Before major news I prefer reducing risk or staying flat. Slippage can turn a good-looking setup into a poor trade very quickly.

Good point, I would still wait for confirmation.

This is the type of setup where patience matters. A late entry after confirmation can still be better than an early entry with no defined stop.

Good point, I would still wait for confirmation.

Rotation matters. If money is leaving growth and moving defensive, a good-looking chart can still struggle.

I am trying to separate the chart from the emotion around the move.

The biggest mistake I want to avoid here is confusing volatility with confirmation. A fast candle is not a full trade plan.

Nice breakdown. I would add a higher-timeframe check before entry.

If price sweeps the prior low and reclaims it quickly, that could be a better signal than buying into the strongest candle.

This is close to how I am reading the chart too.