Futures market
May 12, 2025 - XAUUSD GOLD Analysis and Potential OpportunitySummary:
From a broader perspective, gold is in a downward trend. The main strategy remains to short on resistance pullbacks.
Long trades require confirmation across multiple timeframes. Once in profit, trail your stop to breakeven or better.
Key Levels to Watch:
3320: Resistance
3300: Psychological round-number resistance
3289: Key intraday resistance
3275: Support
3267: Major support
3255: Support
3245: Support
3238: Support
Short-Term (15m) Trading Strategy:
For Shorts:
Enter a SELL if price breaks below 3275.
First target 3267, then 3259, 3255, and 3250.
For Longs:
Enter a BUY if price holds above 3280.
First target 3289, then 3291, 3298, and 3300.
It’s the right time to go shortLast week, gold came under pressure at the key resistance of 3356 and then fluctuated downwards. The market jumped short and opened low, directly breaking through the support to a low of 3259, and the daily line continued the downward trend. The current market is in the daily level adjustment stage, but the downward momentum is strong and the risk of breaking continues to accumulate. From a technical perspective, 3280 constitutes a short-term upward resistance. If the rebound is blocked, you can still choose to arrange short orders; there is strong support near 3240 below, and it is necessary to pay attention to whether this position can be effectively broken to confirm the accelerated decline. On the news side, the easing of the Sino-US tariff situation has weakened the market's risk aversion sentiment. In addition, the bullish momentum of gold has been exhausted after the previous consecutive rises, and the recent weak and volatile pattern has become prominent.
Gold recommendation: short near 3280-3290, target 3270-3260.
Gold Mirage Trap: The Ultimate Liquidity Heist-[12May2025]What Retail Traders Don’t See in Today’s Gold Moves Institutional Liquidity Manipulation – A Step Ahead of Illusion Analysis
My view is rooted in fact and data—no noise, no distraction, no rush. X-Plus, the system I designed, precisely maps liquidity and movement. A smart trader remains independent, confident, and waits for confirmation before acting.
Introducing X-Plus: The Ultimate Precision System for Liquidity Mapping The market thrives on deception—misdirection, false breakouts, engineered liquidity traps. X-Plus exposes the illusion, pinpoints institutional execution layers, and keeps traders ahead of liquidity hunts instead of becoming their victims.
Before reading further, here is my take: This sequence represents the real institutional mechanics being set up for today’s move:
First up —a deceptive liquidity sweep above $3,379, creating false bullish momentum. Then down —a sharp selloff, breaking below $3,265, targeting deeper liquidity around $3,169. Finally, a sharp up —a fast recovery, engineered to trap bears, before surging toward the next 3-drive pattern peak of wave D.
Let's see how it will play out, yeah?
Retail traders will think they understand the trend, but institutions are controlling every step of the trap—this is a pure liquidity engineering play.
The inducement phase isn't just clearing liquidity—institutions are layering orders in dark pools while pushing a false trend onto visible exchanges. The pre-bell setup isn't about creating FOMO for retailers—it's actually about internal clearing for institutional portfolios that need rebalancing ahead of NYSE.
Macro Price Engineering Beyond SMC Narratives
Retail traders believe the pre-bell liquidity sweep is setting trend direction, but in reality, it’s engineering spread control for futures market execution. Volatility spikes aren’t retail-driven—they’re forced by institutional hedging adjustments in the fixed-income derivatives market, which most traders don’t factor into gold moves.
The Hidden Psychological Manipulation Behind Today’s Price Action
The illusion of market control isn't just baiting traders into stop-hunts—it’s actually resetting sentiment indicators that institutions use to fine-tune algorithmic executions later in the session. The price structure you're seeing isn't about accumulation or distribution—it's about forcing incorrect risk-reward calculations on retail traders so they mismanage their sizing, setting up deeper liquidity for NYSE execution.
