Laguna Basics
Gold Tools

How to trade gold (XAU/USD)

A plain, practical guide for traders in the Philippines — lots, leverage, margin, costs and the risk rules that keep beginners in the game.

xau/usd · one bar, one hourTARGETENTRYSTOP
A plan is three prices decided before the entry, not after.

Gold (XAU/USD) is traded as a CFD — you speculate on the price, you don't own the metal or coin. One standard lot is 100 oz.

Lots, leverage and margin

Margin is what your broker locks to open a position: (lots × 100 × price) ÷ leverage. At 1:500 a 0.10 lot needs $85.50. Use the margin calculator.

Size to a fixed risk

Decide the money you'll lose at your stop first, then let the position-size calculator pick the lot. Never size by how much margin you have.

A first gold trade, in the order the steps actually happen.A first gold trade, in the order the steps actually happen.01Decide the loss youacceptIn money, before thechart. Everything elsefollows.02Find where the ideais wrongThat price is the stop— not a round number.03Let the size becalculatedRisk divided by stopdistance, in lots.04Check what it locksMargin at 1:500, whichis a maximum andvaries.05Count the costSpread on entry, swapfor every night held.
A first gold trade, in the order the steps actually happen.

Costs

You pay the spread on entry and an overnight swap if you hold. Factor both into every trade.

Ready to trade gold

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FAQ

Common questions

What are the actual steps of placing my first gold trade?

Decide direction and your stop distance first, then size the position so the stop costs an amount in pesos you accept. Check the margin the position needs, place the order with the stop attached, and write down why you entered. The order of those steps matters more than the platform buttons you press.

How do I work out the right lot size for a gold trade?

Start from the money at risk, not the lot. Decide the peso amount you are willing to lose, convert it to dollars, then divide by the stop distance in pips times the pip value per lot. The position size calculator does that division for you. The result is the lot size, and it is often smaller than beginners expect.

Where should I put my stop loss on XAU/USD?

Put it where your trade idea is proven wrong, not at a round number that feels comfortable. On gold, stops placed too close get hit by ordinary noise, so the distance should reflect recent volatility. Then size the position to fit that distance rather than moving the stop to fit a bigger lot.

How does leverage affect a 0.10-lot gold position in practice?

Leverage reduces the cash margin you must set aside, but it does not reduce your risk. At the applicable cap, a 0.10-lot gold position needs about $85.50 margin. Your actual loss if the stop is hit depends on the price move and the lot size, not on the margin figure. The margin calculator shows the requirement; the profit calculator shows the outcome.

Can I fund a gold trading account with GCash or a bank transfer?

FxPro accepts GCash and bank transfer for funding, which are the familiar rails for Philippine readers. The amount that actually arrives in your trading account depends on the broker's conversion and any charges at the payment end. Check the cash balance in your account after funding rather than assuming the peso figure maps one to one.