H1 OB Rejection Plan - Bearish Continuation | XAUUSD 08/10GoldOANDA:XAUUSDAdrian_NovaTraderGold is currently recovering from the recent SSL sweep around 4,068, but the rebound is approaching a major H1 resistance cluster. On the chart, price has already reclaimed short-term structure, yet the recovery remains below the H1 OB at 4,167–4,176 and the descending trendline. The broader short-term backdrop also remains cautious: gold is trading under pressure from elevated Treasury yields and a firm U.S. dollar, while recent market commentary continues to highlight resistance around the 4,200–4,275 region. Reuters 🔍 H1 Market Structure • SSL was swept around 4,068. • Price reacted strongly from the 4,085–4,098 Bullish OB. • The recovery produced a short-term MSS and pushed price back toward 4,160+. • The current rally is now approaching the H1 OB at 4,167–4,176. • The descending trendline converges with this resistance area. • This makes 4,167–4,176 the key decision zone for today's session. 📍 Main POI — H1 OB 4,167–4,176 This is the main area I want to see price test. I am not interested in chasing the current recovery around 4,135–4,140. The preferred setup is to wait for price to retrace into the H1 OB and observe the reaction. The bearish idea becomes stronger if price enters 4,167–4,176, rejects the zone, and then produces a bearish MSS/CHoCH on the lower timeframe. 🎯 Today's Trading Plan Primary Setup — Bearish Reaction Entry Zone: 4,168–4,175 Stop Loss: 4,187 TP1: 4,132 TP2: 4,095 TP3: 4,068 The first objective is the 4,122–4,132 FVG. If price breaks through this FVG with strong bearish displacement, the next objective becomes the 4,085–4,098 Bullish OB. A deeper continuation could eventually target the previous SSL around 4,068. Risk Structure Using an entry around 4,172: - SL: 4,187 → ~15 points risk - TP1: 4,132 → ~40 points - TP2: 4,095 → ~77 points - TP3: 4,068 → ~104 points This gives approximately: TP1: 2.7R TP2: 5.1R TP3: 6.9R The trade therefore has a much cleaner structure if the rejection develops inside the H1 OB. ⚠️ Invalidation The bearish setup is invalidated if H1 price accepts above 4,176 and breaks the descending trendline with sustained bullish momentum. I would not continue looking for the bearish setup after a clean H1 breakout and retest above this resistance. 🔄 Bullish Alternative If price does not reject 4,167–4,176 and instead closes strongly above the H1 OB and descending trendline, the market structure changes. In that situation: Breakout → Retest 4,167–4,176 → Bullish continuation The next major liquidity area becomes: BSL: 4,210–4,220 So the key distinction for today is very simple: Rejection from 4,167–4,176 → bearish continuation Acceptance above 4,176 + trendline → bullish expansion toward 4,210–4,220 🧭 My Bias for Today Bearish below 4,176. My preferred scenario is for Gold to retrace into 4,167–4,176, reject the H1 OB, and rotate lower toward 4,122–4,132 first. If the FVG fails to hold, I expect the move to extend toward 4,085–4,098, with 4,068 SSL becoming the deeper liquidity objective. The current recovery should therefore be treated as a retracement into resistance, not as confirmed bullish continuation. The key price for today's direction is 4,176. Below 4,176 → bearish structure remains active. Above 4,176 with H1 acceptance → bearish thesis is invalidated.