a wide horizontal resistance and a falling trend line. Supply and demand zones that we discussed are very significant. Very often, strong bullish and bearish waves will initiate from these clusters. Your ability to recognize these zones will help you to make accurate predictions and identify a safe point to open a trading position from ❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
FOREXCOM:XAUUSDEducation
by VasilyTrader
9
Stepwise Distribution: How "Big Boys" Unload an Asset (Gold Ex.)In financial markets, price movements are not always the result of simple supply and demand dynamics. Large investors—hedge funds, market makers, and institutional traders—use advanced techniques to enter and exit positions without causing drastic market reactions. One such strategy is stepwise distribution, a method through which they gradually sell off assets while the price still appears to be rising. What Is Stepwise Distribution? Stepwise distribution is a process where large players liquidate their positions gradually, preventing panic or a sudden price drop. The goal is to attract retail buyers, maintaining the illusion of a bullish trend until all institutional positions are offloaded. S tages of Stepwise Distribution 1. Markup Phase - Institutions accumulate the asset at low prices. - Retail traders are drawn in by the uptrend and start buying. - The bullish trend is strong, supported by increasing volume. 2. Hidden Distribution - The price continues rising, but large players begin selling in increments. - Volume increases, yet price movements become smaller. - Fake breakouts appear—price breaches a resistance level but quickly reverses. 3. The Final Trap (Bull Trap) - One last price surge attracts even more retail buyers. - Smart money finalizes unloading their positions. - Retail traders get trapped in long positions, expecting the trend to continue. 4. Final Breakdown - After institutions have fully exited, the price begins to fall. - Liquidity dries up, leaving retail traders stuck in losing positions. - The pattern confirms itself as lower highs and lower lows start forming. ________________________________________ Stepwise Distribution in Gold: A Recent Example In recent days, Gold prices have shown an interesting example of stepwise distribution. While it does not meet every characteristic of a textbook distribution pattern, market dynamics suggest that large players are offloading their positions in a controlled manner. 1. Technical Structure and Market Perception Manipulation During the last upward leg, support levels were strictly respected, creating the illusion of strong demand. At first glance, this seems like a bullish signal for retail traders. However, in reality: • Big players temporarily halted selling to avoid triggering panic. • They maintained the illusion of strong support to attract more buyers. • Retail traders believed that “smart money” was buying, when in fact institutions were merely waiting for the right moment to finalize distribution. 2. Investor Psychology and How It’s Exploited Human psychology plays a critical role in stepwise distribution. Here’s how different types of traders react: • Retail FOMO traders (Fear of Missing Out) – Seeing Gold approach all-time highs, they aggressively enter long positions, ignoring subtle distribution signals. • Pattern-based traders – Many traders use support levels as buying zones, unaware that these levels are being artificially maintained by institutional traders. • “Buy the Dip” mentality – Each minor pullback is quickly bought up by retail traders, providing liquidity for large investors to sell more. 3. The Critical Moment: Support Break and Market Panic; Friday's drop Eventually, after the distribution is complete, the “strong” support level suddenly breaks. What happens next? • Retail traders’ stop-losses are triggered, accelerating the decline. • A lack of real demand – All buyers have already been absorbed, leaving no liquidity to sustain the price. • Widespread panic – Retail traders who bought during the final surge now start selling at a loss, reinforcing the downward move. Conclusion: Stepwise distribution is not just a technical pattern—it’s a psychological and strategic market operation. In the case of Gold, we observed a controlled distribution where smart money avoided causing panic until they had fully offloaded their positions. If you learn to recognize these signals, you can avoid market traps and gain a better understanding of how large investors maximize their profits while retail traders are left with losing positions. Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analyses and educational articles.
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by Mihai_Iacob
23
Is Liquidity Zones The Hidden Battleground of Smart Money In every market move, liquidity zones are the battlefields between buyers and sellers. Understanding these zones is crucial for spotting reversals and breakouts before they happen. What Are Liquidity Zones? High Liquidity Areas, Where large orders are placed, typically around key support/resistance or round numbers. Low Liquidity Areas. Where price moves quickly due to fewer orders, often creating price imbalances. Why Liquidity Matters Smart money (institutions) seeks liquidity to execute large orders without massive slippage. Their footprints appear as wicks, sudden volume spikes, or rapid price reversals. Spotting Liquidity Traps False Breakouts, Price pierces a key level, triggers stop losses, and reverses quickly. Stop Hunts, Sudden price spikes beyond a key level, only to return inside the range. rading Strategy Example 1. Use volume profile or heat maps to spot high-interest price areas. 2. Wait for Reaction, Enter only after confirmation (e.g., a sharp wick or order flow shift). 3.Risk Management, Place stops beyond liquidity zones to avoid getting trapped. Master liquidity zones, and you'll start seeing the market through the eyes of institutional players.
