Don't chase the NFP print reaction, wait for the dust to settle
I've been guilty of chasing the immediate NFP print reaction more times than I care to admit. The initial whipsaw, often exaggerated by algos, looks like a clear direction, then reverses hard, trapping early entrants. My mistake wasn't necessarily picking the wrong direction, but getting caught in the volatility before institutional money had really positioned.
Now, I'll let the first 15-30 minutes of EURUSD or gold settle after the numbers hit. Often, the real move doesn't fully establish itself until that initial retail/algo-driven noise dies down. Better to miss the first 20 pips and catch the next 80 with more conviction, than to get chopped up trying to scalp the immediate knee-jerk.
This is a great point, and something I've struggled with too. Do you find there's a specific time frame after the NFP release where the market tends to stabilize more, or is it more about observing the price action during those initial 15-30 minutes?