Trade Gold (XAUUSD) on Exness

XAUUSD is the price of one troy ounce of gold in US dollars. XAU is the ISO code for gold and USD is the US dollar, so if XAUUSD is quoted at 3,000, one ounce of gold costs $3,000.

Gold is one of the most actively traded markets because it reacts to major economic and geopolitical events, especially US interest rate decisions, inflation data and geopolitical tension. It often moves in the opposite direction to the US dollar, although that relationship does not hold in every market. On Exness, gold is one of the instruments with stable spreads, which Exness says hold nearly 90% of the time outside volatile periods.

Why Traders Pick Exness for Gold

Exness describes itself as the world’s largest retail broker, and gold is one of its core instruments. For a broader look at the broker, see our Exness review. Here is what Exness offers gold traders, from its own specifications.

Published spreads. Exness publishes previous-day average spreads for each account. On 30 September 2026, XAUUSD averaged 24 on Standard, 16.8 on Pro, 8 on Raw Spread and 4 on Zero. Gold’s pip size at Exness is 0.01, so a 24-pip spread is $0.24 an ounce, or $24 on one standard lot.

Flexible leverage. Gold is one of the few instruments eligible for unlimited leverage, on accounts with equity under $5,000 that have closed at least 10 orders totalling 5 lots. Otherwise the maximum follows your equity (1:2000 below $30,000, for example). Around news and market breaks, higher margin requirements cap gold leverage between 1:200 and 1:1000.

Execution. Standard, Standard Cent, Raw Spread and Zero accounts use market execution, with no requotes. The Pro account uses instant execution for gold, so your order fills at the price you request or you get a requote.

0% stop out and protections. Exness sets the stop-out level at 0% on all account types and offers Stop Out Protection, which can delay or sometimes avoid stop outs (it may not be available on accounts using unlimited leverage, or for clients of the Kenyan and Jordanian companies). Negative Balance Protection stops losses from exceeding your balance.

Which Exness Account Works Best for Gold?

Gold is available on all five Exness account types. We cover them in detail in our Exness account types guide. Here is a gold-specific comparison using Exness’s published figures.

On these figures, one standard lot of gold cost about $24 on Standard, $16.80 on Pro, $15 on Raw Spread ($8 spread plus $7 round-trip commission) and $15 on Zero ($4 plus $11). The Standard account is the simplest place to start, while Pro, Raw Spread and Zero lower the cost per trade. Read more about Exness spreads across instruments.

How to Start Trading Gold on Exness

For a full walkthrough, see our guide to opening an Exness account.

Step 1: Register. Sign up on the Exness website with your email and a password, and confirm that you are not a US citizen or resident.

Step 2: Verify your identity. Upload proof of identity (passport, national ID or driver’s licence) and proof of address (for example a utility bill or bank statement from the last six months). Exness says checks can take up to 24 hours, and unverified accounts have deposit limits.

Step 3: Pick your account type. In your Personal Area, open My Accounts and select Open Account. Choose Standard for simplicity, Pro for tighter pricing without commission, or Raw Spread or Zero for the lowest spreads. Minimum deposits depend on the account type, payment method and region.

Step 4: Fund your account. Open the Deposit tab and choose a payment method available in your country. Exness says most methods have no deposit fees.

Step 5: Open your platform. Use MT4, MT5, the Exness Terminal or the Exness Trade app (MT5 accounts). MetaTrader logins use the account number, server and trading password shown in your Personal Area.

Step 6: Find XAUUSD. In MT4 or MT5, open Market Watch (Ctrl+M on desktop). If XAUUSD is not listed, right-click and choose Show All, or search for “XAU”. Symbols can carry a suffix depending on the account type, such as XAUUSDm on Standard.

Step 7: Place your first trade. Click New Order, set the volume, and choose Buy if you expect gold to rise or Sell if you expect it to fall. Set a Stop Loss and Take Profit before confirming, and watch the position in the Trade tab.

