Are you interested in investing in gold? Looking for important information for beginners and advanced gold traders. Check how to start online gold trading with XTB.Are you interested in investing in gold? Looking for important information for beginners and advanced gold traders. Check how to start online gold trading with XTB.
First and foremost, it's important to understand the different ways in which you can invest in gold and how gold demand works on gold markets, and what gold options are available. Physical assets, such as gold bars, coins, and jewellery, are the most common form of investment for individuals. Other options include gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), gold mining stocks, and gold futures contracts.
Gold Bars
Gold bars, also known as bullions, are a popular choice for investors looking to buy physical gold. Bullion is typically sold by gram or ounce. Gold purity, manufacturer and weight should be stamped on the face of the bar.
When buying physical gold bars, purity is crucial as it confirms the value of gold. Investment-quality gold bars must be at least 99.5% pure gold. This is especially important if you're hoping to store bars in a specialised individual retirement account (IRA), as less pure gold cannot be held like so.
There are many companies selling gold bullion, but we strongly advise choosing reputable ones only. Keep in mind that you may be on the hook for some extra fees - such as insurance - to assure the safe transport of your bullion.
Gold Coins <H3>
Gold coins are popular collectibles and an attractive option for investors. However, unlike gold bars, you'll likely pay a premium price of gold over what you would for the same amount of gold in the form of bullion.
Coins typically have lower gold content than gold bars. For example, a popular one-ounce American Eagle coin is only 91.67% gold. The rest of the weight is made up of silver and copper. Make sure to research the gold content of the coins you're interested in before buying.
You can buy gold coins through dealers, pawnshops and individual sellers that you trust. If you choose to buy your gold coins online, make sure to go through a dealer listed in e.g mint databases. Whether you buy your gold coins in-person or online, you don't want to waste money on forgeries or gold that's less pure than you're led to believe.
Jewellery <H3>
Jewellery, especially antique pieces, can provide another avenue for buying gold. However, like gold coins, you'll probably be paying extra for the amount of gold you're actually getting. The premium can be anywhere from 20% to 300%, depending on the manufacturer.
It's important to keep in mind that not all that glitters is gold. Manufacturers use alloys that combine gold with other metals to make their pieces more durable or adjust their colour. The quality of gold in jewellery is measured in karats, and higher karat gold is more valuable than lower karat gold. Look for pieces with a karat stamp to ensure you're getting what you pay for.
Factors to Consider When Buying Physical Gold <H2>
When buying physical assets, there are several factors to consider:
Storage <H3>
Gold bars or coins require a secure storage location. While you can certainly keep your gold at home, many investors prefer a custodian. Make sure to research secure options for storing your gold before purchasing, and keep in mind that safe storage adds to the cost of your investment.
Insurance <H3>
Whether you choose to store your gold at home or with a custodian, it's important to insure your investment against theft or natural disaster. This may add to the cost of your homeowners or renters insurance, so be sure to check with your insurance provider.
Manufacturer <H3>
To ensure the value of your investment grows over time, make sure to purchase gold from reputable sources. Before you purchase anything, you should definitely verify them by checking official records of gold resellers.
Purity <H3>
The gold content in the coin, bar, or jewellery piece has a significant impact on its value and worth as an investment. Ensure any gold you purchase as an investment has a high enough purity level to stand the test of time. Aim for gold items that are at least 91% pure, if not 99%.
The current gold exchange rate
Below you can find the chart of the current gold stock data for a CFD instrument whose price is based on gold quotations. The data is being updated in real time.
Modern methods of Gold Investing <H2>
The world has changed a lot in the past few decades. The liberalisation of capital movements and new technology made gold trading strategy unbelievably simpler than buying a gold bullion. Apart from that, the financial markets have enabled investors to buy the golden ore with incredibly low fees, or even with no transaction costs at all.
Alt text: Gold CFD, ETF, Stocks
Trading Gold CFDs <H2>
CFD trading is one of the most popular gold options for investors. It has many advantages compared to investing in physical gold, such as low fees and the opportunity to use leverage in particular. With CFDs, you can track the movements of the commodity or the underlying asset without owning gold in a physical form. As leveraged gold trading techniques require only a certain percentage of the whole position, it is usually associated with experienced gold traders or gold day trading due to high levels of risk. Moreover, trading CFD also gives investors a chance to open short positions for CFDs trades, which could be particularly useful in various gold trading strategies.
