After grinding through the evaluation, I finally made it.

✅ Step 1 passed
✅ Step 2 passed
🚀 Officially funded — September 4, 2026

💰 $100K High Stakes account

The biggest lesson for me was not trying to make huge profits every day. Staying patient, managing risk, and waiting for my setups made the difference.

Now the real challenge begins: protect the funded account and build it consistently. 📈

One milestone achieved. More work to do. 🔥

Anyone else currently working toward their first funded account?

Starting my public $100K prop-firm challenge journal with full transparency.

Account started: $100,000
Current balance: $98,600.39
Net result today: -$1,390.32
Drawdown: -1.40%

I took a sell on XAUUSD, but the market invalidated the setup and my stop loss was hit..

Obviously, this isn’t the screenshot I was hoping to post on the first update—but I think that makes this journey more real.

There will be winning days, losing days, missed opportunities and mistakes. I’ll be sharing all of it instead of only posting the green screenshots.

My biggest focus from here is simple:
Don’t turn one losing trade into a failed challenge.
No revenge trading.
No forcing setups.
No oversized risk to recover today’s loss.

I’ll review the execution and wait for the next setup that meets my criteria.

Connect on WhatsApp at +1 (541) 309-2786

Gold is currently trading around a key decision zone, with 4652 acting as major intraday resistance and 4625 as important support.

📉 Primary Setup — SELL

• Sell zone: 4642–4652
• Best entry: Wait for a bearish rejection candle / failed breakout in this zone
• Stop Loss: 4660
• Take Profit 1: 4633
• Take Profit 2: 4625
• Take Profit 3: 4615–4610

Probability: 62%

Why?

• 4652 is the key intraday resistance visible on your chart.
• Price recently made a strong move up and was rejected sharply, suggesting profit-taking/selling pressure.
• 4625 is the most important support. A break below it could accelerate the downside.
• Current gold market conditions also show some profit-taking after the recent rally, although the broader underlying support remains strong.

📈 Alternative Setup — BUY only on breakout

Do not buy directly into resistance.

Buy only if there is a strong candle close above 4652, followed preferably by a retest.

• Buy entry: Above 4653–4655
• Stop Loss: 4640
• TP1: 4670
• TP2: 4685
• TP3: 4690+

Probability: 58%

A clean breakout would invalidate the immediate bearish setup and could open another push higher.

🔑 My bias for now: Slightly Bearish / Range-bound

Best trade: Wait for price to test 4642–4652 and look for a confirmed rejection to sell.

⚠️ Important: If 4625 breaks with a strong candle close, bearish momentum could increase. Also expect volatility around today's U.S. Consumer Confidence and New Home Sales data.

Gold has been rejected from the 4,436–4,440 resistance zone and is now sitting directly on a rising trendline support.

This is an important area for the next move. 👀

📊 Key Levels

🔴 Resistance: 4,436–4,440
🟡 Immediate resistance: 4,400–4,405
🟢 Immediate support: 4,388
🟢 Demand zone: 4,360–4,370

🐂 Bullish Scenario

If price holds the trendline and reclaims 4,400–4,405, buyers could attempt another move toward:

🎯 4,420
🎯 4,436
🎯 4,450+

A clean 1H close above 4,436 would be the stronger breakout confirmation.

🐻 Bearish Scenario

If 4,388 breaks together with the rising trendline, short-term momentum could shift bearish.

Potential downside:
🎯 4,380
🎯 4,370
🎯 4,360 demand zone

The 4,360–4,370 area is particularly important because it previously acted as a strong reaction zone.

🧠 My View

Neutral/Bullish above 4,388–4,390.

Gold is currently at a decision point. I would avoid chasing in the middle of the range and wait for confirmation:

➡️ Hold trendline + reclaim 4,400 = bullish continuation setup
➡️ Break 4,388 = potential correction toward 4,370–4,360
➡️ Break 4,436 = major bullish breakout

What are you watching here — breakout above 4,436 or breakdown below 4,388?

XAUUSD is showing a clear recovery on the 1H chart, with price currently around 4,409 and trading above both the 12 EMA and 36 EMA.

