News weeks separate disciplined traders from gamblers. This playbook gives you the exact rules to trade Gold (XAU/USD) around CPI, PCE, NFP and FOMC using FXPremiere signals—without getting trapped by spreads, slippage, or fake first moves.

Core Philosophy

• Pre-news = defense. Reduce exposure, protect equity, avoid new risk inside the “danger window.”
• Post-news = structure. Trade only confirmed patterns (Break–Retest or Failed Break) once spreads normalize.
• Risk is a dial. You control heat, not the headline. Size down; never widen stops.

Pre-Event Rules (Copy/Paste)

• Danger window: T−60 min to T+5 min (CPI/PCE/NFP) · T−60 to T+120 (FOMC statement → presser).
• Total heat cap: ≤ 1.0% during the danger window (all positions combined).
• Theme cap (USD-long/short incl. Gold): ≤ 0.75%–1.0%.
• No fresh entries inside T−30 unless it’s a hedge reduction or risk-offload.
• Spread filter: If XAU spread > your baseline (e.g., ~$0.30), do not scale in; consider trimming.
• How Economic Events (CPI, NFP, FOMC) Impact Gold & Forex Signals(Opens in a new browser tab)
• NFP, CPI, FOMC: Second-Pass Plays for XAU/USD(Opens in a new browser tab)
• How to Build a Risk Model for Mixed Gold + Forex Portfolios (Position Limits, Correlations, Heat Map)(Opens in a new browser tab)
• Risk Stacking: Managing Multiple Open Gold & FX Trades Without Blowing Exposure (2025)(Opens in a new browser tab)
• Second-Pass Trading on Gold: Clean Entries After NFP & CPI(Opens in a new browser tab)

Post-Event Execution Clock (XAU/USD)

1. T+0–60s: Observe only. Note spike direction, spread, and reclaim behavior.
2. T+60–180s: Look for first structure (B/R or FB). Spreads often normalize.
3. T+3–10m: Execute on confirmation: close beyond level + retest hold, or failed break reclaim with buffer.

Structures & Stops

Break–Retest (continuation)

• Entry: After a decisive close beyond the level, on retest hold.
• SL: Beyond the retest swing + small Gold buffer.
• TP Ladder: 40/30/30 at liquidity → measured move/ADR → runner with structure/ATR trail.

Failed Break (reversion)

• Entry: After spike through level fails and price reclaims back inside; enter on the first pullback.
• SL: Beyond spike extreme + buffer.
• TP Ladder: 50/25/25 → back to breakout level → session mid/VWAP → opposite box edge.

Instrument-Specific Playbooks

CPI / PCE

• If hot (inflation up): Yields/DXY usually up → favor XAU/USD shorts on B/R of broken supports.
• If soft: Yields/DXY usually down → favor longs on reclaim + HL into VWAP.
• Size: 50–75% of normal until volatility cools; move SL→BE after TP1 quickly.

NFP

• First print whipsaw: Let the second move define direction.
• Execution: Take the cleanest structure that forms after T+2m; avoid middle-of-range entries.
• Hedge option: If already long Gold, a small USD/JPY long (30–50% risk) can smooth USD headwinds.

FOMC (Statement + Presser)

• Two-leg pattern: Statement sets direction; presser can flip/extend.
• Plan: Trade only one of the two legs—whichever gives structure. Keep size modest, trail tighter.

Risk & Exposure Guardrails

• Per-trade: 0.5%–1.0% (beginners 0.5%–0.75%).
• Total heat (news window): ≤ 1.0%.
• Theme cap (USD): ≤ 1.0% (count XAU with USD-short/long theme).
• No widening stops. If R:R breaks due to drift/spread → skip or wait for retest.

Execution Checklists

Pre-News (60 Seconds)

[ ] Event time locked (local)
[ ] Heat ≤ 1.0% | USD theme ≤ 1.0%
[ ] Spreads near baseline? If not, trim risk
[ ] No new positions inside T−30 (unless hedge adjust)

Post-News (90–180 Seconds)

[ ] Spreads normalized?
[ ] B/R or Failed Break confirmed?
[ ] Risk% sized-down (50–75%)?
[ ] SL with buffer; TP ladder set; SL→BE after TP1

Worked Examples (Illustrative)

CPI Soft → Long Continuation

DXY down, US10Y down; Gold breaks London high 2392.50
Entry: 2393.00  |  SL: 2388.80
TP1: 2398.00 | TP2: 2405.00 | TP3: 2412.00 (trail)
Note: 70% normal size; SL→BE after TP1

NFP Whipsaw → Failed Break Short

Gold spikes above 2406.00 then closes back below 2404.80
Entry: 2404.40 short  |  SL: 2406.60
TP1: 2398.50 | TP2: 2392.80 | TP3: 2388.00
Note: Execute after T+2–3m when spreads normalize

Hedge Templates (Optional)

• Gold long hedge: USD/JPY long at 30–50% of core risk during CPI hot risk; exit hedge when DXY/US10Y flip back.
• Gold short hedge: EUR/USD long micro-size if positioning is too USD-long across the book.

Journal Fields (so you improve each event)

• Event tag (CPI/PCE/NFP/FOMC), alert time, fill time (latency), spread-at-fill, slippage.
• Structure taken (B/R, FB), result (R), heat at entry, theme %, rule breaks (0/1).

Why This Works with FXPremiere

• 📡 Signals arrive with Entry/SL/TP, perfect for post-print structure execution.
• 📚 Daily education + live news to prep danger windows and hedge plans.
• 🌍 Since 2010: Forex, Gold, Crypto & Indices on Telegram.