The Real Execution Plan – Not Just a Reflection of Speculation
Liquidity sweeps aren't designed for direct stops today—they're actually pre-loading supply zones before derivative contract adjustments trigger auto-liquidation mechanisms. The predicted downside move isn't incorrect, but the true reversal won't happen where retail traders think—it'll be forced at a miscalculated low to trap institutions into forward-roll risk positions. NYSE won’t just sweep the bears before climbing—it’ll use forced dealer hedging activities to inflate volume before rejecting most breakout traders who take the upside move too early.
Gold Price Action Breakdown 📍 Current Market Levels Front Month Gold Contract: $3,326.30 (Last Settlement Price)
Resistance Zones: $3,360-$3,365, $3,400 (Psychological Barrier) Support Zones: $3,265-$3,264, $3,223-$3,222 (Next Downside Target)
⏳ Key Timing for Institutional Moves
Asian Pre-Bell (Next 2-3 Hours): Expect high-frequency stop-hunts targeting retail traders entering positions too early.
London Session Open (Critical Pivot Point): This will be the moment institutions flush liquidity out before positioning for the true move.
NYSE Session (True Move Unfolds): Gold renounces sharply, sweeping bears before the next 3-drive pattern peak of wave D.
🚀 Institutional Execution Strategy
Synthetic liquidity mirage—volume spikes will appear, but they’re not real demand, just engineered liquidity traps. Dark pool positioning—institutions will offload positions in hidden exchanges, making the real move invisible until execution. Delayed execution trap—the true reversal won’t happen immediately, forcing traders to hold onto losing positions longer than they should.
Conclusion: The Illusion Will Break—But Only for Those Who See It
Markets are designed to deceive—price action isn’t just movement, it’s manipulation. Today’s liquidity engineering is a masterclass in institutional deception, and only traders who understand where the true execution layers lie will emerge unscathed.
Retail sentiment will chase breakouts, stop-hunts will lure in emotional entries, and miscalculations will force premature exits. But behind the illusion lies the real institutional mechanics—the precise sequence of moves that will dictate today’s liquidity flow.
Gold Mirage Trap: The Ultimate Liquidity Heist is unfolding. Let’s see who escapes the trap and who falls into it.
Disclaimer: This analysis is based on systematic liquidity mapping through X-Plus and does not constitute financial advice. Market conditions are subject to manipulation, engineered liquidity events, and institutional strategies beyond the scope of retail trading. Traders are responsible for their own risk management, execution, and decision-making. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
XAUUSD 15 MINUTEThe chart you've shared shows a 15-minute candlestick chart of Gold Spot (XAU/USD) with a highlighted trade setup:
Entry price: Approximately 3,282.635
Stop loss (red box): Around 3,291.729
Take profit (green box): Around 3,265.505
This appears to be a short position (sell) setup, aiming to profit from a decline in gold prices. The risk-to-reward ratio seems favorable, with a wider potential reward area compared to the risk.
Would you like an analysis of this setup or help calculating position sizing or risk?
Correction upside at 3310!XAUUSD H1&H4 Timeframe .
Market is moving on Falling wedge after the break of break 3320-3340 Accumulation zone.
- I am expecting the upside move to respect the 3310 -3320 resistance area where we must have H4 closing below for bearish moves towards 3230 again .
-if the H4 Candle closed below 3270 then upside Retracement willbe postponed.
- above 3320 again we have Accumulation zone 3320-3360
Enteries should be taken all the rules are applied
How to interpret the rise or fall of gold at the opening?In terms of short-term gold operation ideas, it is recommended to do more on pullbacks and short on rebounds. The upper short-term focus is on the 3370-3410 line of resistance, and the lower short-term focus is on the 3310-3315 line of support. Friends must keep up with the rhythm. It is necessary to control the position and stop loss, set stop loss strictly, and do not resist single operation.