The process of trading gold CFDs is usually simple and convenient, as world's top brokers enable gold trading online through their one-stop shop apps and platforms with a trading account.
On trading platforms, gold is traded with the code XAU, and one of the most popular exchange interest rates is denominated in US Dollar per troy ounce, known as XAU/USD.
Other CFD exchange rates vary by broker but may include denominations in Euro (XAU/EUR), British pound (XAU/GBP), Japanese yen (XAU/JPY), and Swiss francs (XAU/CHF).
Note: although trading gold CFDs is similar to forex trading, therefore some people may use phrases like “gold forex” or “forex gold trading” for gold trading, which is wrong by definition (FX or forex refers to currency trading).
Why Trade Gold CFDs Online? <H2>
Gold trading accessibility <H3>
While purchasing physical commodities can involve some time-consuming processes, setting up a CFD trading account is relatively simple and quick. Buying gold is also quite expensive - the price of one gold bullion averages upwards of €40.000 regardless of supply and gold demand. Unless you have a lot of money at your disposal, CFDs are a cost-effective way to access and participate in the commodity market.
Liquidity in gold trading <H3>
It's estimated that daily gold trading volumes are around €58 billion and exceed those of most currency pairs except EUR/GBP, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY. The high trading volume gives gold CFDs high liquidity on gold markets. This high liquidity means that gold CFDs are less expensive to trade compared to other financial instruments and the commissions charged are usually very small. Additionally, the high liquidity means selling CFD contracts is easy, which brings us to the next benefit.
The ability to go long or short in trading gold CFDs <H3>
When using CFDs, you don't have to worry about timing your trades for when the market is rising. The high liquidity of gold CFDs means you can capitalise on movements of gold price in both rising and falling markets. If you think that the price of gold will increase against a currency, you go long (buy) and if you think that the price of gold will weaken against a currency, you go short (sell).
Stability in trading gold CFDs <H3>
Since CFDs allow traders to benefit even when the markets are falling, gold CFDs are an advantageous instrument. They can offer traders some stability and a chance to succeed even in unstable markets.
Leverage in gold trading <H3>
CFDs are leveraged financial products. You don't need to deposit the full amount required to open a position. Gold CFDs tend to come with high levels of leverage, which translate into low margin requirements. For example, if you get 50:1 leverage on a 39.000 US Dollar position, you will be required to deposit only U$780 into your account to open the full U$39.000 contract. Likewise, you would only need to deposit U$390 with 100:1 leverage.
Volatility in gold CFDs <H3>
The gold market is highly volatile and its price tends to fluctuate more than traditional currency pairs such as the EUR/GBP, which sees price movements of around 50-100 pips almost every day. This volatility gives traders more opportunities to succeed in the gold market.
No expiration date for gold trading contracts <H3>
Gold CFDs have no expiration date, and a trader chooses when to close a position. This is beneficial as you can keep an open position until you get the desired profit margins.
In summary, CFDs for gold online can provide accessibility, liquidity, the ability to go long or short, stability, leverage, volatility, and no contract expiration date. These benefits make it an attractive option for traders interested in the precious metal.
What Are The Disadvantages of Trading Gold CFDs? <H2>
While engaging in gold CFDs provides a number of benefits, there are also some risks involved.
Risk associated with margin usage <H3>
Trading gold CFDs on margin using leverage can amplify a trader’s gains. However, the same leverage that increases profits can also magnify losses, which is why it should be used with caution.
Challenges of market volatility <H3>
Although gold is often regarded as a safe haven during unpredictable stock market conditions, the high volatility of the market may not always be advantageous. Even a small market movement can have a significant impact on the price of gold vs. demand for gold, resulting in substantial losses.
Furthermore, during times of high market volatility, the chances of experiencing sudden downturns increase, which means that traders need to closely monitor and maintain their margin levels. They may also be required to satisfy margin calls at short notice, failure of which can lead to the position being closed without notice and at a loss.
Costs of holding a position for a prolonged period <H3>
Although the CFD market typically involves trying to profit from short-term fluctuations of the price of gold, some traders may opt to hold their positions for extended periods. When this occurs, brokers may apply rollover rates for maintaining the positions, which can sometimes become quite expensive.
It is important to assess the true cost of holding a position before doing so, as the results may not justify the expenses.
How to Begin to trade CFDs for Gold Online <H4>
If you're looking to start to trade CFDs online, you'll need to understand how to navigate the market. Trading in the complex CFD market can take some time to understand, but here are a few steps to get started.