CME_MINI:NQ1!Education
by wolfchemist
The Trading Quest: Leveling Up Your Trading GameHello, fellow traders. In this education post I will present the evolution of a trader as levels because, truth be told, trading sometimes feels like a video game—except the boss fights are market volatility, and here the only cheat code is discipline. Developing a winning strategy is a journey that starts with basic understanding and evolves into a well polished plan. For this to happen, certain levels have to be "burnt". So below I will outline what I think are the levels of development a winning trading strategy, starting from initial experimentation to highly refined and scalable strategy: 1️⃣ Level 1: The Trial and Error Phase In the beginning, traders experiment with different strategies, tools, and systems. They may rely on random tips, indicators, or systems they read about online, often jumping from one strategy to another without a clear understanding of why one works and another doesn't. Important Aspects: The main issue here is lack of consistency. Strategies often lead to inconsistent results because traders fail to backtest or assess the viability of a system over time. At this stage, the trader might experience frustration as they can't pinpoint why certain strategies work or fail. Why? Testing and refining are vital to developing a strategy. A trader must learn the importance of understanding market conditions and being patient with their trial-and-error process. Backtesting becomes an invaluable tool for this level. 2️⃣ Level 2: The Search for the Right Strategy By this stage, traders understand that there is no "perfect" strategy, but a variety of strategies can work depending on the market behavior. They start to narrow down their focus and look for strategies that align with their risk tolerance, personality, and time commitment. Important Aspects: The trial here is resisting the temptation to continuously jump between different strategies. Traders may still be tempted by the allure of quick profits and may find themselves trying too many things at once, leading to becoming overwhelmed. Why? It is important to focus on finding simplicity and focus on one strategy. Strategies should be tailored to personal strengths, whether that’s day trading, swing trading, or position trading. The trader needs to focus on risk-reward ratios and refine their approach to fit the market conditions. 3️⃣Level 3: Strategy Development and Backtesting At this level, the trader now begins to build their strategy around clearly defined rules for entry, exit, and risk management. Backtesting comes into play, allowing the trader to see how the strategy would have performed in different market conditions. This stage marks the beginning of data-driven decisions rather than relying on guesswork. Important Aspects: The main focus here is to avoid over-optimization. There is the temptation to over-optimize the strategy based on historical data, which can lead to curve fitting. Strategies must be robust enough to perform in a variety of market environments, not just those found in past data. Why? Robust backtesting provides valuable insights, but should not be viewed as a guarantee of future performance. The focus should be on understanding the strategy’s performance across a range of scenarios and refining risk-reward parameters. 4️⃣ Level 4: Refining and Optimization With a tested strategy in place, traders now focus on refining their approach to adapt to real market conditions. This involves implementing risk management techniques such as position sizing, stop-losses or maximum drawdown limits. Here the focus is on refining the strategy, ensuring it is flexible and adaptable to various market environments. Important Aspects: During this phase is important to maintain a balanced risk-reward ratio. Overoptimizing for profitability can lead to excessive risk exposure, which undermines the strategy's long-term viability. Why? Because optimization is an ongoing process. Strategies should never be set in stone. The trader learns that fine-tuning a strategy based on live market conditions and feedback is a continuous process. Optimizing the risk-reward balance will determine the long-term success of the strategy. 5️⃣ Level 5: Live Trading with a Demo or Small Capital Finally! Trust me when I say this is the biggest turning point. After refining the strategy, traders move to live markets with real money, (if then haven't been tempted already and lost money). Often time they start small or using demo accounts to minimize risk. At this level, traders will encounter the psychological elements of trading—such as fear of loss, overconfidence after wins, or hesitation after losses. Important Aspects: The main trial at this level is that the emotional component of trading takes over. Traders may experience a shift in behavior when real money is at stake, even though they had success in demo accounts or small-size trades. Overtrading, revenge trading, and second-guessing the strategy are common pitfalls. Why? The trader must apply the same rules from backtesting to live trading, despite the emotions involved. At this stage, mental resilience and psychological control are just as important as the strategy itself. 