Gold operation strategy reference:
Strategy 1: Short (buy decline) two-tenths of the position in batches near the rebound of gold around 3365-3370, stop loss 10 points, target around 3340-3330, break to see the 3320 line;
WTI - Technical Setup Points to April HighsThe US Light Crude chart is displaying promising bullish momentum after establishing a significant double bottom at the $56 support zone. Following a sharp recovery from recent lows, the price has broken above key resistance levels and is currently trading around $61,27 with the green arrow indicating potential continuation to the upside. Technical patterns suggest there is a higher probability that crude oil prices will extend this rally toward the local top formed on April 23rd near $65, completing a broader recovery pattern. With strengthening momentum indicators and improved market sentiment, this upward move appears well-supported, especially if crude can maintain position above the current consolidation range and continue forming higher lows on the daily timeframe.
Disclosure: I am part of Trade Nation's Influencer program and receive a monthly fee for using their TradingView charts in my analysis.
XAUUSD DOUBLE TOP BEARISH PATTERNKey Factors to Consider:
Breakout Confirmation – If price decisively breaks below the neckline of the double top, it strengthens the bearish outlook.
Volume Analysis – A surge in selling volume at resistance or during the breakdown can validate the pattern.
Momentum Indicators – RSI, MACD, and Stochastic Oscillator can help confirm bearish momentum.
Support Levels – Watch for intermediate support zones that could slow down the decline before reaching 3203.
Resistance: 3500
Target: 3203
How to read the opening price of goldAs for the daily chart, the market surged on Monday and Tuesday, plummeted on Wednesday and Thursday, and ended in shock on Friday. The bulls and bears were tug-of-war and refused to give in to each other. The short-term news is relatively complicated. Market sentiment follows the news. It surges when it is slightly nervous and plummets when it is appropriately relaxed. There are certain risks in short-term operations, and the volatility is large. Maintain two principles. First, do not chase gains and sell losses; second, reduce positions. There are opportunities in the market at any time. If there is news on the weekend, it will inevitably impact the market next week. Gold will still be violently swept for the time being. It is expected that this will be the norm throughout May. As time goes by, the weekly MA10 gradually moves up. This position will be the focus of attention in the later period. The biggest retracements in the past were all based on this support. Any large downward adjustments are opportunities for long positions. On the whole, the short-term operation strategy for gold next Monday is to focus on long positions on pullbacks and short positions on rebounds. The short-term focus on the upper side is the 3370-3410 resistance line, and the short-term focus on the lower side is the 3310-3315 support line.
Gold intraday trading plan 5/12/2025As explained in my weekly forecast, I am still bullish on gold. The current opening drop can be seen as a good buying opportunity. I will monitor the price action closely at 3270 level. As long as this level holds, I will buy towards 3370 today.
However, if 3270 is broken, gold may turn to bearish in short term.
XAUUSD - Is Gold Going Down?!Gold is trading in its descending channel on the four-hour timeframe, between the EMA200 and EMA50. A downward correction in gold will open up buying opportunities from the demand areas.
Investors in the precious metals market witnessed another week of gold’s strong performance. Although overall optimism about a potential reduction in trade tariffs slightly slowed gold’s momentum, robust demand from Asia and other global regions provided solid support, preventing any major market correction.
At the beginning of the week, gold prices fell by over 1% on Monday as news of a trade agreement between the U.S. and China prompted investors to shift toward riskier assets. This drop occurred alongside easing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, which also contributed to a calmer market atmosphere.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamison Greer announced that the two nations had reached an agreement during negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland. The deal, which is expected to be released as a joint statement, signals a reduction in trade tensions that had escalated in recent weeks with tariffs reaching as high as 145% on Chinese imports.
As part of the agreement, the U.S. and China plan to establish a joint economic and trade consultation mechanism to continue discussions on tariffs. President Donald Trump hinted last week at a potential reduction in tariffs to 80%, although the official details of the deal have yet to be disclosed.
Adam Button, Chief Currency Strategist at Forexlive.com, commented that in the current market environment, it is difficult not to be bullish on gold. However, he warned that any de-escalation in U.S.-China tensions could dampen the strength of gold’s rally. He added, “Even though a 50% reduction in tariffs wouldn’t be the final chapter, if implemented, it would represent fairly rapid progress and a positive sign for both parties.”