Gold Lot Sizes: What $1 of Movement Actually Costs You

On Exness, one standard lot of XAUUSD is 100 troy ounces, so every $1 move in the gold price is $100 of profit or loss on one lot. That is too much exposure for most beginners. The minimum trade is 0.01 lot and the maximum 200 lots. Here is how sizes compare, using an example gold price of $3,000 and 1:100 leverage (margin = lots × contract size × price ÷ leverage).

Many beginners use 0.01 lot while they learn. Gold can move tens of dollars in a session, and even at 0.01 lot that shows up directly on your balance. Actual margin depends on the live price and your leverage.

When to Trade Gold on Exness

Exness’s trading schedule for each instrument is in its Help Center. Gold (XAUUSD) is usually closed during the forex rollover, which happens Sunday to Thursday at 21:00 GMT in summer and 22:00 GMT in winter, and liquidity can stay thinner around it. Exness also offers XAUUSD247, a separate gold symbol that trades seven days a week with a price offset applied and a fixed 1:200 margin.

Not every hour is equal. Spreads and fills change with the session.

London session (about 07:00 to 16:00 GMT): Strong liquidity. European data releases can move gold sharply.

New York session (about 12:00 to 21:00 GMT): Often the most volatile period for gold, because US data such as CPI, NFP and Federal Reserve decisions have the biggest effect on XAUUSD.

London-New York overlap (about 12:00 to 16:00 GMT): Usually the busiest window for gold, with the deepest liquidity.

Asian session (about 00:00 to 07:00 GMT): Usually calmer, with lower liquidity. Some scalpers like the quieter price action, but many gold traders avoid it unless they trade ranges.

What Moves the Price of Gold?

Gold responds to a familiar set of economic and geopolitical drivers, although short-term moves stay unpredictable.

US dollar strength. Gold is priced in dollars. When the dollar index (DXY) rises, gold often falls, and the other way round, though the relationship is not constant.

Interest rate expectations. Gold pays no yield. When interest rates rise, or markets expect them to, holding gold becomes less attractive than interest-bearing assets. Federal Reserve decisions are among the biggest single-day movers for XAUUSD.

Inflation data. Gold has a long history as an inflation hedge. Higher-than-expected inflation figures often support the price.

Geopolitical risk. Wars, trade disputes and political instability push investors toward gold as a safe-haven asset, and these moves can be sudden.

Central bank buying. Central banks hold gold reserves, and sustained buying by them adds demand.

How Leverage Works on XAUUSD

Leverage lets you control a larger gold position with less capital. At Exness, gold can use unlimited leverage on eligible accounts; see our Exness unlimited leverage guide for the rules.

A practical example: with gold at $3,000, a 0.1 lot position (10 ounces) is worth $30,000. At 1:100 leverage the margin is $300; at 1:500 it is $60. Higher leverage lowers the margin, but losses grow just as fast: a $10 move against a 0.1 lot position costs $100, whatever leverage you use.

Higher margin requirements on gold: Exness caps gold leverage between 1:200 and 1:1000 during higher-margin periods. These run from 15 minutes before to 90 seconds after high-impact news, from about 3 hours before the weekend break to 1 hour after the reopening, and from 30 minutes before to about 10 minutes after the daily break. Once the period ends, margin is recalculated from your equity and leverage.

Risk Management for Gold Traders

Gold is more volatile than many instruments, and around major news XAUUSD can move a long way in minutes. That creates opportunity, but poor risk management is the fastest way to empty an account.

Risk per trade. A common rule is to risk no more than 1% to 2% of your balance on one trade. On a $500 account that is $5 to $10, so at 0.01 lot your stop loss can sit about $5 to $10 from your entry.

Always use a stop loss. Gold can gap or spike on news. Set the stop before you confirm the order, not after.

Match lot size to your balance. High leverage doesn’t make a large position sensible. If a $10 move against you puts your account in danger, your position is too big.

