For weeks, the USD/JPY pair had been coiled like a spring, trapped in a tight range. The market was evenly split. Half the trading forums screamed to buy the dollar, citing relentless inflation. The other half urged everyone to sell, betting the Bank of Japan would finally intervene to strengthen the yen.

He looked at his account balance. It wasn't life-changing money, but it was his hard-earned savings. If he caught the wave, he could finally put a down payment on a bigger apartment for his growing family. If he got caught on the wrong side, months of disciplined trading would be wiped out in seconds.

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His heart hammered against his ribs. Forex trading was often called a game of patience, but in the minutes before a major news release, it felt more like waiting for a bomb to detonate. He refreshed his news feed. Five minutes to go.