Today's Trading Plan

XAU/USD · FreePrivateCurrentIssue №176
AsianLondonNew York
Risk
Hard
Events left
53
Next event
00:00
Last updated
06:06 UK

Today's Outlook

Patient Gold Trading Day

Wait for London to show how Gold behaves around the Asian high and low before entering a trade. USD ADP Employment Change at 13:15, Balance of Trade, Exports and Imports at 13:30, and ISM Services PMI at 15:00 can move Gold sharply; do not chase.

Trading summary checklist
Expected volatility
Elevated
Expected session activity
Normal
Calendar risk tone
Cautious
Event risk difficulty
Hard

Expectations based on today's economic calendar and trading session, not live price, volume or order-book measurements.

Today’s Events

All times UK time
  • 00:00USD

    Atlanta Fed GDPNow

    Previous
    3.4%
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 00:00USD

    Total Vehicle Sales

    Previous
    16.8M
    Forecast
    15.9M
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 00:30AUD

    Household Spending (MoM)

    Previous
    0%
    Forecast
    0.2%
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 00:30AUD

    Household Spending (YoY)

    Previous
    6.8%
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 00:30AUD

    RBA Chart Pack

    Previous
    4.6%
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 03:35JPY

    Boj Jgb Purchase

    Previous
    —
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 08:00Scheduled
    Market timing

    Volatility usually increases as European banks start trading.

  • 08:55EUR

    German Composite PMI Final

    Previous
    53.8
    Forecast
    52.8
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 08:55EUR

    German Services PMI Final

    Previous
    52.9
    Forecast
    51.7
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 09:00EUR

    Composite PMI Final

    Previous
    53.1
    Forecast
    51.9
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 09:00EUR

    Services PMI Final

    Previous
    53
    Forecast
    51.7
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 09:30GBP

    Composite PMI Final

    Previous
    52
    Forecast
    53.1
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 09:30GBP

    Services PMI Final

    Previous
    52.1
    Forecast
    53.1
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 10:00EUR

    Inflation Rate (YoY)

    Previous
    3.8%
    Forecast
    4%
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 10:00EUR

    Core Inflation Rate (YoY)

    Previous
    2.5%
    Forecast
    2.5%
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 10:00EUR

    Inflation Rate (MoM)

    Previous
    0.6%
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 10:00EUR

    CPI

    Previous
    104.31
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 10:30EUR

    German 15-Year Bund Auction

    Previous
    3.5%
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 10:30EUR

    German 30-Year Bund Auction

    Previous
    3.8%
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 12:00USD

    MBA 30-Year Mortgage Rate

    Previous
    7.37%
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 12:00USD

    MBA Mortgage Applications

    Previous
    3.4%
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 12:00USD

    MBA Mortgage Market Index

    Previous
    195
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 12:00USD

    MBA Mortgage Refinance Index

    Previous
    516.8
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 12:00USD

    MBA Purchase Index

    Previous
    134.1
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 13:00Scheduled
    Market timing

    London and New York overlap — the most active period of the day.

  • 13:15USD

    ADP Employment Change

    Previous
    90K
    Forecast
    69K
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 13:20EUR

    ECB Lane Speaks

    Previous
    —
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 13:30USD

    Balance of Trade

    Previous
    -105.6B
    Forecast
    -108B
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 13:30USD

    Exports

    Previous
    315.2B
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 13:30USD

    Imports

    Previous
    420.8B
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 13:30USD

    Treasury Refunding Announcement

    Previous
    —
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 13:30CAD

    Balance of Trade

    Previous
    4.2B
    Forecast
    4.1B
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 13:30CAD

    Exports

    Previous
    77.91B
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 13:30CAD

    Imports

    Previous
    73.71B
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 14:30CAD

    Composite PMI

    Previous
    48.7
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 14:30CAD

    Services PMI

    Previous
    48.3
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 14:45USD

    Composite PMI Final

    Previous
    58.4
    Forecast
    57.6
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 14:45USD

    Services PMI Final

    Previous
    58.8
    Forecast
    57.9
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:00USD

    ISM Services PMI

    Previous
    54.9
    Forecast
    54.8
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:00USD

    ISM Services Business Activity

    Previous
    56.5
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:00USD

    ISM Services Employment

    Previous
    50.1
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:00USD

    ISM Services New Orders

    Previous
    59.8
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:00USD

    ISM Services Prices

    Previous
    74
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:30USD

    EIA Crude Oil Stocks Change

    Previous
    -1.89M
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:30USD

    EIA Gasoline Stocks Change

    Previous
    3.87M
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:30USD

    EIA Crude Oil Imports Change

    Previous
    -796K
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:30USD

    EIA Cushing Crude Oil Stocks Change

    Previous
    -624K
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:30USD

    EIA Distillate Fuel Production Change

    Previous
    -71K
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:30USD

    EIA Distillate Stocks Change

    Previous
    -1.46M
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:30USD

    EIA Gasoline Production Change

    Previous
    -509K
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:30USD

    EIA Heating Oil Stocks Change

    Previous
    164K
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 15:30USD

    EIA Refinery Crude Runs Change

    Previous
    -123K
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 16:30USD

    17-Week Bill Auction

    Previous
    4.14%
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 17:00CAD

    5-Year Bond Auction

    Previous
    3.574%
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming
  • 22:00Scheduled
    Market timing

    Spreads widen and liquidity thins as the trading day rolls over.

