What Actually Moves Gold
Gold tends to spar with real US yields: when inflation-adjusted Treasury yields fall, XAU/USD often rallies; when they rise, gold gets a headwind. Dollar strength matters too—a firmer USD usually pressures gold. Macro prints (CPI/PCE, NFP) and central-bank guidance shift rate expectations, which cascade into gold. Flows add spice: central-bank purchases, ETF in/outflows, and risk events can turbocharge or whipsaw moves.

How to Frame It (No Calls, Just Method)
Start with trend and market structure, then look for where liquidity likely sits. Let price confirm (breaks/retests/failures) before committing. Define invalidation as the level that proves the idea wrong—never a random pip count.

Risk & Process (Save Your Run)
Size small (≈1% risk per idea), be deliberate around major releases, and journal every attempt—thesis → invalidation → result → lesson. The goal is compounding skill, not chasing jackpots.

Patch Days to Watch
CPI/PCE, FOMC statements, payrolls, and surprises in real-yield moves are the key “patch notes” that often rebalance gold’s meta.

Discuss
Which data points genuinely earn their keep on XAU/USD for you? How do you pick invalidation that’s tied to structure, not superstition? Got research on real-yields ↔ gold across timeframes? Drop frameworks, not calls.