Trading Gold (GC)
The benchmark metal future — a macro and safe-haven instrument that moves on rates and the dollar.
Session: Globex nearly 24h; active around US and London
Gold is a macro read in a contract. Real yields, the dollar, and fear drive it more than any chart pattern. It trends cleanly when the macro lines up and chops mercilessly when it doesn't — which is most of the time.
The desk reads GC against the dollar and rates, then uses Volume Profile to find where the metal actually changed hands. The regime gate is everything here: gold's best trends come from macro alignment, and trading it without that context is just decorating a chart with hope.
A 0.10 move in gold is $10 a contract, and GC can swing $20–30 on a CPI or Fed surprise. Treat macro release windows as size-down or stand-aside zones, not entries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the tick value of gold (GC) futures?
One tick in COMEX gold (GC) is $0.10, worth $10.00 per contract. A $1 move in gold is 10 ticks, or $100 per contract.
What drives gold futures?
Real yields, the US dollar, inflation data, and safe-haven demand. Gold tends to rise when real yields fall and the dollar weakens, and it can move sharply on CPI and Fed decisions.
Is gold a good futures market to trade?
Gold trends beautifully when the macro aligns and chops painfully when it doesn't. It rewards traders who read rates and the dollar first and treat the chart as confirmation, not prediction.
Educational only — not investment advice. Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone. Tick values and sessions are standard; margins vary by broker and change over time — confirm current requirements before trading.