Guides

Gold and XAU/USD guides

Independent, educational guides to understand what moves the gold market: mechanisms, indicators to watch and their limits. Information only, never investment advice.

All guides

The basics

What is XAUUSD? XAU/USD meaning and how to read the quote

What does XAUUSD mean? XAU is the code for one troy ounce of gold, USD the US dollar. Learn quotes, bid/ask, spread and spot vs futures vs CFDs.

Read the guide →Fundamentals

What moves the gold price: why gold rises and falls

What moves the gold price? Real yields, the dollar, the Fed, inflation, geopolitics, central bank buying and physical demand: drivers, weights and limits.

Read the guide →Macro

Real yields and gold: how the relationship works and how to measure it

Why gold reacts to US real yields: definition, TIPS, breakevens, FRED series (DFII10, DGS10, T10YIE), a worked example and the limits of the link.

Read the guide →Calendar

Economic calendar and gold: the releases that move XAU/USD

Which economic releases move gold? NFP, CPI, PCE, FOMC, GDP, ISM: what each measures, how to read actual vs forecast, and precautions around volatility.

Read the guide →Practical

Gold Trading Hours: XAUUSD Sessions, Overlaps and Key Times

Gold trading hours explained: Sunday open, daily break, Sydney, Tokyo, London and New York sessions, the London–New York overlap, weekend gaps and holidays.

Read the guide →Practical

XAUUSD Pip Value and Lot Size: How to Calculate Profit and Loss

XAUUSD pip value and lot size explained: pip, point and tick, 1 lot = 100 oz, profit and loss maths, margin, leverage, spread and position sizing.

Read the guide →Macro

Dollar Index (DXY) and Gold: Why They Often Move in Opposite Directions

DXY gold correlation explained: how the dollar index is built, why gold tends to move opposite the dollar, key channels, exceptions and how to track both.

Read the guide →Positioning

COT Report for Gold: How to Read Fund Positioning

The CFTC COT report for gold explained: Friday release, managed money, producers, net positions, open interest, how to read it and its key limits.

Read the guide →Fundamentals

Geopolitics and gold: how tensions move the gold price

Gold as a safe haven in geopolitical stress: how the mechanism works, central bank buying, sanctions, why reactions can be brief, and how to filter the news.

Read the guide →Tools

What is a market terminal?

What is a market terminal? Definition, what retail traders use one for, how to choose between general-purpose and specialised terminals, and their limits.

Read the guide →

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