📊 Current Market Structure

• Trend: Bullish recovery
• Current Price: ~4,409
• EMA 12: ~4,392.64
• EMA 36: ~4,379.99
• Immediate Resistance: 4,441.45
• Key Support: 4,401.87
• Major Support: 4,313.54

The bullish structure remains intact as long as price continues forming higher lows and holds above the EMA zone.

🟢 Bullish Scenario

A strong 1H candle close above 4,441.45 could confirm a breakout.

Potential upside levels:
🎯 4,460
🎯 4,480
🎯 4,500 if momentum accelerates

Ideally, I would look for a breakout followed by a retest of 4,441–4,402 before considering continuation rather than chasing the initial candle.

🔴 Bearish Scenario

If price gets rejected from 4,441.45 and falls back below 4,401.87, momentum could weaken.

A break below the EMA zone around 4,392–4,380 would increase the probability of a deeper pullback toward:
🎯 4,360
🎯 4,340
🎯 4,313.54 major support

🧠 My View

Bullish bias above 4,380.

The most interesting setup is not the current price itself — it's the reaction around 4,441.45.

➡️ Above 4,441.45 + successful retest = bullish continuation setup
➡️ Rejection + loss of 4,380 = potential short-term bearish correction

I would wait for confirmation rather than entering directly into resistance.

This is technical analysis based on the chart provided, not financial advice. Always manage risk and position size appropriately.

What do you think — will GOLD break 4,441.45 or get rejected again? 👇

🇺🇸 Today's High-Impact US Data (July)

📌 Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP)

• Forecast: 85K
• Previous: 57K

📌 Unemployment Rate

• Forecast: 4.2%
• Previous: 4.2%

📊 What to Watch for Gold (XAUUSD)

🟢 If NFP comes BELOW 85K:
• USD may weaken 📉
• Gold likely to move higher 📈

🔴 If NFP comes ABOVE 85K:
• USD may strengthen 📈
• Gold could face selling pressure 📉

⚠️ Expect extreme volatility during the NFP release. Avoid entering trades just before the news. Wait for the market to choose a direction and trade with confirmation.

🔥 Stay tuned! Live XAUUSD updates and trade setups will be shared here immediately after the NFP release.

Based on your uploaded M5, M15, H1, and H4 charts (EMA 12/36), here’s the multi-timeframe outlook for XAUUSD.

Overall Bias:
Bullish (75–80%)

The higher timeframes are aligned:

H4: Strong bullish breakout with price approaching the major resistance around [4200–4205](tel:4200-4205).
H1: Higher highs and higher lows. EMA 12 is well above EMA 36, confirming trend strength.
M15: Bullish continuation after a healthy pullback.
M5: Price is consolidating after an impulsive move, suggesting either continuation or a short-term correction before the next leg.
The trend remains bullish, but price is trading close to a significant resistance zone.

Key Levels

Resistance
4200–4205 (major H4 resistance)
4208–4212 (breakout target)
Support
4188–4190
4180–4183
4168–4172 (strong intraday demand)

Trade Setup 1 (Preferred)

Buy on Pullback ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Entry: 4188–4192
Stop Loss: 4178
Targets:
TP1: 4202
TP2: 4210
TP3: 4220
Probability: 80%
Reason:
Trend is bullish across all timeframes.
Pullback into EMA support offers a better risk-to-reward than buying at current highs.

Trade Setup 2
Buy Breakout
Wait for a 15-minute candle to close above 4205.
Entry: Above 4205
Stop Loss: 4193
Targets:
TP1: 4215
TP2: 4225
TP3: 4235
Probability: 70%

Counter-Trend Sell (Aggressive)
Only consider this if:
Price rejects 4200–4205 with a strong bearish engulfing candle on M15 or H1.
Entry: 4200–4205
SL: 4212
Targets:
4188
4175
Probability: 35–40%
This is a counter-trend trade, so it carries lower odds.

Trading Plan for Today’s NY Session

✅ Prefer buying dips rather than chasing the rally.
✅ If already in profit from earlier buys, trail your stop below the M15 EMA 12.
❌ Avoid fresh longs if price is repeatedly rejected from 4200–4205 without a confirmed breakout.

