Bad bet and carelessness made 39 pip loss

A buying order for gold automatically triggered at 925.0 and resulted in loss at 921.1 very soon. I was absent at the terminal when it happened just one hour to the US data, CaseShiller and Consumer Confidence reports and both came better than expected.

I always close positions or reduce the size significantly before any data release and this case was a clear violation to that rule.

Taking position ahead of US data

US stock indexes dropped as much as 2 percent when earning results looks not encouraging and a report from IMF made the picture of US housing market cloudy.

So I found it appropriate to sell dollar (against yen at 107.52) to take a position ahead of US Consumer Confidence and S&P/CaseShiller Composite, both scheduled for tomorrow.

I will increase the size in any opportunity; it is likely that tonight's data from Japan, including Household Spending and Retail Trade, make a better technical condition for selling dollar (or even other pairs such as GBPJPY).

30 pip profit from less profitable side of portfolio

I had another position, selling USDJPY at 108.15, which I opened earlier this morning. The technical condition was very great and I was a too conservative when I reduced the size later. However totally 30 pip profit made at 107.85 and as always I closed positions before US data. It was less profitable than having EURUSD which I closed it earlier.

When flexibility matters

I closed my position (buy EURUSD) in 10 pip profit, just before German GfK. As the chart shows even a weaker than expected GfK was unable stop Euro rising. Reducing the size was the best decision but I have not that flexibility. I am going to increase my capital to let me have more effective control over my positions. (the trade plan)

Buying EURUSD; Starting to price FOMC Rate Decision

Upcoming data from US housing market, manufacturing, and consumer confidence are all expected to reinforce concerns and make it easier to expect the Fed to delay raising interest rate.
In about one hour to the market close, technical data suggest that the recent negative impact from German IFO on Euro has started to fade. So I decided to buy EURUSD at 1.5516, and I might increase the size if I find more supportive facts.