After a slipped gold stop: what I do next
Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2026 9:12 pm
After a gold stop slips badly, I follow the same procedure every time, mostly to stop myself from doing something stupid.
First, I flatten any related risk. If I have other dollar positions open, I close them or move their stops to breakeven. One bad fill is enough for the moment.
Second, I write down the facts while they are fresh: the time in server time, where the stop was, where it filled, the spread at that moment, and whether there was news. I take a screenshot of the chart and the deals tab entry.
Third, I take a break of at least fifteen minutes away from the screen. This is not optional.
Fourth, I check whether the slip was reasonable. During a data release or a sharp move, a few dollars of slippage on gold is normal market behaviour. In a quiet market, it is worth a message to support with the evidence.
What I never do is re-enter in the same direction straight away to win back the slipped amount. In my early years, that was exactly how one slip turned into three losses in a row.
The psychology part is mostly procedure. Having fixed steps means I do not have to decide anything while I am annoyed.
First, I flatten any related risk. If I have other dollar positions open, I close them or move their stops to breakeven. One bad fill is enough for the moment.
Second, I write down the facts while they are fresh: the time in server time, where the stop was, where it filled, the spread at that moment, and whether there was news. I take a screenshot of the chart and the deals tab entry.
Third, I take a break of at least fifteen minutes away from the screen. This is not optional.
Fourth, I check whether the slip was reasonable. During a data release or a sharp move, a few dollars of slippage on gold is normal market behaviour. In a quiet market, it is worth a message to support with the evidence.
What I never do is re-enter in the same direction straight away to win back the slipped amount. In my early years, that was exactly how one slip turned into three losses in a row.
The psychology part is mostly procedure. Having fixed steps means I do not have to decide anything while I am annoyed.