6️⃣ Level 6: Full Strategy Deployment and Scaling By now, the trader has developed confidence in their strategy. They’ve mastered the mental discipline required to follow their trading plan, even when emotions are high. The trader begins scaling their strategy, increasing position sizes while maintaining the risk-reward ratio and capital allocation that suits their risk tolerance. Important Aspects: At this level, the trial is to maintain consistency while scaling. The trader may face issues related to emotional attachment to larger positions or feel the pressure to adjust the strategy for increased capital. Market volatility can also affect decision-making, leading to increased risk exposure. Why? As the trader increases their trading capital, they must remain mindful of market conditions and adjust position sizes accordingly. Portfolio diversification and ensuring that no single trade has too large an impact on overall capital are essential here. 7️⃣Level 7: The Master Strategist - The Final Boss 🏆 Congratulations! At this highest level, you must have developed a consistently profitable strategy that can be applied in different market behavior. The strategy has become highly effective in various conditions, and the trader can easily adapt to different setups without deviating from the core principles. Important Aspects: Now the focus is on fine-tuning their mindset for optimal performance. They anticipate emotional triggers before they happen and know exactly how to deal with them when they do come. The trader’s mental clarity allows them to stay composed during market volatility and follow their strategy with unmoved commitment. Why? The pinnacle of trading psychology is the ability to systematically execute trades with confidence, without being influenced by fear, greed, or euphoria. This confidence comes from knowing that their strategy is built on years of testing, adjustment, and improvement. This allows them to consistently make rational decisions that align with their long-term trading goals. They maintain discipline regardless of market volatility and use data-driven decisions to continue growing their capital. 📈 Developing a winning trading strategy is a dynamic process that requires continuous learning, adjustment, and discipline. Traders must be patient with themselves during each level, from the initial trial and error to the refined, proven strategy that supports consistent success. The levels involve mastering both the technical elements of strategy development and the psychological factors that affect trading performance. 🌟
Education
by TrendDiva
4
Learn Supply and Demand Basics in Gold XAAUSD Trading In this article, we will discuss the basic principles of Smart Money Concepts in Gold trading. I will explain to you how Gold price relates to supply and demand on the market. What is a fair value and how to identify it. We will discuss a relation between a fair value and supply and demand and why is it so important to learn to recognize the imbalance. Gold Price First, let's briefly discuss how the price of Gold is valued . Gold price is determined by the basic economic principles of supply and demand. Supply is defined by the actions of the sellers and selling volumes. While a demand is defined by the activity of buyers and the volumes they wish to purchase. When supply exceeds demand, it leads to a decline in prices. Increased selling pressure leads to lower prices as sellers compete to attract buyers. Above, you can see how the excess of demand pushes Gold prices up rapidly. When demand exceeds supply, we see an increase in the price of the financial asset. In the example above, you can see how the excess of supply leads to a depreciation of a Gold price. Imbalance & Fair Value The excess of supply or demand on the market is also called an imbalance in Smart Money Concept trading SMC. The imbalance causes strong bullish or bearish movement on the market. However, such moves do not last forever. At some moment, reaching a particular price level, the market will stop growing or falling, and the market will find the equilibrium in supply and demand. Such an equilibrium is also called a fair value in SMC trading. On the chart above, Gold was growing rapidly. After reaching some price level, the growth stopped and the market found a fair value. Supply finally absorbed the excess of demand. Sideways Movement & Range When the market finds a fair value, it usually starts trading in sideways . The sideways movement forms a horizontal range - a horizontal parallel channel. Such ranges signify that the market participants agree about a current price of an asset. Above, you can see that after a strong up movement, Gold found a fair value and a consolidation within a horizontal range started. Fair Value Range When you spotted the range, you should remember that the market may stay within that for a very long period of time. The trigger that will make the market reassess the fair value is typically a some important fundamental factor, the surprising geopolitical or economic event that will create a new imbalance on the market. A strong signal that the market strives to find a new fair value is the breakout of one of the