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Important CFD trading information
With CFDs, you can lose more than you deposit, you do not have ownership in the underlying asset and you may be subject to margin close-outs if you do not maintain sufficient margin.
Why trade gold with us?
Trade gold spot prices
Open short-term positions with our exclusive undated gold market
Speculate on gold CFD futures
Trade long-term gold price movements with CFD futures contracts
Take your capital further
Get full market exposure for a small deposit, called margin*
Competitive gold prices
Trade on some of the lowest gold spreads in the market – as little as 0.3 points
Choose to trade or invest
Trade gold with CFDs or invest in gold related shares and ETFs through share trading
Manage your gold risk
Protect your capital with guaranteed stops, which only incur a fee if triggered
*CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.
Ways to trade gold with us
| Gold CFD trading | Gold share trading | |
| Markets to trade | Spot prices, futures, options contracts, shares and ETFs | Shares and ETFs |
| Main benefits | Go long or short on gold prices. | Take ownership of shares to gain voting rights and dividends if paid5 |
| Traded in | Contracts | Shares |
| Commission | Share CFDs are subject to commission. All other markets are charged via the spread | Invest in domestic and international shares with zero commission (0.7% FX fee applies to international trades)4 |
| Platforms | Web, mobile app and advanced platforms | Web and mobile app |
| Learn more | Learn more |
What is gold CFD trading?
Gold trading is a method of speculating on the price of gold using contracts for difference (CFDs) online via spot prices, futures, options, shares and exchange traded funds (ETFs). Trading via CFDs means you don’t have to take ownership or delivery of the commodity.
How to trade gold online in Australia?
- Open a CFD account
- Find an opportunity
- Take your first position
- Monitor and close your trade
Gold CFD live price
Why is gold trading popular?
Gold trading is popular due to the metal’s reputation for being highly desired since ancient times. Coveted for both its cultural and financial value, there are a few benefits that make gold an attractive market, for example:
- It's often considered by investors as a 'safe haven' investment in times of financial turbulence
- It has a wide variety of industrial applications in electronics and computing, as well as jewellery manufacturing
- It tends to perform strongly in high-inflation scenarios and can therefore be used as a hedging tool
Top tips for trading gold online
Plan your trading
Develop a trading plan before you start, so that you’ll be less inclined to make emotional decisions when it comes to your gold positions. A good trading plan will outline details such as whether you want to trade or invest in gold, how much time and capital you want to spend on your gold trades, your preferred risk management tools, and much more.
Learn what moves gold
Make sure you understand the gold price drivers, such as supply and demand, before you start trading.
Analyse the market
Use charts to get an idea of how gold behaves over different timeframes. Look for patterns, wait for breakouts before trading, and trade with the trend. Compare up to four different timeframes at once with the charts in the IG trading platform, and get free trading signals* to help you make your call.
*The signal service does not constitute and should not be regarded as investment advice. IG provides an execution only service. You act on the signals entirely at your own risk.
Consider mining stocks or gold ETFs
Gain indirect exposure to gold by investing in individual mining stocks or a gold ETF – short for exchange traded fund. ETFs are baskets of assets that give you broad exposure to the gold market from just a single position. You can buy and sell ETFs by opening a share trading account. If you would rather speculate on the gold price instead of investing, you can use CFDs to go long or short on spot gold or the share price of companies that mine gold.
Trade gold on our award-winning platform²
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Ahead of the curve
Founded in 1974 as the first company of its kind. We’re ASIC-regulated and trusted by 320,000+ clients with the security of their money.
IG Australia is part of IG Group Holdings PLC, which is a member of the FTSE 250. -
Fast, efficient online platforms
Seize your opportunity in seconds and take full control over each of your trades with our easy-to-use platform and apps.
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Support when you need it
We have a dedicated team on hand to support you, and you can also benefit from knowledge-sharing with IG Academy.
Gold trading costs and details
- Spreads
- Margin
The spread is our charge for executing your trade. It’s the difference between the buy and sell price, which we wrap around the underlying gold price.
| Minimum spread for futures | Minimum spread for undated markets | |
| Spot gold (100OZ) | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Alternative gold markets | Minimum spread |
| Daily gold options | 0.3 |
| Centamin stock | 0.253 |
| Petropavlovsk stock | 0.163 |
| ZKB Gold ETF | 0.73 |
The spread will vary, depending on whether you trade CFD futures or CFD undated contracts. Futures have a wider spread, but no overnight funding charges.
If you choose to trade gold stocks and ETFs via CFDs or invest with a share trading account, you’ll be charged a commission instead of a spread.
CFDs are leveraged products, which means you can gain full exposure for a small deposit – called margin. This isn’t an extra cost to you, but it can make a big difference to the affordability of your trade.
Remember, leverage will magnify both profits and losses.
| Market | Retail margin | Pro margin |
| Spot gold (100OZ) | 5% | 0.40% |
| Petropavlovsk stock | 25% | 20% |
| ZKB Gold ETF | 20% | 8% |
When trading gold options, the margin for 'buying' an option is the opening price (or premium) multiplied by the size of the trade. The margin for 'selling' an option is the same as the margin when trading the underlying futures market.
Get the latest gold news
Try these next
1 Number 1 in Australia by primary relationships, CFDs & FX, Investment Trends November 2024 Leveraged Trading Report.
2 Best Finance App, Best Multi-Platform Provider, Best Platform for the Active Trader and Best Online Stockbroker as awarded at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2025.
3 Our spread for a particular share or ETF is calculated as a percentage of the current price – they are subject to variation, especially in volatile market conditions. Please note: we have tried to ensure that the information here is as accurate as possible, but it is intended for guidance only and any errors will not be binding on us.
4 $0 commission applies to clients who trade on the IG share trading account and opt for the default setting of ‘instant currency conversion’. Clients who choose to convert currencies manually will pay commission of 2 cents per share with a minimum charge of $10 on US stocks and, for European markets, we charge £10 / €10 per trade or 0.1%, whichever is higher. Other fees and charges may apply, please see our share trading cost and charges page.
5 When investing with us, you’ll do so via our share trading platform using our custodial model. This means that we manage, hold and safeguard securities you choose to buy and sell on your behalf. Via our custodial model, you’ll be able to buy and have a stake in actual assets – for example, shares in an ASX 200-tracking ETF or ASX 200-constituent company. You’ll also be entitled to dividends if any are paid, and granted voting rights if applicable.
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Disclaimers
- CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You do not own or have any interest in the underlying asset. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Please consider the Margin Trading Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Risk Disclosure Notice and Target Market Determination before entering into any CFD transaction with us.
- The value of shares, ETFs and ETCs bought through an IG share trading account can fall as well as rise, which could mean getting back less than you originally put in. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
- Please ensure you fully understand the risks and take care to manage your exposure.
- The information on this website is prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consequently, you should consider the information in light of your objectives, financial situation and needs.
- This website is operated by IG Australia Pty Ltd. IG Australia Pty Ltd is located on Level 32, Queen & Collins, 376-390 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000. ABN 93 096 585 410, Australian Financial Services Licence No. 515106. Derivatives Issuer Licence in New Zealand FSP No. 684191, NZBN 9429047618251.