Gold BasicsGold, explained simply
The simple version, in about five minutes. No jargon, no pressure and no account needed.
Inflation, interest rates, safe haven. What each one means for gold, in a sentence.
Stop loss, take profit, timeframes and candlesticks, with simple pictures.
Free and at your own pace. You choose if and when to go further.
Tap a question. Each answer takes less than a minute.
Gold gets attention when people worry about rising prices, changing interest rates or tense world events. Central banks also hold gold in their reserves, and their buying is reported closely.
So when the economy is in the headlines, gold usually is too.
A safe haven is something people turn to when markets feel uncertain. Gold has played that role for centuries: it is scarce, it lasts, and it is not tied to any one company or government.
It does not mean the price cannot fall. Gold moves up and down like any market.
Two instructions you can set before a trade.
Neither removes risk. In a fast market the price you get can differ from the level you set.
The period each candle on a chart covers: one minute, one hour, one day and so on.
Short timeframes show a lot of noise. Long timeframes show the bigger picture, which many beginners find easier to read.
Each candle shows four prices for its timeframe: the open, the close, the high and the low. The thick body runs from open to close. The thin wicks reach the high and the low.
Saving keeps money safe and easy to reach. Investing usually means holding assets for years. Trading means buying and selling over shorter periods to try to profit from price moves, and it carries a higher risk of loss.
Knowing which one you are doing helps you set the right expectations.
Many people trade gold through CFDs (contracts for difference). You do not own physical gold. You trade on its price moving up or down.
CFDs use leverage: a small price move can mean a large gain or a large loss compared with the money you put in. Losses can build quickly, which is why it pays to learn first.