How to trade or invest in gold (2024)

Learn what gold investing and trading are

Gold investing and trading are two different ways to take a position on the future price movement of gold markets.

When you invest in gold, you’d take ownership of the asset upfront and profit if the precious metal rises in price. When you trade gold, you’re taking a position on the underlying price rising or falling – meaning you won’t be taking ownership of the asset itself.

There are several types of gold assets available for you to trade or invest in, depending on whether your interest is in the physical asset or not. These include:

  • Gold bullion

Physical gold – in the form of coins and bars – is commonly used as a store of value, for both individual investors and banks. But the expensive safekeeping and insurance requirements often deter more active investors from buying the metal outright

  • Spot gold

The spot price of gold is how much it would cost to buy upfront – or on the spot. It is usually the price of one troy ounce of gold. Trading spot gold is a popular means of getting exposure to bullion without having to take ownership of the precious metal

  • Gold futures

Futures contracts enable you to exchange gold for a fixed price on a set date in the future. You’d have the obligation to uphold your end of the deal, whether that’s through a physical or cash settlement. Futures contracts are standardised for quantity and quality – only their price is driven by market forces

  • Gold options

Options contracts work in a similar way to futures, but with no obligation to execute the trade when buying. Options give you the right to exchange either physical gold or gold futures at a specific price on a specific date. Call options give the holder the right to buy the precious metal, while put options give the holder the right to sell it

  • Gold ETFs

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) track the movement of a basket of shares of publicly traded gold mining, refining and production companies. Trading or investing in an ETF gives you much wider exposure than you’d get from a single position, which makes them a popular way of diversifying a portfolio. ETFs are passive investments, which replicate market returns rather than seeking to outperform them

  • Gold stocks

Trading on or investing in stocks can be a great way to get indirect exposure to gold. You can gain exposure to every element of the gold industry, from mining and production to funding and sales. It’s important to note that gold stocks don’t always move in the same way as bullion, as there are a lot of other factors that drive the prices of shares.

How to trade or invest in gold (2024)

FAQs

How to trade or invest in gold? ›

In general, investors looking to invest in gold directly have three choices: they can purchase the physical asset, they can purchase shares of a mutual or exchange-traded fund (ETF) that replicates the price of gold, or they can trade futures and options in the commodities market.

What is the best way to trade gold? ›

If you prefer physical ownership of the precious metal, you can buy and sell gold bars and coins through reputable dealers or online platforms. However, if you want exposure without physical ownership, consider gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), gold mining stocks or gold futures contracts.

How do beginners buy gold? ›

How Do Beginners Buy Gold? Mutual funds and ETFs are probably the smartest options for beginners. Each share of these securities represents a fixed amount of gold, and you can easily buy or sell these funds in your brokerage account or retirement account.

Can I trade gold as a beginner? ›

Trading Gold in the Forex Market

Unlike trading physical gold or gold futures, forex trading allows you to start with a relatively small amount of capital. This makes it accessible to beginners who may not have substantial funds to invest. Liquidity.

How can I trade my gold? ›

You can trade in gold by buying and selling spot gold, gold futures, gold options, or gold stocks and ETFs. To open a position, you'll need a CFD account. What moves gold markets?

Can I trade gold with $10? ›

With the help of leverage, trades can be carried out by depositing only a small amount. For example, to trade a gold position worth 1,000 US dollars, you only need to put down 10 dollars. This deposit is called the margin requirement.

How to start gold trading? ›

It's very simple, as gold ETFs act like individual stocks, and they trade on an exchange. This means that investors do not actually own the physical gold, 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 ETF issued.

How much is 1 oz of gold? ›

Gold Prices Today
Gold Spot PricesTodayChange
Per Ounce2,327.490.00%
Per Gram74.840.00%

What type of gold is easiest to sell? ›

Gold bars also known as Gold bullion which is at least 99.5% pure and because of its purity this makes it the most valuable and easiest type of Gold to sell.

What is the smartest way to buy gold? ›

The best place to buy physical gold depends on whether you want to buy bars, coins or jewelry. While you can buy gold bars from certain banks, it's much more common to use online dealers. You may also be able to buy gold bars from a pawn shop or individuals, and these sources may also offer gold coins.

Can you make a living trading gold? ›

Although long-term protection of your wealth is often the main goal of investors, it is very possible to make money from gold, much the same as if you were trading stocks and shares. Making money from gold is a different proposition however, and more about patience than fast, reactive trading.

How do I start making money with gold? ›

Traders can strategically buy and sell futures contracts to profit from the changing price of gold. Buyers of futures contracts profit when commodity prices rise. Sellers of futures contracts profit when commodity prices fall. The contracts typically require a minimum purchase of 100 ounces of gold.

What is the minimum amount needed to trade gold? ›

Gold is traded on 1:1 margin, or 100% of the contract value. The minimum lot size for gold is 1 troy ounce. The symbol for spot gold is XAU/USD.

Can I convert gold to cash? ›

You can sell your gold to any of the top gold buying companies and avail of instant cash.

Which platform is best for gold trading? ›

3 Best Brokers for Trading Gold
  • Pepperstone - Best Overall Broker for Gold Trading. Pepperstone provides an excellent trading environment for gold with competitive spreads and rapid execution speeds. ...
  • Plus500 - Best Broker with Multiple Licenses, including Dubai. ...
  • XM - Best Platform and Excellent Brokerage for Beginners.

How to start investing in gold? ›

The most common way to invest in physical gold is to purchase gold bullion. Gold bullion refers to investment-grade gold, commonly in the form of bars, ingots, or coins. Investment-grade gold is always at least 99.5 per cent pure: Gold bars will have the manufacturer's name, weight, and purity stamped on it.

What is the best gold trading platform? ›

3 Best Brokers for Trading Gold
  • Pepperstone - Best Overall Broker for Gold Trading. Pepperstone provides an excellent trading environment for gold with competitive spreads and rapid execution speeds. ...
  • Plus500 - Best Broker with Multiple Licenses, including Dubai. ...
  • XM - Best Platform and Excellent Brokerage for Beginners.

What is the best way to exchange gold? ›

You can usually find a few places to sell your gold locally, such as cash-for-gold exchanges, pawn shops, and jewelry stores. Most who accept gold will buy a variety of items, including gold coins, bullion and old jewelry.

What is the best session to trade gold? ›

The experience shows that the most active gold trading hours are between 3 pm and 11 pm GMT+3 (generally, during North American trading sessions). European sessions also come with enough activity although slightly lower if compared to North America. Here, the best gold trading hours are between 10 am and 6 pm GMT+3.

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