boundaries of the range. It is a signal of a violation of a current fair value. You can see that Gold found a fair value and was stuck for quite a long period within a wide horizontal range. Then, because of the release of significant US fundamental news, an imbalance occurred. Fair value range was violated, and the price found a new fair value higher. Trading Tips When the imbalance on the market occurs and it violates the fair value, the price tends to find a new fair value around significant liquidity zones. That is why it is so critical to pay attention to them. Also, the laws of supply and demand, imbalance and fair value work on any time frame and can be applied for any trading style. Learn to perceive a price chart from a Supply and Demand perspective in order to master Smart Money Concept trading strategy. ❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by VasilyTrader
19
Adapting to Market Conditions: Mastering the Market’s Rhythm Markets are not static, they constantly evolve and successful traders are those who adapt their strategies accordingly. Understanding the shapes of trending and volatile markets is, I would say not only essential but also absolute necessary to staying profitable. This adaptability ensures you’re always aligned with what the market is doing, rather than fighting against it. 1. Trending Markets: Go with the Flow 🌊📈 Trending markets are characterized by sustained movement in one direction, either upward or downward. In these markets for example: Example 1: Tesla (TSLA)🚀 When Tesla (TSLA) is in a strong uptrend, as indicated by higher highs and higher lows on the daily chart, breakout strategies work well. For instance, buying above a resistance level and riding the trend upwards aligns with market momentum. Also, in November last year, Tesla's stock (TSLA) experienced a pullback to its 50-day moving average, which acted as a support level before the stock resumed its upward trend. This technical behavior is common in trending markets, where moving averages often serve as dynamic support or resistance levels. Traders and investors monitor such pullbacks to key moving averages as potential entry points, anticipating that the trend will continue. ________________________________________ 💎 Remember: - Moving averages often act as dynamic support/resistance in trending markets. Pullbacks to these levels can provide excellent entry points. ________________________________________ Example 2: Forex (EURUSD): 📉 A trending EURUSD pair driven by central bank policy divergence is ideal for moving average crossovers or trend-following indicators like the MACD. Here the examples are numerous and often they do play out. For example, if the pair is steadily declining, shorting on pullbacks to resistance levels gives a good risk-to-reward ratio. 2. Range-Bound Markets: Mastering Consolidation 🔄🏦 In range-bound markets, price moves between well-defined support and resistance levels without a clear trend. In this case, focus on buying near support and selling near resistance rather than chasing breakouts. 📉 How to Trade Range-Bound Markets: To do that you’re going to have to study the market. First, and the most essential to pinpoint accurately, is identify Support and Resistance Levels. 🚫What to avoid in this scenario is Chasing FALSE Breakouts. •While it might be tempting to jump into a trade when the price appears to break out of the range, these moves often fail, causing the price to snap back into the range. Patience is essential—seriously, take a deep breath! 🧘 When you resist the urge to chase a breakout, that’s the discipline I was talking about. ________________________________________ 💎 Remember: 🛑 Pinpoint Support and Resistance: Accurately identify key levels where price tends to reverse. 🚫 Avoid False Breakouts: Resist the urge to jump into breakouts; many of these fail, leading to price snapping back into the range. 🌟 Pro Tip: Patience is a skill, not a trait. Sticking to your plan is what separates amateurs from professionals. ________________________________________ 3. Volatile Markets: Swimming in More Dangerous Waters 🌊🦈 • In these kinds of markets, you never know if you’re catching a wave or becoming the snack! Though, let’s be honest: it’s usually the latter! — with volatility this wild, most of us are just chum in the water while the sharks feast!🦈 • Volatility spikes are often triggered by economic events, earnings reports, or geopolitical news. These markets can create massive opportunities but also higher risks. Navigating these markets requires an understanding of the underlying factors driving the instability. Here are a few examples: Example 1: Stocks (Amazon - AMZN) 💸: 📊 Macroeconomic Events: Changes in consumer spending patterns, inflation data, or Federal Reserve interest rate decisions can impact Amazon's valuation, as they directly affect consumer behavior and borrowing costs. 🌍Geopolitical News: With its massive global reach, even a small disruption in supply chains, shipping costs, or international demand can cause BIG ripples for the company. 