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Learn Gold
A start-here path for gold: what XAU/USD is, what moves it, plain-language definitions and the tools to analyse it.
Gold is priced in US dollars and pays no interest, which shapes most of what moves it. This path takes you from the basics to a repeatable way to analyse XAU/USD.
Start here
- Gold market hub โWhat XAU/USD is, the key facts and current sources.
- What moves gold prices โThe four-driver framework and a checklist.
- Gold and real yields โWhy opportunity cost matters, and how to test it.
- Gold vs DXY โThe dollar link, and what DXY really measures.
- How to analyze gold โA 15-minute pre-session routine.
- How to trade gold โA process, the tools and the risks.
Key terms in plain language
- XAU/USD
- The price of one troy ounce of gold quoted in US dollars, the standard way spot gold is traded.
- Troy ounce
- The unit used to price precious metals; one troy ounce is about 31.1 grams.
- Opportunity cost
- What you give up by holding one asset instead of another. Gold pays no interest, so its opportunity cost is what you could earn on interest-bearing assets such as Treasuries.
- Real yield
- The return on a bond after adjusting for inflation. Rising real yields raise the opportunity cost of holding gold.
- Safe haven
- An asset investors tend to buy in periods of stress. Gold is often described this way, but it does not rise in every crisis.
- US Dollar Index (DXY)
- ICE's index of the dollar against six currencies, of which the euro is 57.6%. Gold often moves against it, as a tendency rather than a rule.
- CFD
- A contract for difference: a leveraged product that tracks a price without owning the asset. Leverage magnifies losses as well as gains.
Guides and analysis
- Bitcoin and Gold Correlation in 2026: What It Means for Gold TradersBitcoin's 90-day correlation with gold rose above 0.5 in 2026 as its link to tech stocks weakened. What the numbers mean, their limits and how to check them.
- Trading Gold with FxPro: Symbols, Hours, Costs and Sizing (2026)How gold trading works at FxPro: GOLD, GOLDoz and weekend GOLD365, contract sizes, UTC hours, spread, commission and swap, with worked sizing examples.
- Gold vs DXY: Why the Dollar Often Moves Against GoldWhy gold and the US Dollar Index often move in opposite directions, what DXY really measures, when the link breaks and how to test it yourself.
- Gold and Real Yields: Why Opportunity Cost MattersWhy rising real yields have often pressured gold, what a real yield is, why the link is unstable, and how to test it yourself with official data.
- How to Analyze Gold Before the US Session: A 15-Minute RoutineA 15-minute pre-session routine for XAU/USD: check scheduled US data, mark levels, read the dollar and real yields, plan scenarios and size risk first.
- How to Trade Gold (XAUUSD): A Beginner's GuideHow to trade XAUUSD (gold): what moves XAU/USD, how to read the market, the tools you need and the mistakes to avoid, without hype or false promises.
- What Moves Gold Prices? The Four Drivers Traders WatchThe World Gold Council groups gold's drivers into four factors. See what each means, how their weights shift, and a checklist for reading XAU/USD.
Related tools and pages
Frequently asked questions
Where should a beginner start with gold?
Start with what XAU/USD is and what moves it, using the four-driver framework, before looking at charts or brokers. Then learn how real yields and the dollar relate to gold, and how to size risk.
Does gold always rise in a crisis?
No. Gold can attract safe-haven demand, but it can also fall in stress, for example when the dollar or yields rise sharply. It is a tendency, not a guarantee.
Do I need to own physical gold to trade XAU/USD?
No. Traders usually use derivatives such as CFDs, which carry a high risk of loss because of leverage. Read the risk disclosure before trading.
Sources (3)
ShowHide
Official or primary sources used for the facts above. Figures and terms change, so check the source before acting on them.
- World Gold Council โ Gold Mid-Year Outlook 2026Four-factor driver framework.Accessed
- Federal Reserve (via FRED) โ 10-Year Treasury Inflation-Indexed Yield (DFII10)Official real-yield series.Accessed
- ICE โ U.S. Dollar Index Contracts โ FAQDXY composition.Accessed
Written by Volodymyr Kravchenko from official sources. See the methodology.
This content is provided for educational purposes only and is not investment advice. Trading involves risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Affiliate relationships may exist. Always conduct your own independent research before making financial decisions.