FX.co ★ Physicist | XAU/USD, GOLD

GOLD M15: ICT Liquidity Hunts and Fair Value Gaps – A Bearish Breakdown and Retracement Looking at the Gold 15‑minute chart from 6 August to 10 August 2026, we see a clear bearish structure. Price peaked near 4385.59, then declined to 4218.94 – a drop of over 166 points. The descent was not linear; several small upward spikes interrupted the fall, each one a classic liquidity sweep above recent swing highs. Key buy‑side liquidity (BSL) pools sat above levels like 4370.44, 4355.29, and 4340.14. Notice how price would briefly rally above one of these levels, then reverse sharply downward. That is the institutional footprint: triggering stop orders of breakout buyers, using that liquidity to push prices even lower. The most recent candles show price bouncing to 4315.11 (close), with a high of 4317.43 and a low of 4313.98. This is a retrace into a fair value gap (FVG) created during the rapid decline. 1. Identifying Fair Value Gaps on the M15 Gold Chart During the drop from 4385.59 down to 4218.94, multiple 15‑minute candles created imbalances. A fair value gap appears when three consecutive candles leave a price level untouched by neighbouring wicks. From the data, a clear bearish FVG formed between 4340.14 and 4324.99 – a sharp down move left a gap. Another FVG sits near 4324.99 – 4315.11 (the current price area). The current price at 4315.11 is exactly at the lower boundary of the 4324.99–4315.11 FVG, suggesting the market is returning to fill that imbalance. 2. A Simple ICT Trading Plan for Gold M15 Given the strong downtrend, the bias remains bearish unless a clear reversal structure emerges. First, mark the recent swing highs: 4385.59, 4370.44, 4355.29, and 4340.14. Also note the FVG zones: 4340.14 – 4324.99 and 4324.99 – 4315.11. Currently, price is hovering near the lower boundary of the 4324.99–4315.11 FVG. Wait for a liquidity sweep above a minor high – for example, above 4317.43 (the recent high) or above 4324.99. That would hunt buy stops. After the sweep, look for a fresh bearish FVG to form just below the swept high. Enter short on a retrace into that new FVG. Place your stop loss 3‑5 points above the swept high. Target the next sell‑side liquidity (SSL) below 4218.94 – perhaps 4200 or 4190. If price instead sweeps below 4218.94 first, that would hunt sell stops and could signal a bullish reversal – then look for a bullish FVG. 3. Final Advice for Forum Members Gold on M15 is fast and volatile. Always wait for the liquidity sweep first – never short a rally without seeing the trap sprung. Currently, price is inside the 4324.99–4315.11 FVG. Do not enter here without a fresh sweep. Either wait for a spike above 4324.99 to sell, or let price drop below 4218.94 to sweep sell stops and then look for a long reversal. Keep risk at 1% per trade, use a stop of 3‑5 points, and watch those 15‑minute closes carefully. Happy trading.