📈Earnings Reports: Amazon's quarterly reports, often lead to significant stock price movements, as the company's revenue growth, profitability, and guidance influence investor sentiment. • What are the risks? One of the biggest risks, and something that can’t be stressed enough, is emotional decision-making . When markets are volatile, it’s easy to let fear or excitement take over, leading to impulsive trades. ________________________________________ 💎 Remember: • Your emotions aren’t great traders—they’re more like that friend who screams “BUY!” or “SELL!” at the worst possible time. Don’t let the emotions drive your portfolio; they’ll crash it faster than a teenager with a new driver’s license. 🚗 ⏰ Bad timing is another one. – If you’re caught on the wrong side of a trade you can experience substantial losses. But again this is where risk management and setting clear limits on how much you’re willing to lose make the difference in the end. ⚠️ What are the opportunities? Fast Trades: Short-term traders can capitalize on price swings by executing well-timed trades. • These opportunities require more attention, a clear strategy, and the ability to act decisively, as even small price movements can lead to meaningful gains—or losses—in a short amount of time. 📉➡️📈 This is good mostly for long-term investors as price dips are viewed as golden opportunities for a stock with solid potential. It’s like a discount at a discount. • Most of the time, the market eventually recovers, and the stock not only regains its value but often surpasses it. This confidence comes from studying past trends and patters—you can view short-term dips as just the market’s way of throwing a tantrum, like your wife being mad at you for something you didn’t do... but still texting to ask if you want anything from the store. 📊 Navigating volatile stocks like Amazon requires a proper risk management strategy and an informed approach that can help mitigate the dangers and maximize the opportunities these unique markets present. Example 2: Forex (USDJPY): ⚠️ During events like the NFP report, USDJPY can see BIG moves. Avoid trading during the initial instability and instead focus on breakout trades once the dust settles. For example, if the pair breaks out of a symmetrical triangle post-announcement, it often indicates the direction of sustained movement. 💥 An instance of USD/JPY reacting to a major economic release occurred on December 19, 2024, following the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. • This led to a significant surge in USD/JPY, with the pair rising over 2% to reach 157.51, nearing a 4 month low for the yen. A rollercoaster ride, and a dizzy one for the traders, that left traders hanging upside down, clutching their positions, and most likely also questioning their life choices. 🕒 But this is about TIMING once again. And usually, you can’t control it—like trying to catch a bus that always seems to show up either too early or right after you’ve given up and walked away. ________________________________________ 💎 Remember: ⚡ Short-Term Trades: Volatility allows skilled traders to capitalize on quick price swings. ⏰ Bad Timing: Being on the wrong side of a volatile move can lead to significant losses. ________________________________________ 4. Market Condition Transitions: Recognizing the Shift ⏳Adapting also means recognizing—are you paying attention?—when markets are shifting. Spotting these early —yes, we are back to TIMING!—helps you adjust your strategy before it’s too late. • Now how to do that? Recognizing the shift, nothing more simple - These pompous words can be summed up to staying alert, using the right tools, and reacting with a clear plan—not impulse. It’s about reading the market’s signals and aligning your strategy accordingly. A good example was in Forex on AUDUSD. 5. Adapt Like a Chameleon 🦎➡️ • Markets are ever-changing, and rigid strategies can easily become a recipe for failure. Adaptability is the name of the game —a game that rewards the quick thinkers and punishes the stubborn. Like trying to win a staring contest with a cat: you’ll blink, and the market’s already moved. ________________________________________ 💎 Remember: • ✅ Stay alert to market signals. • 🛠️ Use the right tools. • 🎯 React with a clear, well-thought-out plan. ________________________________________ Wait, I’m not done yet! This is the ultimate thing I’ve dreaded for years, the cornerstone of my growth. Or at least the thing that keeps reminding me how much I still have to learn: 📖💻 Backtesting and Journaling. • It’s not glamorous to be real, it’s downright tedious—especially journaling since I’m not a very organized person myself. Honestly, for a long time, I thought it was just something only obsessive perfectionists did—but it turned out to be a great tool to check my assumptions, spot my mistakes, and, occasionally, confirm that I might actually know what I’m doing. Which felt great to have on ‘paper’. 📉🤯 It’s not just about keeping records; it’s about holding yourself accountable and spotting patterns you didn’t even know were there. Your brain works in mysterious ways—like convincing you that every loss was “just bad luck” until the journal smacks you with the truth. Backtesting is another one of those unglamorous but essential tasks. It’s like doing your lessons before a big test—except the test is the market, and failing costs you real money. Auch. 