How To Day Trade Gold

Perhaps the world's oldest mode of exchange is gold. Whether in coin, bullion or raw form, it has been sought after by civilisations for thousands of years. With a bright and lustrous appearance, gold is visually attractive as well as being exceptionally useful. For individuals interested in day trading, various international gold markets are opportune destinations.

One of the more interesting facts about gold bullion is that the roots of its presence on Earth are debatable. However, one widely accepted origin story involves the Earth being stricken with asteroid impacts 4 billion years ago.^[8] So, for all intents and purposes, we can consider the yellow metal as other-wordly, because it comes from outer space.

Gold's utility and scarcity are fundamental drivers of its value. Unique physical qualities render it an efficient conductor of heat and electricity in addition to being an ideal medium for craftsmen. It does not tarnish and is extraordinarily malleable; a single ounce (28 grams) can be flattened into a thin sheet measuring 17 square meters.^[1] Physical gold is extremely useful in art, dentistry, technology (conductors), medicine and finance.^[2] Its applications in these areas have enticed countless individuals to buy gold throughout human history.

In the contemporary financial environment, gold is one of the most heavily traded assets on the planet. As a result, the liquidity, volatility and price movements of bullion are constant. Short-term traders and long-term investors alike employ a wide variety of gold trading strategies the world over. Below is a brief look at the key financial instruments based on the yellow metal:

• Futures contracts
• CFDs
• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
• Equities

As coinage, anchor of fiat currency, or as a portfolio diversification tool, gold plays an integral role in the global monetary system. From its beginnings as specie in the Middle East around 550 BC^[3], to its role in the Bretton Woods Accords, it is thought of by many as being the backbone of finance.

Whether you trade futures, forex, CFDs or stocks, it is wise to be aware of gold pricing. Legions of veteran traders, fund managers and stock pickers look at the price of bullion as a primary economic indicator. This view is furthered by gold's standing as a traditional safe-haven asset.

London Gold (LOCO)

The London gold market, referred to as LOCO London, accounts for 70% of all international gold derivatives transactions. Estimates for daily volume turnover on LOCO are between a staggering £76-177.9 billion. LOCO London conducts trade in an over-the-counter capacity (OTC), which means that precise volumes are kept largely private, leading to a ballpark estimate of exact volumes.

Despite the lack of volume clarity, the vast market depth attracts retail and institutional metals traders from around the globe. In fact, many are eager to start trading on LOCO in the hopes of realising their financial objectives.

Given the epic volumes, LOCO London is an integral part of the world's bullion trade. With a majority of international OTC gold trading being electronically cleared through London Precious Metal Clearing Limited (LPMCL), LOCO London is a dominant force in the metals trading environment. If one is going to day trade gold bullion, chances are that the transactions will flow through London.

Futures Exchanges

As a rule, day traders target securities that exhibit high degrees of liquidity and periodic volatility. Gold futures markets furnish participants with an abundance of both. This dynamic is ideal for nearly any trading strategy, specifically on an intraday, day or swing time frame. Simply put, gold moves with fluidity on a regular basis.

Futures give hedgers and speculators the ability to exchange the rights to various quantities of gold without having to worry about accommodating delivery. With institutions being among the few parties interested in securing the physical asset, only a minute portion of all contract holders elect to exercise delivery. The desire for participants to settle in cash ensures high levels of ongoing liquidity and price action until the contract's expiration date.

Gold bullion is a desired commodity the world over, so there are several international hubs that facilitate its futures trade. Below are the major venues for gold futures contracts and their average daily market capitalisations:

For standardised exchange-based futures trading, the Commodities Exchange (COMEX) is the premier venue. In fact, the popularity of gold futures contracts is one reason that thousands of traders have secured trading account access to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). Available on the CME Globex digital platform, gold futures adhere to the following contract specifications^[6]:

The full-sized gold contract is known for its high liquidity, extended trading hours and robust market depth. For individuals that desire a smaller degree of leverage, the CME COMEX offers the E-micro contract under the following specifications:

Both the E-micro and full-size gold contracts are opportune targets for day trading beginners interested in becoming active in metals. However, the E-micro product does not have the depth of market of the full-size contract. It is true that the leverage and margins are greatly reduced, but for short-term traders targeting the price of gold, other instruments often prove superior.

CFD Markets

Gold may also be traded through the use of a financial instrument known as a contract-for-difference (CFD). CFDs are derivative products valued according to the price change of an underlying asset over a specific period of time. CFD trading is available for a wide range of asset classes including equities indices, commodities, metals, crypto and debt instruments.

Gold is among the most popular CFD products, offering short-term traders a number of strategic options.

CFDs are traded in a similar fashion to forex currency pairs. Extensive leverage is available, as is robust liquidity and depth of market. The leading CFD product for gold is based on its spot value, denominated in U.S. dollars per troy ounce (XAU/USD). Other CFD offerings for gold are largely broker-specific, but include gold's value in euros (XAU/EUR), Swiss francs (XAU/CHF) and Japanese yen (XAU/JPY).

Gold CFDs have several advantages over futures, options or equities:

• No contract expiration
• High degrees of leverage available (up to 200:1)
• Low margin requirements
• Easily convertible to cash
• Make it simple to sell gold and profit from bearish price action

For most gold day traders, CFDs are the preferred choice. However, in various locales such as the United States, the trade of CFD products is not permitted. Ultimately, the responsibility falls upon each trader to learn whether or not gold CFD trading is permitted in their jurisdiction.

ETFs And Gold Stocks

For day traders, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) based on various aspects of gold's valuation is ideal for engaging the marketplace on a short-term basis.

Gold ETFs are professionally managed funds designed to track the value of gold. Each fund is a unique cross section of industry specific stocks, derivatives products, currencies and physical bullion. Below are several frequently targeted by day traders, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), available via the NYSE ARCA:

In addition to ETFs, individual stocks often reflect the volatility of gold pricing. Many investors decide to assume and manage long-term positions through purchasing publicly traded sector-specific companies. Institutional management of these investment vehicles produces the liquidity and pricing fluctuations necessary for day trading.

Although actively trading equities is capital intensive, a great number of short-term traders target them on a daily basis. The stock offerings of companies specialising in mining, refinement and exploration are prime targets for day traders choosing to focus on gold-related equities.

Summary

In terms of asset valuations, gold is viewed as being the global benchmark. It serves as a safe-haven for investors and a premier destination for short-term traders. External determinants of price including politics, technical analysis, central bank activity and supply/demand levels.

Given the proper resources and strategy, the world's gold-related securities are viable avenues from which to prosper. Futures, CFDs, ETFs and specific stocks all provide day traders with an opportunity to capitalise on any periodic fluctuations in gold's value.