XAUUSD Explained: Everything You Need to Know
Complete breakdown of XAUUSD trading. Learn how gold is priced against the USD, pip values, contract sizes, and session behavior.
Most guides on this topic are written by people who have never traded real money. This one is different.
What XAUUSD Means
The pip value of gold is not fixed — it depends on the current price. At $2,350, one pip is worth about $10 on a standard lot. At $2,000 it was $8.50. Small difference, but it adds up over hundreds of trades.
Contract Size and Pip Value
I use the 1% rule: risk 1% of my account per trade. If my stop loss is 20 pips away, I calculate exactly how many lots that allows. No guesswork. No rounding up. Math keeps you safe.
Trading Sessions Impact
I trade the US session exclusively. 8 AM to 12 PM New York time is when gold moves. I live in Singapore, so that means I am at my desk from 8 PM to midnight. The session you trade determines the quality of setups you see. It took some adjustment — trading from 8 PM to midnight is not natural — but it was worth it.
What Moves Gold Prices
Gold and the US dollar usually move in opposite directions. When the dollar weakens, gold rises. I watch DXY as a proxy before every trade. It is not a perfect indicator, but it helps me understand the bigger picture.
Spread Costs on XAUUSD
Gold is not like forex pairs. It has its own personality. I spent my first year trading it like EURUSD and kept losing. Once I understood gold respects Fibonacci levels and moves on US session momentum, everything changed.
I have been trading XAUUSD for over a decade. Everything in this guide comes from real trades at my desk in Singapore — not from textbooks. Here is what I have learned.
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XAUUSD Explained
XAUUSD is the symbol that represents the price of gold in US dollars.
Understanding the Symbol
XAU comes from 'aurum', the Latin word for gold. If XAUUSD is trading at 1,950.50, it costs $1,950.50 to buy one ounce of gold.
Pip Values in Detail
For XAUUSD, 1 pip = $0.01 in price movement:
- 0.01 lots (micro): $0.10 per pip
- 0.10 lots (mini): $1.00 per pip
- 1.00 lots (standard): $10.00 per pip
Spread Comparison
ECN: 0.1-0.3 pips
STP/NDD: 0.3-0.6 pips
Market Maker: 0.5-1.5 pips
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