Academy
Two parallel paths to trade gold — built on one shared foundation. Start with the fundamentals, then choose your market.
Start here
Eight modules every gold trader should work through before choosing a path. Built on the standard.
How to use this Academy
Start at F1 and work through all eight Foundation modules in order — they build on each other. Once you've completed Foundation, choose the path that fits your market: Path A for XAU/USD spot gold, Path B for GC/MGC futures. If you're not sure which path is right for you, Module F8 will help you decide.
Module F1
What gold is in trading terms — troy ounces, the 995 LBMA Good Delivery standard, and how gold became a tradeable asset. From the gold standard through Bretton Woods to today's market.
Module F2
The instruments retail traders use — physical, ETFs (GLD, IAU), mining stocks (GDX), spot XAU/USD, and futures (GC/MGC). Plus the participants moving the market: central banks, miners, institutions, and retail.
Module F3
The mechanics of gold pricing. The LBMA Gold Price fix, USD denomination, troy ounces, and how price discovery works across the global market.
Module F4
The macro forces that move gold. USD strength, real interest rates, inflation, central bank policy, and geopolitical risk — and how each one shows up in price.
Module F5
When gold trades and why it matters. The 24-hour market, the Asian, London, and New York sessions, liquidity and volatility through the day, and the overlaps that move price.
Module F6
The economic calendar for gold traders. FOMC, CPI, and NFP at the top of the hierarchy, how each event maps back to the four forces, and the release times that reliably move the market.
Module F7
The numbers most education sites won't show you. Retail trader outcomes, the broker business model, and what realistic expectations actually look like.
Module F8
Choosing between XAU/USD spot trading and GC/MGC futures. Structural differences, accessibility by region, capital requirements, and which path fits which trader.
Choose your market
Most retail traders take one of these two routes to access the gold market. Pick the one that fits your account, region, and trading style.
For traders using forex brokers — the most common route for non-US retail.
Module A1
The OTC and forex market structure for spot gold. Pricing, the LBMA fix, broker pricing models, and settlement (T+2).
Module A2
Lot sizes, spreads, leverage, swap and overnight financing, and how to place and manage spot gold trades.
Module A3
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and TradingView via broker integrations. Choosing brokers and platform comparison.
Module A4
Position sizing in lots, stop placement around gold volatility, leverage and swap costs, and managing news risk.
For exchange-traded futures access — the standard for US-based and professional retail.
Module B1
The CME COMEX exchange model. Standardised contracts, expiry cycles, margin, rollover, and settlement.
Module B2
Comparing 100 oz GC to the 10 oz MGC micro. Margin, tick value, and choosing the right one for your account.
Module B3
NinjaTrader, Quantower, Tradovate, and Sierra Chart. Direct exchange connectivity and broker selection.
Module B4
Position sizing in contracts, tick-based stop losses, overnight and rollover risk, scaling with MGC.