In my previous article, “Can TrendCue Smart Trend Pass a Prop Firm Test?”, I tested every valid XAUUSD M5 setup from August 3 to 19 using one fixed set of rules:
After that test, I continued analyzing the market with the same setup and publishing the results regularly.
This review covers the next period from August 28 to September 1.
The setup itself has not changed.
I am using TrendCue Smart Trend on XAUUSD M5 with:
- TrendCue Structure as the directional filter
- A confirmed TrendCue signal for entry timing
- Adaptive SuperTrend as the initial risk reference
- Guardian for position management
- The same defined trading window
TrendCue Smart Trend:
The purpose here is simple: look at what the market actually offered under the same rules.
No selected winning signals. No changes to the setup after seeing the result.
## August 28 — Stop First, TP2 Second
August 28 gave two valid short setups.
The first one failed.
The first setup failed during a news-driven volatility spike. Price moved against the entry and hit the stop for a full -1R loss.
That is part of the system, so it stays in the review.
Later, another valid sell setup appeared.
This time Gold moved cleanly in the expected direction. Price reached TP1 and then continued to TP2, giving approximately 2R relative to the original risk.
Gold eventually moved much further, but TP2 was the planned objective. I prefer to evaluate the setup by its actual rules rather than by how far price eventually travelled.
August 28, XAUUSD M5 — the first short reaches the stop; the second valid sell reaches TP1 and TP2.
This is actually a useful example because both outcomes appeared on the same chart.
One setup failed.
The next one reached the target.
## August 31 — Two Valid Setups
August 31 produced two more opportunities.
The first was a long setup.
With bullish Structure and a confirmed buy signal, price moved higher after entry, reached TP1 and then continued to TP2.
Later, market direction changed and a valid sell setup appeared.
The second trade reached TP1.
At that point Guardian did its job: part of the position was secured and the remaining position was protected at breakeven.
Price later retraced, so the trade did not reach TP2, but the original risk had already been removed.
August 31, XAUUSD M5 — the first setup reaches TP2; the second reaches TP1 before the remaining position is protected at breakeven.
A later signal also reached TP2, but I did not include it because it appeared outside the trading window I personally use for this session.
Across these market reviews, TrendCue also produced successful setups on other symbols. I do not track every signal because the purpose of these posts is to explain the workflow, not to present a complete profitability report across the market.
Anyone who wants to explore further can download the demo and review different symbols and periods directly in MT5.
## September 1 — Another Move to TP2
September 1 produced another valid sell setup.
The broader Structure was bearish and a confirmed sell signal provided the entry timing.
Gold moved lower after entry, reached TP1 and continued to TP2.
Price later reversed sharply, but only after the planned target had already been reached.
September 1, XAUUSD M5 — the valid sell setup reaches TP1 and TP2 before the later market reversal.
Signals outside the defined entry window were again ignored.
The rules are applied before the outcome is known, not after looking at the finished chart.
## Results Across These Three Sessions
From August 28 to September 1, the setup produced five valid XAUUSD M5 trades:
- 3 reached TP2
- 1 reached TP1, where Guardian secured part of the position and moved the remainder to breakeven
