XAU/USD ICT – August 13, 2025

Market Snapshot
Gold (XAU/USD) is trading at $3,350.52, consolidating inside a well-defined $3,360 resistance and $3,331 support range. Price action remains sideways after yesterday’s liquidity sweep and recovery from $3,342. Market participants are waiting for today’s U.S. CPI data for a directional catalyst.

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Smart Money Structure
Yesterday’s New York PM session rebounded sharply from the $3,342 demand zone but failed to break the $3,356–$3,360 supply area.

Today’s Asian session consolidated above $3,344, but liquidity remains stacked both above $3,360 and below $3,331.

Price is trapped between the 9 EMA and 21 EMA on the 30M chart, indicating no clear directional bias until a breakout occurs.

Session Outlook

Asian Session: Balanced range-building above $3,344, low volatility.
London Session: Possible sweep of one range extreme ($3,360 or $3,331) before CPI volatility.
New York Session Outlook:
- CPI higher than forecast → possible liquidity run below $3,331 toward $3,322–$3,316 demand.
- CPI lower than forecast → breakout above $3,360, aiming for $3,368–$3,372 supply zone.

Market Drivers & News Outlook
U.S. CPI release at NY open is the main event.

DXY is slightly stronger pre-market, holding gold in check.

Smart money likely to engineer a stop-hunt on one side before expanding in the true post-CPI direction.

Trade Plans

Scenario 1 – Bullish Breakout:

Buy above $3,360 with targets at $3,368–$3,372.
SL: Below $3,356 | TP1: $3,368 | TP2: $3,372.

Scenario 2 – Bearish Breakdown:

Sell below $3,331 with targets at $3,322–$3,316.
SL: Above $3,334 | TP1: $3,322 | TP2: $3,316.

Final Bias – ICT Narrative
Gold is coiling ahead of CPI, with liquidity pools clearly visible above $3,360 and below $3,331. Expect engineered liquidity sweeps in London or early NY, with true displacement likely in the first hour after CPI release. Directional conviction will depend on which liquidity side is taken and sustained.