Understanding the Market <H3>
Trading CFDs involves dealing with both the commodity market and CFD trading. To successfully navigate the market, it's crucial to have a proper understanding of both.
Take the time to learn the gold CFD market, including the different factors that affect the market and value of gold, as well as the fundamentals needed to make informed decisions. This includes how to analyse the market, demand for gold, and common mistakes to avoid.
Creating a Plan <H3>
As the saying goes, "failing to plan is planning to fail." A solid plan is critical when trading gold CFDs. Your plan should include your trading goals, risk tolerance, preferred analysis method, trading strategy, and risk and money management tools.
Analysis Method <H3>
There are two main methods for analysing the price of gold: technical and fundamental analysis.
Fundamental analysis involves studying macroeconomic data and market sentiment to predict price movements. Traders analyse economic factors such as inflation, political uncertainty, and negative real interest rates to make informed decisions about the market.
Technical analysis, on the other hand, involves studying past price movements and patterns to predict future movements and trends. This can be done using price action, chart patterns, and technical trading indicators. Choose the analysis method that best suits your trading style and preferences, or consider a combination of both.
Risk and Money Management <H3>
Once you have identified your entry and exit levels, it's important to have risk and money management rules in place. These should include the amount of capital you will risk per trade, the maximum loss you are willing to incur, and your risk/reward ratio to ensure a balanced investment portfolio. Plan how to minimise risk by using stop-loss and limit orders to avoid large losses, especially during periods of high volatility.
A good plan depends on your knowledge of the market. If you're not familiar with how slippage affects trailing stops, for example, your plan may not include using guaranteed stops to minimise risk. It's also important to stick to your plan, as discipline is a crucial element for consistently profitable trading.
Choosing a Reliable CFD Broker <H2>
Choosing a reliable broker is essential to achieve your trading goals. Be sure to look for a broker that offers quality service and support. When choosing a broker, consider the following:
Regulation: Choose a regulated broker to ensure your funds are secure and your personal and financial information is protected.
Trading costs: Look for a broker that offers competitive commissions and ultra-tight spreads without compromising quality.
Trading platform choices: Choose a broker with a selection of robust platforms and tools to enhance your trading experience.
Margin and leverage requirements: Choose a broker with deposit and leverage requirements that align with your trading abilities and goals.
Customer support: Look for a broker with responsive and efficient customer support to help you solve problems quickly and effectively.
Gold Trading via ETFs <H2>
Gold exchange traded funds have become popular these days, as they offer an interesting alternative to accessing gold. Some say that buying ETFs to trade gold might be a good way to invest in gold for beginners or for people who want to buy gold as a long-term investment, since the construction of ETFs is easy to understand. They are also an excellent option for those looking to trade gold online.
So, how does one purchase ETFs for gold? It's very simple, as ETFs act like individual stocks, and they trade gold on an exchange. This means that investors do not actually own the physical gold as one of precious metals, but they still gain exposure to the commodity, as most standard ETFs (vanilla ETFs) hold a certain number of gold bars for each share of the exchange traded fund issued. As a result, ETFs track the value of the gold market and any change of gold price rises or falls is reflected in an exchange traded market price.
What are Gold ETFs? <H3>
ETFs trading gold are similar to mutual funds and are traded on stock exchanges. As with an equity mutual fund, an asset management company (AMC) gathers money from investors to invest in shares. However, with Gold ETFs, the underlying asset is pure gold. The AMC then allots units to investors that can be traded on the exchanges. The price of the ETF is correlated with the underlying gold price, adding flexibility to physical gold investment.
How Gold ETFs Work <H3>
Each unit of a Gold ETF represents one gram of gold with a purity of 99.5%. This gold is stored in the vaults of custodian banks, and its value determines the unit's price. For example, if the AMC allots the value of one gram of gold to each unit, the price of each unit will be approximately the same as the price of one gram of gold.
Benefits of Trading Gold ETFs <H3>
There are several benefits to trading ETFs for Gold, including:
No price variation: ETFs are bought and sold at the same rate, unlike allocated gold, which operates at different prices in different locations.
Gold Purity: The purity of ETFs is assured, with 99.5% purity being the standard. The physical gold market lacks the transparency to generate trust in purity.
Liquidity: ETFs are listed and traded on recognized stock exchanges, providing convenience and liquidity.