Avoid overleveraging. Having very high leverage available does not mean you should use it.

Swap Fees and Overnight Costs

If you hold gold overnight, Exness applies swap at 21:00 GMT in summer or 22:00 GMT in winter, depending on whether you are long or short, and gold carries triple swap on Wednesday. XAUUSD is on Exness’s swap-free list, and all accounts start with swap-free (Islamic) status, but the status can be lost if you regularly hold large positions overnight, and Exness reserves the right to charge an overnight administration fee depending on your trading activity.

You can check swap rates in MT4 or MT5 by right-clicking the symbol in Market Watch and choosing Specification, or with Exness’s trading calculator.

Mistakes New Gold Traders Make

Trading in low-liquidity hours. Around the rollover and in quiet sessions, spreads are wider and fills can be worse than expected.

Ignoring the news calendar. XAUUSD reacts strongly to US data, and higher margin requirements apply around high-impact releases. Check the calendar before you trade.

Oversizing positions. A 0.1 lot position on a $500 account can lose most of its value in a large move.

No stop loss. Every trade needs a defined exit before entry.

Chasing breakouts. Gold often jumps on news and reverses just as quickly. Entering after a big candle without confirmation often means buying the top or selling the bottom.

Start with a Demo

Exness gives you a demo account with $10,000 in virtual funds when you register, and it says demo conditions match real accounts. Use it to learn how gold behaves in different sessions, test your stop loss placement and practise lot sizing before going live. Our Exness demo account guide walks through the setup.

FAQs

Can beginners trade gold on Exness?

Yes. The minimum gold trade is 0.01 lot (1 ounce), and Standard Cent accounts let you trade even smaller sizes in cent lots. Start on the demo, then move to a Standard or Standard Cent account with a small deposit.

How much money do I need to start trading XAUUSD?

Standard accounts need only the payment method’s minimum deposit, which varies by region. Margin depends on the live gold price and your leverage. Having at least $50 to $100 gives you more room for stop losses and drawdowns.

What is the best time to trade gold?

Liquidity is usually deepest during the London-New York overlap, roughly 12:00 to 16:00 GMT. Avoid the rollover period, when gold is usually closed and liquidity is thin.

Does Exness charge commission on gold?

Not on Standard, Standard Cent or Pro accounts, where the cost is in the spread. On gold, Raw Spread accounts pay $3.50 per lot per side and Zero accounts $5.50 per lot per side.

Can I hold gold positions overnight?

Yes. Swap applies at the daily rollover unless your swap-free status covers XAUUSD, and gold carries triple swap on Wednesday. Exness can also charge an overnight administration fee depending on your trading activity.

Is XAUUSD available on mobile?

Yes. You can trade gold in the MT4 and MT5 mobile apps, or in the Exness Trade app with an MT5 account.

Can I copy other traders’ gold strategies?

Not on Exness any more. It closed its Copy Trading service on 25 June 2026. See our Exness social trading guide for details.

How fast are withdrawals after a profitable gold trade?

Exness says over 98% of withdrawals are processed automatically, 24/7, and the time to receive funds depends on the payment method. You can withdraw up to your free margin. We test real speeds in our Exness instant withdrawal review.

Is Exness a safe broker for gold trading?

Exness’s group companies hold licences from 11 regulators, including the FSA (Seychelles), FSCA (South Africa) and CMA (Kenya); its FCA and CySEC companies do not serve retail clients. The company that holds your account depends on your country. We look at what this means for your funds in our is Exness legit analysis.

Final Word from FX Recap

Gold is one of the world’s most traded markets, with real opportunities and real risks. The volatility that creates a $50 gain can produce a $50 loss just as fast. Exness offers gold on every account type with published spreads and clear rules, but results depend on your own decisions and risk management.

Open a demo. Learn how gold moves during London, New York and around major data releases. Practise placing stop losses that match your account size. Then go live with a small position, and increase your size only once you have a consistent approach.