Why it matters
Sweeps explain why price can move against you “just enough” to stop you out. It’s often not personal. It’s plumbing.
Decision use: treat this term as a risk input. If you can’t observe it, you can’t size for it.
Common trap
Re-entering immediately without acknowledging the level has been consumed and the regime may have changed.
Example
GBPUSD spikes above a round number, triggers breakout stops, then drops back below within minutes.
Operational cue: if you can’t point to it on the chart, in the DOM, or in your broker logs, treat it as a story and trade smaller.
Notes
Quick rule
- If you see this repeatedly, you are in a different regime than your model assumes.
- Regime change usually means position size change.
- When in doubt: trade smaller, or don’t trade.