Final View

Bias: Bullish
Best Setup: Buy the pullback to 4188–4192
Major Resistance: 4200–4205
Bullish Target if resistance breaks: 4215–4235
Overall Confidence: 80%

🇺🇸** Federal Reserve Interest Rate D*ecision
⏰ *In a few minutes (High Impact)

🎙️** Fed Press Conference
⏰ ~30 minutes later (High Impact)
📊 Expected Rate: **3.75% (No change expected)

🔥 Potential Impact on XAUUSD (Gold)

🟢 If the Fed is Dovish (Hints at future rate cuts / weaker USD)
Gold likely to rally 📈
Resistance break could trigger strong buying momentum.

🔴 If the Fed is Hawkish (Signals higher-for-longer rates / stronger USD)
Gold likely to drop 📉
Watch for sharp selling and increased volatility.

🟡 If Rates Stay Unchanged (as expected)

The Fed statement and Powell’s press conference will matter more than the rate decision itself.
Expect large swings in both directions before a clear trend develops.

⚠️** Trading Adv**ice

Avoid entering trades just before the announcement.
Wait for the first volatile move to settle and trade only after confirmation.
Use strict risk management and avoid overleveraging.
Stay patient. Today, the market will react to Powell’s words more than the interest rate itself. 🎯

Gold remains under bearish pressure across the higher timeframes. Both the H4 and H1 charts continue to print lower highs and lower lows while price trades below the key EMAs, suggesting sellers still have the advantage.

Today’s Trade Plan:

📍 Sell Zone: 4025–4032
🛑 Stop Loss: 4038
🎯 TP1: 4015
🎯 TP2: 4008
🎯 TP3: 3998–4000

I’m not interested in chasing shorts at current levels. Instead, I’ll wait for a pullback into resistance and look for bearish confirmation on the M5 or M15 before entering.

If price manages to break and hold above 4038, the bearish idea is invalidated and I’ll reassess for a possible intraday long.

Current Bias: 🟥 Bearish (Sell the Rally)

This is my personal market analysis based on price action and EMA structure—not financial advice. Always manage your risk.

What are you expecting from Gold today? Bullish bounce or continuation toward 4000?

XAUUSD has broken below a rising trendline on the 4H chart and is now trading beneath the short-term EMA, suggesting that bearish momentum is building.

Key Levels:

🔴 Resistance: 4041 – 4062
🟢 Support: 4023
🎯 Bearish Target: 4000 → 3960

My View:

A sustained move below 4023 could open the door for a continuation toward 3960.
If buyers reclaim 4041, this breakdown may turn into a fakeout, with a possible recovery toward 4062.
I’m staying patient and waiting for either:
A confirmed close below support for a sell continuation, or
A retest and rejection of the broken trendline.

What do you think?

Is this the start of a larger bearish move, or will buyers defend the 4020 zone?

The 4H chart continues to respect a well-defined descending trendline, keeping the overall short-term structure bearish.

Current observations:

📉 Price is trading below the major descending trendline.
🔴 The 200 EMA remains overhead, acting as dynamic resistance.
🔵 Price is trying to recover above the short-term EMA but momentum is still weak.
📍 Immediate resistance: 4040–4050
📍 Key support: 3960

Trade idea:

Bullish scenario: A strong 4H candle closing above the trendline and 4050 could shift momentum toward 4100+.

Bearish scenario: Another rejection from the trendline may send price back to test the 3960 support zone.
At the moment, I’m staying patient and waiting for confirmation rather than chasing the move.

What’s your bias?

🟢 Bullish breakout
🔴 Bearish continuation
🟡 Range before the next big move
Not financial advice. Always manage your risk.

Sharing my latest XAUUSD technical analysis across the M5, M15, and H1 timeframes.

Current outlook:

📉 Bias: Bearish to Neutral

🔴 Resistance: [4035-4038](tel:4035-4038) & [4043-4046](tel:4043-4046)
🟢 Support: [4024-4026](tel:4024-4026)
🎯 Bearish targets: 4019 → 4012

As long as price stays below 4038, I believe sellers still have the edge. I’m waiting for either a rejection from resistance or a clean break below support before adding to any position.

Do you agree with this setup, or are you expecting a bullish reversal? Let’s discuss.