In addition to trade developments, the easing of tensions in Kashmir and a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan have also reduced demand for safe-haven assets like gold. The ceasefire, brokered by the United States, remained largely intact over the weekend.
Adrian Day, CEO of Adrian Day Asset Management, stated that his outlook on gold remains unchanged. He explained, “Rising concerns over a potential U.S. recession, coupled with cautious optimism about easing trade tensions—especially between Washington and Beijing—could exert pressure on gold. However, gold’s notable resilience against price declines indicates underlying demand that has not yet fully entered the market.”
Meanwhile, Darin Newsom, Senior Market Analyst at Barchart.com, firmly maintained a bullish view on precious metals. He said, “If I had to write one analytical sentence on the market board, it would be: Precious metals must rally. I emphasize ‘must’ because nothing is certain in the markets. My bearish call last week was wrong, and it’s clear that technical analysis has become almost obsolete—especially in today’s world where algorithm-driven trading dominates.”
After a week largely influenced by the Federal Reserve’s meeting and tariff-related headlines, market focus now shifts to a data-heavy week featuring a broad range of U.S. economic indicators. The action kicks off Tuesday with the release of the April Consumer Price Index (CPI), a report that could offer insights into whether the Fed might cut interest rates in its June meeting.
The real highlight, however, is expected on Thursday, when key reports are scheduled to be published, including the Producer Price Index (PPI), retail sales figures, jobless claims data, and two major regional indices—the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey and the Empire State manufacturing index. Amidst this flood of information, Fed Chair Jerome Powell is also set to deliver a speech in Washington, which could serve as a major catalyst for market movement.
To wrap up the week, markets await Friday’s release of the preliminary University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for May—a report often viewed as a psychological gauge of American consumer behavior.
XAUUSD 12/5/25Following our change in bias last week on gold, we continued to follow the bearish narrative into new lows after taking out the highs we identified at the beginning of the week. Now, we're looking for a similar setup — a potential pullback into those previous highs to give us the shift downward we’re anticipating.
That said, I believe gold may have more potential to move directly into our target zones without a significant pullback. Still, we keep that scenario on the table, as it's part of the trading plans we build from these key levels.
Of course, we don’t expect price action to simply go bullish and hand us perfect shorting opportunities. But we do believe that if price pulls back into certain areas, it could continue to deliver the downside movement we’re expecting.
Remember, we’re following a rule set. We’re sticking to our risk parameters and allowing the system to guide us. We’re not trading just because price moved down — we had a clear understanding of what we wanted to see, and price continues to respect that structure.
Stick to your plan, follow your risk, and let Orion lead the way.
Orion is bearish, and so are we.
Trade safe. Stick to your plan. Always follow Orion.
Gold's Zigzag Retreat: Shorts' Comeback LoomsOn Friday, gold rebounded slightly and regained the $3,330 mark during the North American trading session. However, it showed an overall volatile trend throughout the week and closed near the middle band of the Bollinger Bands at $3,325.54. The market interpreted the US-UK trade agreement as an "empty-shell agreement". Coupled with Trump's tariff remarks ahead of the upcoming high-level talks among major economies over the weekend, the risk aversion sentiment has risen again, providing support for the gold price.
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Judging from the current market structure, during the upward trend that started from $3,200, gold has not experienced an obvious central consolidation and has accumulated strong retracement momentum. Combining with the small-scale trend, the current adjustment is more likely to unfold in the form of a falling zigzag pattern or a rectangular consolidation pattern rather than a strong breakout, as the weekly resistance level has not been effectively digested and there has been no new positive driving force in the market.
Next week, we need to be cautious about blindly chasing long positions and especially give up the illusion of "breaking through the previous high". In the short term, the probability of a retracement is much higher than that of a continuous unilateral upward movement.
XAUUSD
sell@3330-3340
tp:3300-3280
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