📈 Backtesting is where you discover if your “brilliant strategy” is actually brilliant or just wishful thinking. I recommend backtesting a strategy for an interval of at least six months to a year. This timeframe allows you to observe how the strategy performs across various market conditions. Testing for only a short period, like a month, is tempting but misleading. It’s like watching the first five minutes of a movie and thinking you know the ending—spoiler alert: you don’t. ________________________________________ 🔁💪 By extending your backtesting period, you can gain confidence in your strategy’s ability to adapt, manage risk, and deliver consistent results. Plus, a longer testing period helps spot and get past unusual moves in the market, like an unexpected lucky streak or a one-off market event that might otherwise give you a false sense of confidence. • This way you can tweak and refine it before putting real money on the line. It’s the ultimate rehearsal before stepping onto the trading stage! ________________________________________ 💎 Remember: • ✍️ Accountability: Journaling helps you spot mistakes and refine your strategies. • 🧩 Pattern Recognition: Discover trends in your own behavior and trading results that you didn’t notice before. • 🔎 Pro Tip: Journaling isn’t just for perfectionists; it’s for anyone who wants to improve. • 🕒 Test Over Time: Backtest your strategies over at least 6–12 months to evaluate their performance across different conditions. • 🛠️ Refinement: Use backtesting to tweak and perfect your strategy before trading live. • 🎬 Think of It Like Rehearsal: Testing prepares you for real markets, reducing costly errors. ________________________________________ Please boost this post, every like and comment drives me to bring you more ideas! I’d love to hear your perspective in the comments. Best of luck , TrendDiva
Education
by TrendDiva
10
Crude OIL SHORT Today Ran For +4R BreakdownNYMEX:CL1! "Successful trading has always been about understand the convictions, the strength and the weakness of buyers and sellers. Once you understand what the other traders are doing in the market, you can successfully trade with them." -Michael Valtos Confluence Profile 500K (Expectational Order-Flow + PA) 10pt Stop / +4R Run... Well Done!! Remember; "Our Profession is to Manage the downside costs of printing HIGHSIDE returns of $$$ consistently. Done correctly, well Abundance awaits us." -500KTrey
NYMEX:MCL1!Education
by TreyHighPwr
2
Where & How to Draw Strong Support and Resistance Lines & Zones In this article, I will teach you how to draw support and resistance. We will discuss support and resistance lines, levels, zones. You will learn where and how to find it properly with simply technical analysis technique that works on forex, gold or any other financial market. First, let me note that the most reliable time frame for support and resistance analysis is the daily . The structures that you will find there will be appropriate for day trading, scalping and swing trading. Once you open a daily time frame, you should choose a correct perspective . Because this t.f lets you see the price action even for the past couple of years. You need to see the market movement for the last 2 months . It is more than enough to identify the recent key levels. Above is AUDUSD on a daily. We see the price history for 2 months. In order to identify significant supports and resistances, simply find the levels - the highs and lows that the market respected in the past and from where important movements started. These are all such highs and lows that meet the criteria. When I do the support/resistance analysis, I prefer to perceive it as clusters - the zones , taking into consideration the candle closes as well. A support zone will be based on the level of the critical low and the lowest closest candle close. A resistance zone will be based on the level of the high and the highest closest candle close. Following such a rule, here are the zones that I identified. All the clusters that are identified will be applied as trading zones. Within the supports, we look for buying opportunities. While the resistances will be used for selling . Depending on your trading style, and you choose a proper signal before you execute the trade. Execute support and resistance analysis with care and attention, because it is the absolute basis of any technical analysis strategy. With incorrect key levels identification, even the best trading strategy will fail . I hope that the method that I showed you will help you in your trading journey. ❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
FX:XAUUSDEducation
by VasilyTrader
8
Choppy Market: Patience and Key Levels to WatchThis chart highlights a low-probability trading environment with corrective structures and low volatility. Key focus areas: Upside Breakout: Watch for impulsive moves above the 30M trendline and 4H LQZ for short-term bullish setups. Downside Correction: A steeper drop into the 15M or 1H LQZ may provide higher-probability long opportunities. Stay Patient: Avoid trading inside the choppy range; wait for clear reactions at liquidity zones or strong breakouts with momentum.