No fear of theft: Gold being stored in a demat form ensures the security of the investment, rescuing investors from worries associated with physical gold. It also saves on locker charges.
No entry and exit load: ETFs of Gold do not charge any entry or exit load as they are traded on the stock exchange.
No indirect taxation cost: ETF transactions are exempt from indirect taxes, such as GST at the rate of 3% on the purchase and sale value, which are charged on tangible gold assets.
Ways to Invest in ETFs to trade gold <H3>
There are two ways to invest in ETFs for Gold. One is the direct route, where investors buy units of ETFs and can store their shares and securities in an electronic format using a demat account, which is also referred to as a dematerialized account opened through a stockbroker. This account allows individuals to conveniently monitor all of their investments in one place, including shares, exchange-traded funds, bonds, and mutual funds.
The second is the indirect route, where investors invest in gold funds that indirectly invest in ETFs.
ETFs Compared With Other Investment Products <H3>
Comparing ETFs with physical gold investment is not straightforward, as tangible gold assets serve the jewellery demand as well as the investment demand. Physical gold investment has different buying and selling rates, which is not the case with ETFs. However, the traditional usage benefits of gold holdings have historically outrun the benefits of the digital product. Investors must understand the return requirements and purpose of investment before choosing between the two options.
Gold Stocks <H2>
Instead of purchasing physical gold, another way to start trading is to purchase stocks of gold producing companies. In this case, investors invest in gold by gaining indirect exposure to the gold markets as producers who sell gold are heavily dependent on gold market price. The outlook for such firms is usually bright when the price of gold soars, as it is expected that sales and earnings of gold miners will advance as well.
Therefore, there is a significant positive correlation between gold prices and certain gold stocks. It is worth pointing out that gold mining companies may also pay dividends, which is a huge advantage compared to a direct investment in precious metals. This factor could be particularly critical for long-term dividend investors and it implies that in some cases buying gold stocks could be an even better idea than the traditional way to invest in gold - buying the precious metal.
Please be aware that the presented data refers to the past performance data and such is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Gold stocks are positively correlated with gold prices, which means that the shares of gold miners gain along with rising gold prices. On the other hand, gold stocks tend to fall when the price of gold dives. Barrick Gold Corp (GOLD.US) may be found among the largest gold producers in the world. Source: xStation5
[WIDGET: XTB Ambassadors Team]
The Best Time to Trade Gold <H2>
Many market participants wonder what the best time to trade gold is. Many traders refer to gold as a “safe haven” asset. This means that it is regarded as a relatively safe asset during tough times, such as during financial crises or recessions. There is no coincidence that central banks hold gold as a reserve asset, as it is widely expected that gold will preserve its value. Such reasoning also affects retail investors' decisions, which is why gold is often found in investors' portfolios.
Apart from that, the precious metal may become particularly popular during high inflation periods. As rising inflation usually makes people concerned about the shrinking value of their money, gold is expected to serve as an inflation hedge. Even though the relationship between price of gold and inflation is not as significant as earlier (we have not experienced elevated inflation for many years now and quantitative easing programmes had their effects on this phenomenon, too), buying gold may still be a wise move in countries with relatively high inflation.
Gold is also regarded as an asset class, which could help investors build a balanced portfolio. This idea may be particularly compelling for risk-averse investors, as portfolio diversification may reduce risk and volatility.
Alt text: Gold - 10-year treasury yield correlation
Please be aware that the presented data refers to the past performance data and such is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Following the global financial crisis, the negative correlation between gold prices and US 10-year Treasury yield has become very apparent. Therefore, rising US yields usually lead to falling gold prices. Source: fred.stlouisfed.org
Gold Trading Hours <H2>
So far, we have discussed several aspects of gold trading. What about gold trading hours? While this shouldn't really matter for long-term investors who have a time horizon of several years, it could be particularly important as far as gold day trading and gold price is concerned.
In general, there are two peak times of the day to trade gold when gold demand is on the spot – European markets open and US markets open. The European peak occurs around 8 am GMT (9 am CET) and that could be a moment when the price of gold rises, or falls.
However, most activity in the trade gold markets usually occurs following the US market open – by some estimates this peak can be even twice as big as the European one. The elevated volatility lasts from around 1 pm GMT (2 pm CET) until around 4 pm GMT (5 pm CET). This time may be a good period to look out for e.g. US Dollar gold price fluctuations, or when gold demand rises and when it might be the best moment to buy or sell gold.
