Gold
Gold: why it moves and how to study it.
Gold is one of the most closely followed markets in the world. Here you learn what moves it, what to watch each week and how to practice it on demo without real money.
Why it moves
Four forces that move it
Real interest rates
Gold pays no interest. When real rates rise, holding it costs more in relative terms and tends to weigh on the price.
The dollar
It is priced in dollars: a stronger dollar tends to make it more expensive for those using other currencies. It is a frequent relationship, not a rule.
Safe haven
In times of uncertainty or geopolitical tension, some money moves into gold.
Central banks
Central banks' purchases and sales of gold reserves change underlying demand.
Instruments
Metals HFM lists
- Gold (XAU/USD)The benchmark precious metal
- Silver (XAG/USD)Safe haven and industrial use
- PlatinumMostly industrial demand
- PalladiumMostly industrial demand
Metals list read on hfm.com on October 26, 2026. Mining companies are a different market (stocks): their price also depends on their costs and results.
See the instrument on hfm.com →Live chart
Watch the price
TradingView chart for educational purposes. Prices may differ from those on your HFM platform. Naming a company or instrument is not a recommendation to buy or sell.
What to watch
What to watch each week
US inflation and jobs data
They change rate expectations and move the dollar and gold on the same day.
Fed and other central bank meetings
The tone matters as much as the decision.
The 10-year bond yield
A quick way to see how rates are moving.
Hours and breaks
The instrument has a daily break; check it on hfm.com.
Practice
How to practice it on demo
- 01
Open a demo account
Free, with play money. Look the instrument up on your HFM platform.
- 02
Watch before trading
For a week or two, note which news or data coincides with each strong move.
- 03
Set the risk before you enter
Decide how much you risk per trade with Arco's calculator; on demo it counts too.
Risk
Before practicing, be clear on this
- A CFD does not make you the owner of anything: you trade the price change, with leverage.
- Leverage magnifies losses just as it does gains; you can lose faster than you expect.
- News can open the price far from the previous close; a stop is not guaranteed to fill at the exact price.
- This page is educational. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell nor investment advice.
Free support
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Risk Warning: Your capital is at risk.
Frequently asked questions
What everyone asks
Why is gold called a safe haven?
Because historically some money looks for it in times of uncertainty. It does not always rise in a crisis: it depends on rates, the dollar and the context.
Is trading gold the same as buying physical gold?
No. With a CFD you trade the price change, with leverage; you do not receive or store metal.
Study first. Practice on demo.
Judgment is built with a journal, not with loose ideas.