Life no balance, but these trades might.

From the Desk of Mr. Pips

Lagos is a paradox.

It’s the only city where you can wake up rich, and by 9am — you’re standing in a muddy gutter, holding your slippers in one hand and your pride in the other.

Let me explain.

One morning, I saw a man in a clean suit driving a Benz stop at a junction.
Out of nowhere, a hawker selling gala and bottled water leaned in and said:

He wasn't lying.

Because in Lagos, things switch fast.
The generator that was humming five minutes ago is now smoking.
The okada man who greeted you politely yesterday just tried to run you off the road.
And the same POS operator that charged you ₦100 for ₦2,000 yesterday now says:

That’s Lagos for you.

One big, unpredictable dance of chaos and brilliance.

And the market? It’s no different.

One minute, your setup is clean.
The next, Powell drops a hawkish comment, and the dollar moves like NEPA just restored light.

If you’re not watching the story behind the candles, you’ll get bounced around like a danfo without brakes.

So, as always — I’ve mapped out this week’s story.
Not just the price… but the why behind the move.

Let’s get into it

Trade Setups to Watch This Week

1. NZDUSD – Bounce from Rock Bottom

• Bias: Long

• Key Zone: 0.6044 demand zone

• Target: 0.6155–0.6160

Narrative:
Kiwi’s been punished by weak China data and a strong dollar — but we’re at a zone where smart money might re-enter.
A W-formation and a liquidity sweep below support suggest a bounce is coming.

2. CADJPY – Fakeout Then Fade

• Bias: Short

• Key Zone: 106.80 resistance (liquidity trap)

• Target: 105.15

Narrative:
CAD moved up with oil’s recovery — but oil’s fundamentals are shaky.
JPY is attracting capital as a risk hedge again.
The pair swept the highs, and now price is hesitating.

3. XAUUSD (Gold) – The Crown Feels Heavy

• Bias: Short

• Key Zone: 3375–3380 (M3 pivot + trendline resistance)

• Target: 3240

Narrative:
Gold climbed on dollar weakness… but that was temporary.
Now, real yields are rising and fundamentals favor the dollar again.
This looks like the final push before a hard reversal.

4. EURJPY – Long the Trap, Then Flip the Script

• Bias: Long to 174.30, then Short from 174.30+

• Key Zone: 173.50 (entry) → 174.30 (liquidity sweep zone)

• Target: 171.80 after reversal

Narrative:
EURJPY has that “Lagos market pickpocket” energy right now.

It’s pulling in buys just below resistance… only to trap them up top.

Here’s how we play it like a Lagos hustler:

✅ First, ride the bus — long into 174.30, where stop losses are sitting.
🚨 Then, when the bus reaches the last bus stop — flip short when you see exhaustion.

What to watch:

• Long scalp from 173.50 to 174.30

• Look for bearish engulfing or a clear rejection above 174.30

• Once confirmed, short it down to 171.80

🧾 Summary Table

Final Word from Mr. Pips

Don’t let the noise distract you.

Whether you’re dodging danfos or news events, the principle stays the same:
Wait. Watch. Strike only when the conditions favour you.

I’ll be monitoring these four setups closely this week, and if any of them flip, I’ll update the plan. Until then:

— Mr. Pips
Lead Analyst, WMarkets