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by Adlercon333
The reaction to the Supply Zone is the keyOn this chart, you can see that the topping signal and the formation of a fresh Supply Zone (highlighted in red) initially resulted in only a temporary shallow pullback. However, this pullback did not indicate a reversal of the uptrend. Instead, the market quickly resumed its upward momentum, as evidenced by the appearance of another "Buy re-test" signal shortly after. This is a great example of how a topping signal—which might typically indicate potential exhaustion—can sometimes act as merely a pause in a strong uptrending market, rather than leading to a significant reversal. The trend continued higher as buyers re-established control, with subsequent key supports holding firmly to reinforce bullish strength. Key takeaway: Topping signals and Supply Zones should be evaluated within the broader context of the market's trend. In this case, the bulls demonstrated sustained dominance despite the brief pause, confirming the uptrend's resilience.
CME_MINI:ES1!Education
by CastAwayTrader
Confluence Profile 500K (Order Flow Footprint + PA) 2.5RNYMEX:CL1! "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl. But whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Family I hope everyone is in good spirits as we kick off this new year of 2025!!!! Here in this video I have went into gr8 detail on this trade that I took SHORT todays during NY Session on Crude OIL and I broke down the Order Flow Footprint along with PA on why I decided to enter the trade and capitalize on 2.5R. My original target was 5R however volume died out and I decided to close and walk with profit. This year I'm going to consistently Over N over N over N over N over again study the 10pt Stop entry here on Crude Oil. On overage Crude Oil will run for +120pts during NY Session. All we need is half of that to eat. (60pts) this is my sweet spot. I'm determined to master it. Added along with better tape reading of the Order Flow Footprint. Let's stay active! Remember; "Our Profession is to Manage the downside costs of printing HIGHSIDE returns of $$$ consistently. Done correctly, well Abundance awaits us." -500KTrey
NYMEX:MCL1!Education
by TreyHighPwr
'Confluence Profile 500K' (Order Flow Footprint + PA)"10pt STOP"NYMEX:CL1! "Successful trading has always been about understand the convictions, the strength and the weakness of buyers and sellers. Once you understand what the other traders are doing in the market, you can successfully trade with them." -Michael Valtos Family in this video I went into a gr8 in depth breakdown of a 5-6R trade that took place today during NY session SHORT on Crude OIL. Paying very close attention to the order flow footprint all the while observing very closely how PA is setting up will help us to develop the mastery of the 'Confluence Profile 500K' (Order Flow Footprint + PA) "10pt STOP". Just think about this...... December of 2024 price moved on average of 120pts during NY session. (5am-2pm) PST. -We know we're not going to catch the whole 120pts so were going to focus our attention on cutting that point ratio in half and catch 50-60pts with a 10Pt STOP.... -Granting us 5-6R in our Favor!! Now this is the RISK we face, WE HAVE ONLY 10PTS of pre-determined RISK. So, the 'Confluence Profile 500K' will consist of the (Order Flow Footprint + PA) to give us the highest probability ratio of entering a position with only 10pts to RISK & this is our journey to Master the 10pt STOP w/ a 50-60pt Target!!! Let's go 2 work. Remember; "Our Profession is to Manage the downside costs of printing HIGHSIDE returns of $$$ consistently. Done correctly, well Abundance awaits us." -500KTrey
NYMEX:MCL1!Education
by TreyHighPwr
Profitable SMC Smart MoneyConcept Strategy Explained I will teach you how to trade liquidity grab, a trap, inducement, order block and imbalance. I will share with you my Smart Money Concept strategy for trading forex & gold. We will study a real SMC trading setup that I took on a live stream with my students. Trend Analysis With Structure Mapping The first step in our trading strategy will be the analysis of a market trend on a daily time frame with structure mapping. Analyzing GBPNZD on a daily time frame, we can see that the conditions for a bullish trend are met. Liquidity Zones Analysis The second step will be to find liquidity - supply and demand zones on a daily time frame. According to our rules, here are 3 liquidity zones that I spotted on GBPNZD. We see 2 demand zones and 1 supply zone. Test of Liquidity Zone The third step will be to wait for a test of a liquidity zone. And on that step, we should remember an important rule: We will wait only for a test of a liquidity zone that ALIGN with the market trend. It means that we will wait for a test of a demand zone in a bullish trend. We will wait for a test of a supply zone in a bearish trend. The only demand zones that meets these criteria on GBPNZD is Demand Zone 1. It aligns with a bullish trend. We don't consider Demand Zone 2, because a bearish violation of a Demand Zone 1 will be a Change of Character and