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How to trade gold (XAU/USD)

A plain, practical guide for traders in Australia — lots, leverage, margin, costs and the risk rules that keep beginners in the game.

xau/usd · one bar, one hourTARGETENTRYSTOP
A plan is three prices decided before the entry, not after.

Gold (XAU/USD) is traded as a CFD — you speculate on the price, you don't own the metal or coin. One standard lot is 100 oz.

Lots, leverage and margin

Margin is what your broker locks to open a position: (lots × 100 × price) ÷ leverage. At 1:200 a 0.10 lot needs $213.75. Use the margin calculator.

Size to a fixed risk

Decide the money you'll lose at your stop first, then let the position-size calculator pick the lot. Never size by how much margin you have.

A first gold trade, in the order the steps actually happen.A first gold trade, in the order the steps actually happen.RISKMoney you accept losingSTOPWhere the idea is wrongSIZEArithmetic, not instinctCOSTSpread plus swap
A first gold trade, in the order the steps actually happen.

Costs

You pay the spread on entry and an overnight swap if you hold. Factor both into every trade.

Ready to trade gold

Trade XAU/USD with tight spreads on FxPro

FxPro offers gold with competitive spreads, MT4/MT5 and -friendly funding for traders in Australia.

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FAQ

Common questions

What are the actual steps of placing my first gold trade?

Write the idea down first: direction, entry, stop and target. Then size the position from the stop distance using our position size calculator, check the margin with the margin calculator, and place the order with the stop attached in the same ticket. Confirm the fill, then leave it alone until one level is hit.

Where do I put my stop loss on XAU/USD?

Place the stop where your idea is proven wrong, not at a round number you can afford. Gold's pip is 0.01, so stops are often wider in pip terms than on forex majors, which means smaller lot sizes to keep the same dollar risk. Our position size calculator converts that stop distance into a lot size.

How do I fund an account from Australia?

FxPro accepts PayID and bank transfer for Australian clients, so funding can be done in AUD from a local bank account. Before you send anything, confirm which entity your account sits with, because the regulator sentence for Australia applies: FxPro is licensed by the FCA (UK) and CySEC, and does not hold an ASIC licence, so Australian residents deal with an offshore entity.

Should I trade gold during the Asian session or wait for London?

It depends on your holding period and how much movement you need. Asian hours are typically quieter, which suits tighter targets and smaller size, while the London and US overlaps carry more activity and wider swings. Match your stop and lot size to the session you actually trade rather than using one size for all.

How do I check what a gold trade could earn before I take it?

Map the target distance in pips, multiply by your pip value, and subtract your costs. Our profit calculator does this in Australian dollars, and the pip value calculator confirms the per-pip figure for your lot size. Treat the result as a scenario, not a forecast, and compare it with the loss if the stop is hit.