Part 1: Previous Session Review

Yesterday’s session was constructive without being reckless. We closed 4 trades with 3 wins and 1 loss, finishing with a net gain of 60.4 pips across XAUUSD, SOLUSD, and USDJPY. The better opportunities came from respecting momentum after the initial volatility settled, rather than chasing the first move.

XAUUSD remained the cleaner technical market, with price reacting well around intraday liquidity zones. USDJPY also offered directional movement, but it required tighter execution because the pair is still sensitive to rate expectations and sudden dollar repricing. SOLUSD was more uneven, and that is a useful reminder that crypto-linked instruments can move well but often punish late entries.

The main takeaway is simple: the edge came from patience and selective exposure. A positive day does not remove event risk, especially with US monetary policy headlines due today.

Part 2: Today’s Outlook & Watchlist

The key event today is the USD FOMC Meeting Minutes at 14:00 UTC. This is high-impact red news and can create sharp moves across dollar pairs, gold, indices, and crypto. The market will be looking for clues on how divided the committee is, how officials view inflation progress, and whether the path toward future rate cuts remains realistic.

XAUUSD is the first asset on watch. Gold is likely to react directly to any shift in real yield expectations. A more cautious or hawkish tone in the minutes could pressure gold, while signs of growing confidence on inflation may support dips. I prefer waiting for the first reaction to clear before considering entries, as the initial spike can be misleading.

USDJPY is the second key market. The pair remains highly sensitive to US yield movement, and FOMC language can quickly change the intraday bias. If the minutes push yields higher, USDJPY may find renewed buying interest. If the dollar softens, pullbacks could extend quickly, especially if stops are clustered below recent intraday lows.

For today, the plan is defensive before 14:00 UTC and tactical after the release. Reduce position size, avoid overtrading the headline candle, and wait for structure to form. The best trade may come 15 to 30 minutes after the news, not during the first burst of volatility.