The three main styles
| Style | Duration | Timeframe | Time required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalping | Seconds–minutes | M1–M5 | Intense and continuous |
| Day trading | Hours | M15–H1 | A daily window |
| Swing | Days–weeks | H4–D1 | Periodic review |
The breakout approach on gold
A fourth approach that suits gold specifically because of its volatility: trading breakouts of key levels. The idea is that when gold breaks an important level after prolonged compression, it tends to continue in the direction of the break.
Practical conditions:
- A clear level tested at least twice.
- A candle closing beyond the level (not a mere touch) to reduce false breaks.
- A stop-loss behind the broken level.
- Preferably executed during the London–New York overlap when liquidity is deepest.
Its biggest weakness is the false breakout, which is common on gold — which is exactly why the stop-loss remains mandatory.
How to choose the right one
The choice is not about "which earns most" but "which you can execute with discipline":
| Your situation | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Full availability, high pressure tolerance | Scalping |
| A steady two hours a day | Day trading |
| Very limited time | Swing |
| Intraday swings unsettle you | Swing on the daily chart |
Whichever you choose, stay with it long enough to evaluate it. Switching strategies after every loss makes it impossible to know whether it works at all.