  • 23:50JPY

    BoJ Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes

    Previous
    —
    Forecast
    —
    Actual / Status
    Upcoming

Today's Trading Windows

Your trading day, in chronological order.

  • 00:00-07:00 UK

    —

    Caution WindowUpcoming

    Asian Price Markers

    Use the Asian high and low as markers for Gold before European trading begins.

    Volatility · Quiet
    Related toAsian SessionUpcoming
  • 07:00-09:50 UK

    —

    Fair WindowUpcoming

    London Confirmation Window

    Wait for Gold to hold beyond the Asian high or low before considering a trade.

    Volatility · Moderate
    Related toAsian SessionLondon SessionUpcoming
  • 10:20-11:55 UK

    —

    Fair WindowUpcoming

    London Confirmation Window

    Wait for Gold to hold beyond the Asian high or low before considering a trade.

    Volatility · Moderate
    Related toLondon SessionUpcoming
  • 11:55-12:10 UK

    —

    Dangerous WindowUpcoming

    The USD MBA 30-Year Mortgage Rate is scheduled for 12:00 UK and may make Gold move quickly.

    Pause new Gold entries from 11:55 to 12:10 UK.

    Volatility · High
    Related toLondon SessionExecution risk elevatedUpcoming
  • 12:15-13:10 UK

    —

    Fair WindowUpcoming

    Between USD Reports

    Watch whether Gold holds above the Asian high or below the Asian low before the 13:15 USD report.

    Volatility · Moderate
    Related toLondon SessionLondon / NY OverlapNew York SessionHigh liquidityUpcoming
  • 13:10-13:45 UK

    —

    Dangerous WindowUpcoming

    USD ADP Employment Change is scheduled for 13:15 UK, followed by Balance of Trade, Exports and Imports at 13:30 UK.

    Avoid entering Gold during the first sharp price change around these USD reports.

    Volatility · High
    Related toLondon SessionLondon / NY OverlapNew York SessionExecution risk elevatedUpcoming
  • 13:45-14:50 UK

    —

    Caution WindowUpcoming

    Heavy USD News Window

    Several USD reports can produce fast Gold price changes and poor entries.

    Volatility · Quiet
    Related toLondon SessionLondon / NY OverlapNew York SessionHigh liquidityUpcoming
  • 14:55-15:40 UK

    —

    Dangerous WindowUpcoming

    USD ISM Services PMI is scheduled for 15:00 UK, followed by EIA oil and gasoline reports at 15:30 UK.

    Wait until 15:40 UK, then check whether Gold holds the high or low formed during this period.

    Volatility · High
    Related toUSD ISM Services PMI · 15:00London SessionLondon / NY OverlapNew York SessionExecution risk elevatedUpcoming
  • 15:45-22:00 UK

    —

    Best WindowUpcoming

    After News Confirmation

    Trade only when Gold respects the high or low made from 14:55 to 15:40 UK.

    Volatility · Moderate
    Related toLondon SessionLondon / NY OverlapNew York SessionHigh liquidityUpcoming

Today's Guidance

Do not enter Gold from 13:10 to 13:45 UK or from 14:55 to 15:40 UK. Keep each Gold trade smaller between 11:55 and 15:40 UK because several USD reports are scheduled.

Today's guidance illustration

Alternative scenario

If

A candle on the 1-hour chart closes beyond the Asian high or low, and Gold stays beyond that price after 15:40 UK.

Then

Stop planning trades between the Asian high and low. Wait for Gold to return towards the crossed Asian boundary before entering.

Guidance — not a prediction. Today's plan may need to be reassessed if this trigger materialises.

Today's Trading Checklist

Run through every step below before placing a trade today.

Statuses update automatically as today's plan and trading windows progress. They show when each point is most relevant — you still confirm the trading conditions on the chart.

  1. Step 01Later

    Set alerts at the Asian high and low instead of reacting to every Gold fluctuation.

  2. Step 02Later

    Limit total risk when multiple Gold entries express the same USD-news idea.

  3. Step 03Later

    Record whether each entry followed chart confirmation or a personal opinion.

Use this checklist to guide today’s trading session.

Tip: Copy this checklist into today’s Workspace and tick items off as you trade.

Trading checklist illustration

Build the habit. Understand the market.