Trade FOMC Directly or Sit on Your Hands? What's Your Approach?

FOMC day is one of the most polarizing trading days. Some traders love the volatility. Others refuse to trade it at all. **The case for trading FOMC:** - The volatility is extreme — 100–200 pip moves in minutes provide significant profit potential - If you study the Fed's language carefully, you can position on the right side - Post-announcement fade trades are well-documented and statistically reliable **The case for sitting out:** - Binary events have true 50/50 randomness before the announcement - Spreads widen significantly during the announcement - Even correct analysis can lead to losses if your entry timing is off **My personal approach:** I trade the post-announcement clarity trade (not the announcement itself). I wait 20–30 minutes for the initial chaos to settle, then enter in the direction that the market is clearly moving after the initial noise clears. Do you trade FOMC, and if so, what's your specific strategy? Or do you step aside?