M1 feels precise; M5 often survives costs better. I switched primary to M5 on several names when my M1 journal showed lovely entries eaten by spread, noise stops, and the illusion of control. Precision that cannot clear round-trip cost is decoration.
Rule of thumb I use now:
- If average trade duration and stop distance on M1 cannot clear round-trip cost with room, promote M5 for bias and structure.
- M1 can remain the trigger only when spread is calm and the M5 story is already clear.
- Gold is a frequent special case either way — test with a cost log, do not assume from majors.
On which pairs did M5 become your primary because M1 could not clear costs cleanly?
I still glance at M1 for timing, but the permission to trade comes from M5 structure clearing cost math. Permission and timing are different jobs; conflating them was my old expensive habit.
