Gold Futures Analysis for Today with tradeCompass (July 21, 2025)

At the time of this gold technical analysis, GC futures are trading at $3,373.5. Today’s intraday range spans from $3,351 to $3,378.3, while the broader 50-week high sits at $3,509.9.

Although gold has surged roughly 37% in the past 12 months, its momentum has recently paused. The price is essentially unchanged from where it stood one week, one month, and even three months ago. Despite the broader trend being bullish, recent action suggests a sideways consolidation phase. This makes today’s tradeCompass levels particularly useful for short-term decision-making.

tradeCompass Summary for Gold – July 21, 2025

Bullish above: $3,354.2 (only after a re-cross upward)
Bearish below: $3,387.5 (after failing above this level and crossing down again)
Current price: $3,373.5
Market sentiment: Bulls in short-term control, but tradeCompass avoids late entries

Today's Gold Market Context & Directional Outlook

While gold bulls have control intraday, the price is near upper intraday levels, making this a caution zone for initiating new longs. The tradeCompass doesn't chase rallies—it waits for meaningful re-tests or failed attempts at key levels.

Instead, today's opportunity lies in bearish activation, if price climbs near $3,387–$3,388, then fails and falls back down. This structure favors a short entry, only if that key level fails.

Bearish Plan: tradeCompass Short Setup

Bearish activation: Short triggers only if price crosses back down below $3,387.5, after first grinding up to or slightly through it.

Partial Profit Targets for Bears:

$3,382.7
Just above $3,382, the July 14 point of control, and near July 11’s value area high. Reaching this allows early traders to move stop to entry, even if it's the first partial target.

$3,378.2
Near today’s value area high, also aligns with a July 14 liquidity pool. Logical second exit for risk trimming.

$3,370.4
Above the July 14 VWAP, and close to POCs from July 11 and 15. Strong zone for further reduction.

$3,369.9
Sits right above today’s VWAP and July 18’s value area high.

$3,360.4
Above the July 3 POC, a level for more ambitious bears or a small runner.

$3,328.4
Stretch target—above July 17’s levels and near the July 10 VAL. This is a swing-level target with lower probability but a high reward/risk for small-position runners.

Alternative Bearish Plan

If first trade fails, $3,395 is another level to consider re-entering short. This price coincides with a June 23 point of control, often targeted by algos and institutions. Not expected today, but worth planning for.

Bullish Plan: tradeCompass Long Setup

Bullish threshold: $3,354.2
But only valid after price crosses below it and then climbs back above—a signal that support held. No long should be taken on the way down toward this level.

Maximum stop-loss reference: No lower than $3,341, according to today’s key levels.

Partial Profit Targets for Bulls:

$3,359.8
Aligned with the July 18 POC. Logical early profit zone after confirmation.

$3,366.2
Just below July 18 VAH. Ideal for second profit and potential stop-to-entry shift.

$3,373.9
Near July 15’s value area high, a spot where algorithms and pros often react.

$3,381.5
Just under the July 14 POC, a magnet level.

$3,386.7
Right below the bearish activation zone—offering bulls a reason to exit before resistance hits.

Educational Insight: Partial Profits & tradeCompass Logic

One of the most powerful edges of the tradeCompass method is not waiting for perfection. Instead of gambling on full moves, traders trim profits at logical levels where reactions often occur. This increases trade survivability, especially when price reverses early.

When going long, partial exits are placed just below key resistance levels. When shorting, exits are just above key supports. These buffer zones reflect real-world conditions, where price often turns before hitting textbook targets.

Understanding Volume Profile, POC, VAH/VAL & Liquidity Pools

To make the most of the tradeCompass framework, it helps to understand a few foundational concepts that many professionals use behind the scenes:

Volume Profile is a charting tool that shows how much trading activity occurred at each price level, rather than over time. Instead of just looking at candles or bars, volume profile lets you see where the market cared the most—revealing where buyers and sellers were most active.

At the heart of this are three critical levels:

• Point of Control (POC): The price where the highest volume occurred during a given session or time range. Think of it as the most “agreed-upon” price—often acting like a magnet that pulls price back or creates resistance.

• Value Area High (VAH) and Value Area Low (VAL): These mark the upper and lower bounds of the price zone where about 70% of volume was concentrated. This is known as the value area. Prices above VAH or below VAL are considered less accepted, and often trigger reactions—either reversals or breakouts.

So why does this matter?

These zones show where consensus was built, and where it wasn’t. When price returns to these areas, institutions and algorithms tend to pay attention, either defending those zones or using them as traps to move price.

Liquidity Pools are closely related. These are areas where many orders—especially stop orders or limit orders—are clustered together. Price often seeks them out like magnets, because large participants need volume to enter or exit trades without slippage. You’ll often see a sudden burst of activity when price reaches these areas.

In practical terms, this means traders can use volume profile and liquidity insights to:

• Spot potential turning points before they happen

• Set more precise entries and exits

• Understand why price reacts to certain levels instead of just watching it randomly move

Knowing where value is, and where it’s not, gives today's gold traders a much clearer map of the market’s internal structure. And that’s exactly what tradeCompass helps you track every day.

Risk Management & tradeCompass Methodology

• Only one trade per direction per tradeCompass session.

• Move your stop to entry after the second partial profit is reached—or earlier if the distance to first target justifies it.

• Use your own preferred entry confirmations—some wait for candle closes, others for momentum shifts.

• Always place stops within your defined logic, and never beyond the opposite threshold. Crossing that would invalidate your trade thesis.

Final Notes & Reminder

The tradeCompass isn’t a forecast—it’s a decision-support map. It empowers you to trade around key levels recognized by hedge funds, institutions, and algorithms. You may use it with your own tactics or as a framework to follow passively and learn.

Whether you're day trading or monitoring price action for learning, you'll see how often gold reacts around these specific levels. Futures pricing may vary slightly from CFDs, so ensure you're watching the correct contract.

Trade at your own risk. This is not financial advice.
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