a violation of a bearish trend. And here is how a test of a liquidity zone should look like. The price should simply reach that. Liquidity Grab & Imbalance After we identified a test of a significant liquidity zone that aligns with a market trend, we will start analyzing lower time frames. We will look for a liquidity grab, order block and imbalance on 4H and 1H time frames. Here is a liquidity grab that is confirmed by a bullish imbalance. We see a false violation of a liquidity zone, followed by a high momentum bullish candle. It will be our strong bullish signal. Order Block Zone In order to identify the entry point, the next step will be to identify the order block zone. According to our rules, here is the order block zone on a 4H time frame. Entry Level Our entry level will be the level of the upper boundary of the order block zone. Here is such a level on GBPNZD. A buy limit order should be set on that level. Please, note that in that particular case we don't need a 1H time frame analysis, because we have a confirmation signal on a 4H time frame. We will analyse an hourly time frame only when THERE IS NO SIGNAL on a 4H time frame. Stop Loss & Take Profit Safe stop loss should be below the lowest low of a bearish movement. To safely calculate a stop loss in pips for the trade, simply take 0.5 ATR - Average True Range. For Average True Range indicator , take the default settings - 14 length. Here is a safe stop loss level on GBPNZD. ATR is 55 pips. Our stop loss for the trade is 28 pips. Take profit for the trade will be based on the closest 4H liquidity - supply zone. That is the closest supply zone that I spotted on GBPNZD on a 4H time frame. Your target level should be a couple of pips below a supply zone. Look how perfectly the market reached the target! As you can see, that trading strategy is quite complex and combines different important elements. But what I like about this SMC trading strategy is that it truly makes sense. The intentions of Smart Money are crystal clear here and the trade execution rules are straight forward. ❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
FX:XAUUSDEducation
by VasilyTrader
5
Reading Price Action to Tell a Chart's (Liquidity) StoryUsing Domino's Pizza in this case I want to show you how simple and practical it is to find important levels and to understand why price is doing what it's doing at a certain level. If we can map out where we are going to have to put a fight, and know why we are going to put up a fight (i.e. buyers or sellers, who needs what to win the fight, who is building liquidity and in control on a certain time frame) --> Then there is no reason why we shouldn't be able to identify solid trade opportunities and take them when they're given. If we are wrong on an analysis (i.e. we lose money on the trade), it's either that you're executing trades on a different time frame than your analysis is telling you to or there is something about your analysis that is wrong or not effective enough. DPZ Analysis coming next.. Happy Trading :)
DEducation
by ReigningTrades
How to Identify Significant Liquidity Zone in Gold Trading A liquidity zone is a specific area on a price chart where the market orders concentrate. In this article, I will teach you how to identify the most significant liquidity zones on Gold chart beyond historical levels. Liquidity Zones First, in brief, let's discuss where liquidity concentrates. Market liquidity concentrates on: 1. Psychological levels Above, you can see a clear concentration of liquidity around a 2500 psychological level on Gold price chart. 2. Fibonacci levels In the example above, we can see how 382 retracement of a major bullish impulse attracts market liquidity on Gold XAUUSD daily time frame. 3. Horizontal support and resistance levels and trend lines. In that case, an area based on a classic support/resistance level was a clear source of market liquidity on Gold. Significant Liquidity Zone A significant liquidity zone will be the area where psychological levels, Fibonacci levels, horizontal support and resistance levels and trend lines match . Please, note that such an area may combine the indicators, or any other technical tools. Such zones can be easily found even beyond the historic levels. Look at a price chart on Gold on a daily. Though the market has just updated the ATH, we can spot the next potentially significant liquidity zone with technical analysis. We see a perfect intersection of a rising trend line, 2600 psychological level based on round numbers and a Fibonacci extension confluence of 2 recent bullish impulses. These technical tools will compose a significant liquidity zone. The idea is that Gold was rallying up because of the excess of demand on the market. We will assume that selling orders will be placed within that liquidity zone and the excess of demand will be absorbed by the supply. It will make the price AT LEAST stop growing and potentially will trigger a correctional movement. Learn to recognize such liquidity zones, it will help you a lot in predicting Gold price movements. ❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by VasilyTrader
4